Location: Range Management Research
Project Number: 3050-21600-001-136-A
Project Type: Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: May 1, 2026
End Date: Feb 28, 2030
Objective:
The goal of the project is to conduct collaborative research on the collection, management, and application of rangeland monitoring data coupled to spatial/remote sensing data and process models to detect, predict, and ecological change and support land management in Western U.S. rangeland environments.
Approach:
Phase 1:
1. Additional support for the integration of AIM monitoring with other datasets and indicators, including remote-sensing products, management and treatment history datasets, ecological site descriptions, wind and water erosion models, and other agency (NRCS, NPS, ARS) core method datasets in both research studies and management decisions.
2. Contribute to analyses and reports of condition on BLM land, including AIM annual reporting and program-specific assessments.
3. Streamline indicator calculation and harmonization of BLM datasets with other standardized monitoring data.
4. Conduct analysis of standardized monitoring data and remote sensing to inform state map and rangeland change.
Phase 2-4:
Continue items 1-4 and provide other research deliverables (including uncertainty in benchmarks, improving rangeland health assessment approaches).