Vegetation diversity and productivity of western rangelands have been reduced by selective grazing. Range improvement research in the late 1930's and 1940's suggested that controlling shrubs and seeding crested wheatgrass was a suitable answer to restoring range productivity. However, Â range ecosystems that resulted from widespread seeding with crested wheatrass lack diversity in many important aspects. This paper discusses the nature of diversity and the role of shrubs in relation to the effective use of common-pool resources in range ecosystems. Shrubs can fill an ecological need in diversifying monocultures of crested wheatgrass and thus increase the spectrum of opportunity for multiple use management of public rangelands. Suitable methods for establishment and availability of seeds now make it possilbe to utilize superior species of shrubs in range improvement and land reclamation programs.
Articles, citations, reports, websites, and multimedia resources focused on rangeland ecology, management, restoration, and other issues on American rangelands.