Lecture 2: Rangeland and Ecosystem Services

Rangeland Amounts

-70% of world’s land area

-50% of us land area

-rangelands are decreasing rapidly=over next 100 years 40% of rangelands in us could be lost

Services from Rangelands

-atmospheric quality

-climate control

-freshwater supplies

-waste degradation

-pollination

-air and water purification

-genetic resources

-recreational services

Goods from Rangelands

-food

-fiber

-fuels

-pharmaceuticals

-building materials

-industrial products

-cooking oils

Land Area and Forage Production

-11%=farmed

-24%=permanent pasture

-31%=forest or woodland

-34%=desert, glaciated areas, high mountain peaks, and urbanized or industrialized

-land covered in concrete=4-5%

-all land resources presently receiving grazing by domestic animals accounts for about 50% of the world’s land area

-africa and south america=85% of total feed for ruminants provided by rangelands

-us=50-65% of total feed for ruminants provided by rangelands

-wild ruminants receive about 95% of their feed through rangelands

Production of Animal Products

-rangelands account for about 16% of world food production=77% from cropland and 7% from oceans

-india=largest % of cattle but lowest output of meat

-china=largest goat population (36%), largest sheep population (25%), largest mutton production (25%)

-us=largest beef production (20%)

-australia=largest wool production (25%)

-africa=2x as many cattle as us

Plant Products

-drought tolerant plants for landscaping=shrubs, cactus, agave, ocotillo

-jojoba may be used as an industrial lubricant in place of whale oil

-guayule contains rubber=can be used for tires, medical supplies, etc

-other plants contain substances that may inhibit cancer growth as well as other medicinal properties

Desertification

-the process by which an area or region becomes more arid through loss of soil and vegetative cover

-may be caused by uncontrolled livestock grazing, burning, woodcutting, temporary cultivation