Rangeland Ecology & Management

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USING TARGETED LIVESTOCK GRAZING TO STRATEGICALLY REDUCE FINE FUELS IN THE GREAT BASIN
Author
Pellant, Mike
Rose, Jeff
Tague, Joe
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
2018
Body

Targeted grazing is broadly defined as using livestock time, intensity and duration of use to control vegetation to achieve a desired management goal. The Great Basin is experiencing unprecedented wildfires due in large part to invasive annual grasses (e.g., cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum)) which have increased fuel loads, created continuous fine fuel beds, and promoted longer fire seasons.� The Bureau of Land Management is interested in working with partners and stakeholders to explore the feasibility of using livestock to strategically manage fuels across large areas dominated by invasive annual grasses as part of the Integrated Rangeland Fire Management Strategy. �This strategy includes collaborative actions to implement targeted grazing programs and vegetation treatments to protect, conserve, and restore sagebrush steppe habitats across all ownerships and jurisdictions. An interagency team is pursuing the following activities to carry out this program: 1) Implementing well-monitored demonstration projects in conjunction with innovative livestock operators, 2) Developing a web-based �guidebook� to capture and continually update the science and user experiences of using targeted grazing to reduce fine fuels, 3) Distributing findings and facilitating information sharing through workshops, webinars and technical assistance. �If successful, strategic targeted grazing will provide another option to reduce fine fuels and wildfire impacts on Great Basin rangelands.

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Conference Name
SRM Reno, NV