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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #416837
Research Project: Knowledge Systems and Tools to Increase the Resilience and Sustainability of Western Rangeland Agriculture

Location: Range Management Research

Title: Leveraging rangeland fractional cover technologies to advance rangeland managements

Author
item McCord, Sarah
item ASSAL, TIM - Bureau Of Land Management
item CREUTZBURG, MEGAN - Oregon State University
item Harrison, Georgia
item JENSEN, ERIC - Desert Research Institute
item KACHERGIS, EMILY - Bureau Of Land Management
item RIGGE, MATTHEW - Us Geological Survey (USGS)
item SCARTH, PETER - University Of Queensland
item ZHOU, BO - University Of California (UCLA)

Submitted to: International Rangeland Congress
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/1/2025
Publication Date: 6/6/2025
Citation: McCord, S.E., Assal, T., Creutzburg, M., Harrison, G.R., Jensen, E., Kachergis, E., Rigge, M., Scarth, P., Zhou, B. 2025. Leveraging rangeland fractional cover technologies to advance rangeland managements. International Rangeland Congress. Abstract.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Responding to ecosystem variability is a persistent challenge on rangelands globally. As climate change accelerates this variability and rangeland ecosystems enter non-equilibrium, it is critical to capture rangeland dynamics in a timely manner so that ranchers and rangeland managers can implement management strategies. Describing rangeland variability across space and time is now attainable through remote sensing and machine learning innovations. Rangeland fractional cover tools are actively used to address a range of management decisions including grazing management, restoration prioritization, evaluating restoration treatment effects, risk and threat mapping, and wildlife habitat modeling. Fractional cover products are also critical for researchers as they seek to expand our understanding of these topics. We provide examples of how rangeland fractional cover can be used to identify and respond to changing rangelands globally. We discuss the social and technological challenges rangeland managers and producers face when adopting these technologies. Finally, we present opportunities to address these challenges and leverage emerging technologies to adapt to rapidly changing future rangeland ecosystems.