Rangelands

Rangelands

Lands on which the native vegetation (climax or natural potential plant community) is predominantly grasses, grass-like plants, forbs, or shrubs suitable for grazing or browsing use.

Rangeland (categories)

• Natural grassland

• Savannas

• Wetlands

• some deserts

• tundra

Grazing

The consumption of standing forage by livestock and wildlife. (grasses and forbs)

Browsing

The consumption of edible leaves and twigs from woody plants by large-hoofed animals. (trees and shrubs)

Paturelands

Similar to rangelands but periodic cultivation of introduce plant species occurs with other agronomic inputs such as irrigation and fertilizer applications.

Herbivory

The consumption of plants by animals

Rangeland Ecosystem

An area with similar ecological characteristics on which humans have placed boundaries for management purposes. This includes both the biotic and abiotic components

Range management

The manipulation of rangeland components to obtain the optimum combination of goods and services for society on a sustained basis.