Lessons given and learned from rangeland monitoring courses

Authors: Newingham, Beth; KACHERGIS, EMILY - Bureau Of Land Management; GANGULI, AMY - New Mexico State University; FOSTER, BAILI - Bureau Of Land Management; PRICE, LAUREN - Bureau Of Land Management; McCord, Sarah

Submitted to: Rangelands
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/26/2021
Publication Date: 10/16/2021
Publication URL: https://handle.nal.usda.gov/10113/7524778
Citation: Newingham, B.A., Kachergis, E., Ganguli, A.C., Foster, B., Price, L., McCord, S.E. 2021. Lessons given and learned from rangeland monitoring courses. Rangelands. 44(1):29-38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rala.2021.08.003.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rala.2021.08.003

Interpretive Summary: Assessing and monitoring natural resources supports achievement of desired outcomes in rangeland management. Monitoring data provide land managers (federal, state, tribal, and private landowners) with information to understand ecosystem structure and function, thus empowering managers to adjust their actions to meet management goals and objectives. Monitoring data are most useful when they are collected using standard methods across space and time and of sufficient quality to be used for multiple applications. Successful rangeland monitoring requires a significant investment in time and human resources, including adequate training in the monitoring process. Large numbers of academic students at universities and colleges, as well as rangeland professionals, must be trained to collect, manage, and use monitoring data for rangeland management on a regular basis. Thus, evaluating and sharing information and techniques across academic and professional monitoring courses is crucial to ensure that students and technicians are properly trained in standard monitoring methods to apply them across rangelands.

Technical Abstract: Assessing and monitoring natural resources supports achievement of desired outcomes in rangeland management. Monitoring data provide land managers (federal, state, tribal, and private landowners) with information to understand ecosystem structure and function, thus empowering managers to adjust their actions to meet management goals and objectives. Monitoring data are most useful when they are collected using standard methods across space and time and of sufficient quality to be used for multiple applications. Successful rangeland monitoring requires a significant investment in time and human resources, including adequate training in the monitoring process. Large numbers of academic students at universities and colleges, as well as rangeland professionals, must be trained to collect, manage, and use monitoring data for rangeland management on a regular basis. Thus, evaluating and sharing information and techniques across academic and professional monitoring courses is crucial to ensure that students and technicians are properly trained in standard monitoring methods to apply them across rangelands.