Get reliable science

The Central Coast Rangeland Coalition (CCRC) has been working for 6 years to develop an affordable science-based system to monitor rangeland health. Based on numerous CCRC meetings and review by a panel of scientists, a comprehensive monitoring system has been designed to demonstrate whether a rangeland property is "fundamentally healthy" in its ecological, social, and economic systems. The idea is to help those managing rangelands to evaluate their own practices and goals, as well as to build societal support for rangeland stewards. Between 2007 and 2009, the available funding allowed us to try out some of indicators and present results at CCRC meetings. But we have not been able to test the comprehensive monitoring system, develop tailored "special indicators," or to provide technical assistance. In 2010, we surveyed CCRC members to find out what rangeland issues were most important to them (center graph). We also surveyed participants in the monitoring program about which aspects of the monitoring were of most use to them, and where we should make our next efforts. This poster presents our results. source: background