5.1: Forest, Rangelands, and Pastures

Provide Science-Based Knowledge and Education To Improve the Management of Forest, Rangelands, and Pastures

Other Information:

Forest, rangeland, and pasture ecosystems provide a number of goods and services that are critical to maintaining a healthy and livable environment. Among those are clean water, clean air, productive soils, carbon storage, biodiversity, scenic vistas, and recreational opportunities. In addition, they are an important source of food, fiber, and forest products. Even though these systems are managed less intensively than conventional farmlands, sound scientific management is critical in maintaining their goods and services. ARS will provide the knowledge base to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of ecosystem management strategies that will give the greatest long-term benefits from our public and private forests, rangelands, and pastures, including the mitigation of global change. Performance Measures: 5.1.1: Develop ecologically based information, technologies, germplasm, and management strategies that sustain agricultural production while conserving and enhancing the diverse natural resources found on rangelands and pasture lands. Baseline: 2002 – Approximately half of the rangelands have been significantly degraded by fire, invasive weeds, environmental changes, and poor grazing management. Target: 2007 – Demonstrate management strategies that integrate improved germplasm, biological controls, grazing practices, prescribed fire and decision-support tools to promote the restoration of degraded rangelands in a sustainable manner.

Indicator(s):

Indicator:1

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