Rangeland Handbook For B C

This document is intended to provide guidance to forest & range managers in developing range use plans under the British Columbia Forest Practices Code. The first section describes range use plan content, district manager & agreement holder responsibilities, the requirements for public consultation, and the advertising of plan content. It also gives examples of the information regarding range use to be included in range use plans. The last section guides the district manager or designate in planning, authorizing, implementing, and maintaining Crown range development to ensure compliance with the Code. Appendices include a range use plan template, a plan amendment form, a plan approval checklist, a template of information provided by the district manager, and a sample range use plan.

Rangelands comprise between 40 and 50 percent of all U.S. land and serve the nation both as productive areas for wildlife, recreational use, and livestock grazing and as watersheds. The health and management of rangelands have been matters for scientific inquiry and public debate since the 1880s, when reports of widespread range degradation and livestock losses led to the first attempts to inventory and classify rangelands. Scientists are now questioning the utility of current methods of rangeland classification and inventory, as well as the data available to determine whether rangelands are being degraded. These experts, who are using the same methods and data, have come to different conclusions. This book examines the scientific basis of methods used by federal agencies to inventory, classify, and monitor rangelands; it assesses the success of these methods; and it recommends improvements. The book's findings and recommendations are of interest to the public; scientists; ranchers; and local, state, and federal policymakers.