Get reliable rangeland science

The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension (UACE) has taught science-based rangeland monitoring techniques for over 20 years through workshops for ranchers, agency professionals, and interested members of the public. The UACE also provides leadership and personnel assistance to early adopting ranches to encourage neighboring ranches to initiate their own rangeland monitoring programs. The data collection methods are easy to learn, repeatable, and designed to minimize bias. Collaborative rangeland monitoring utilizes ranch personnel, agency professionals, and engaged volunteers to collect and discuss the data as a team. The following is a brief description of the collaborative rangeland monitoring at the Yavapai Ranch, near Seligman, Arizona. The Yavapai Ranch is 110,000 acres of private (51%) and US Forest Service land. It ranges in elevation from 4,900 to 6,800 feet above sea level. Vegetation types include ponderosa pine forest, pinyon/juniper woodland, interior chaparral, and short grass prairie. The Yavapai Ranch has a Coordinated Resource Management Plan in partnership with multiple agencies. Each fall, the author coordinates between 15 and 25 people (CRM agency partners, students, and adult volunteers) to monitor rangelands for two days. Of the 24 monitoring sites (called key areas), 6 are monitored each year and the data is processed and interpreted by the author and shared with participants. Data collected includes: frequency, cover, species composition, and landscape photos. Following data collection, a few variables are evaluated on-site and compared with prior data and discussed among participants. Other ranches have also participated and one has begun its own rangeland monitoring program as a result. Monitoring data has been collected yearly since 1994. Data is used to guide management decisions and monitoring participants are encouraged to provide management input. The Yavapai Ranch monitoring team has demonstrated that ranching in the west can be productive, collaborative, and sustainable.