May 30, 2002 Sustainable Rangelands Roundtable. Purpose Today Introduce the Sustainable Rangelands...

May 30, 2002

SustainablSustainablee

RangelanRangelandsds

RoundtablRoundtablee

Purpose TodayPurpose Today

Introduce the Sustainable Introduce the Sustainable Rangelands RoundtableRangelands Roundtable

Introduce the Criteria and Introduce the Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Indicators for Sustainable RangelandsRangelands

Provide Future Plans of the Provide Future Plans of the Sustainable Rangelands Sustainable Rangelands RoundtableRoundtable

RangelandsRangelands 42 percent of continental U.S.42 percent of continental U.S. Wildlife habitat, clean water, clean air, Wildlife habitat, clean water, clean air,

open space, habitat for threatened and open space, habitat for threatened and endangered species, recreational uses, endangered species, recreational uses, food and fiber production, and a unique food and fiber production, and a unique setting for social and cultural activities.setting for social and cultural activities.

Concern about the condition of natural Concern about the condition of natural resources in the 20resources in the 20thth century. century.

Adoption of the concept of sustainability Adoption of the concept of sustainability as appropriate analysis paradigm.as appropriate analysis paradigm.

Sustainable Rangelands Sustainable Rangelands RoundtableRoundtable

A stakeholders process for identifying A stakeholders process for identifying a set of criteria and indicators (C&I) a set of criteria and indicators (C&I) for assessing sustainability of for assessing sustainability of rangelands.rangelands.

The C&I describe individual elements The C&I describe individual elements to assess and determine trends in to assess and determine trends in resource conditions, management, resource conditions, management, economic benefits, and social economic benefits, and social values derived from rangelands.values derived from rangelands.

Benefits of the Work of Benefits of the Work of SRRSRR

Provide a common framework for Provide a common framework for monitoring and assessing progress monitoring and assessing progress towards sustainable rangeland towards sustainable rangeland management.management.

Expand the understanding of Expand the understanding of rangelands sustainability.rangelands sustainability.

Enhance quality of debate about Enhance quality of debate about rangeland management issues.rangeland management issues.


Improved efficiencies:Improved efficiencies: Directing monitoring effortsDirecting monitoring efforts Development of common data Development of common data

collection techniquescollection techniques Focusing research on developing Focusing research on developing

methods to measure indicatorsmethods to measure indicators


Improve accountability to rangeland Improve accountability to rangeland stakeholders and Congress:stakeholders and Congress: Multi-level, coordinated data reportingMulti-level, coordinated data reporting Assess compliance with applicable lawsAssess compliance with applicable laws Facilitate interagency coordinationFacilitate interagency coordination Facilitating planning and funding prioritiesFacilitating planning and funding priorities Improve rangeland management to meet Improve rangeland management to meet

social, economic and ecological goalssocial, economic and ecological goals

Sustainable Sustainable DevelopmentDevelopment

Brundtland Commission (WCED) – Brundtland Commission (WCED) – 19871987

“… “… development that meets the development that meets the needs of the present generation needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their future generations to meet their own needs.”own needs.”

Sustainable Sustainable DevelopmentDevelopment

Encompasses environmental and Encompasses environmental and social issues, as well as economic social issues, as well as economic activity.activity.

Ensuring human well-being while Ensuring human well-being while respecting ecosystem well-being respecting ecosystem well-being and the earth’s environmental and the earth’s environmental limits and capacities.limits and capacities.

International International BackgroundBackground

Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, 1992Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, 1992 Plan for achieving sustainable development in Plan for achieving sustainable development in

the 21the 21stst century. century. 1993 – International seminar on 1993 – International seminar on

sustainable development of boreal and sustainable development of boreal and temperate forest in Montreal. (Montreal temperate forest in Montreal. (Montreal Process)Process)

1995 Santiago Declaration – 7 Criteria and 1995 Santiago Declaration – 7 Criteria and 67 Indicators – temperate and boreal 67 Indicators – temperate and boreal forests.forests.

2002 Earth Summit in South Africa.2002 Earth Summit in South Africa.

U. S. BackgroundU. S. Background

Roundtable on Sustainable Forests Roundtable on Sustainable Forests (1998)(1998)

Sustainable Minerals Roundtable Sustainable Minerals Roundtable (1999)(1999)

1999 – First meeting on Sustainable 1999 – First meeting on Sustainable RangelandsRangelands

2001 – First meeting of the 2001 – First meeting of the Sustainable Rangelands RoundtableSustainable Rangelands Roundtable


Identify criteria and indicators for Identify criteria and indicators for Sustainable Rangelands.Sustainable Rangelands.

Indicators are suitable for national Indicators are suitable for national reporting.reporting.

Gain from other efforts:Gain from other efforts: Roundtable on Sustainable ForestsRoundtable on Sustainable Forests Sustainable Minerals RoundtableSustainable Minerals Roundtable Heinz, EPA, TNC, NRI, SDIC, othersHeinz, EPA, TNC, NRI, SDIC, others


The group determines the The group determines the outcomes.outcomes.

Open, Positive, Future FocusedOpen, Positive, Future Focused DynamicDynamic Values and respects all opinions Values and respects all opinions

and contributions of members.and contributions of members.

SRR Time LineSRR Time Line Twelve Meetings:Twelve Meetings:

Four meetings in 2001; five in 2002; Four meetings in 2001; five in 2002; three in 2003.three in 2003.

Indicators completed by Oct., 2002.Indicators completed by Oct., 2002. Identify and compile data sources: Identify and compile data sources:

May 2002 through March 2003.May 2002 through March 2003. Report on Rangeland Sustainability Report on Rangeland Sustainability

Indicators – May 2003.Indicators – May 2003.

SRR Meeting Sites, 2001 to 2003

Workshops and Forums2001 2002 2003

SRR SuccessSRR Success

Time and effort of all individuals Time and effort of all individuals and organizations participating.and organizations participating.

Participating groupsParticipating groups Federal, state and local agenciesFederal, state and local agencies Representatives from 16 universitiesRepresentatives from 16 universities Non-governmental groups & Non-governmental groups &

organizationsorganizations Over 100 members of SRROver 100 members of SRR

Products of SRRProducts of SRR Symposium and Proceedings at the Feb. Symposium and Proceedings at the Feb.

2002 SRM Annual Meeting in Kansas 2002 SRM Annual Meeting in Kansas City, MOCity, MO

Symposium at ESA Meeting in Tucson, Symposium at ESA Meeting in Tucson, AZ in August 2002AZ in August 2002

Symposium/Workshop on Indicators at Symposium/Workshop on Indicators at Feb. 2003 SRM Annual Meeting in Feb. 2003 SRM Annual Meeting in Casper, WyomingCasper, Wyoming

Report on Sustainable Rangelands in Report on Sustainable Rangelands in Spring, 2003 Spring, 2003

Today’s RemarksToday’s Remarks

Criteria and Indicators for Criteria and Indicators for Sustainable Rangelands – Dr. Linda Sustainable Rangelands – Dr. Linda JoyceJoyce

Future Plans & Milestones – Dr. Future Plans & Milestones – Dr. Rod HeitschmidtRod Heitschmidt

Questions and AnswersQuestions and Answers

May 30, 2002

Sustainable Sustainable Rangelands Rangelands RoundtableRoundtable

Development and Development and Evolution of the Evolution of the

Criteria and Criteria and IndicatorsIndicators

OverviewOverview

CriteriaCriteria Productive CapacityProductive Capacity Soil and Water ResourcesSoil and Water Resources Ecosystem Health and DiversityEcosystem Health and Diversity Social and Economic BenefitsSocial and Economic Benefits Legal, Institutional, Economic FrameworksLegal, Institutional, Economic Frameworks

Indicators within these CriteriaIndicators within these Criteria Scientific ChallengesScientific Challenges Next Technical StepsNext Technical Steps

A journey of 1000 miles A journey of 1000 miles begins with 1 stepbegins with 1 step

Criteria and indicators described Criteria and indicators described here represent the current here represent the current development.development.

The indicators will continue to evolve The indicators will continue to evolve as the SRR advances towards an as the SRR advances towards an accepted set for monitoring and accepted set for monitoring and assessing rangeland sustainability.assessing rangeland sustainability.

May 30, 2002

Sustainable Rangelands

Productive Capacity

Health and Diversity

Social and Economic

Legal, Institutional and Economic

Soil and Water

IndicatorIndicatorss

CriteriCriteriaa

Maintenance of Productive Maintenance of Productive Capacity on Rangeland Capacity on Rangeland EcosystemsEcosystems

Productive capacity … provide the current Productive capacity … provide the current generation with a wide variety of goods generation with a wide variety of goods and services depending on the mix and services depending on the mix desired by society at any particular timedesired by society at any particular time

Maintenance … that future generations Maintenance … that future generations will be able to obtain their desired mix...will be able to obtain their desired mix...

Indicators must capture: Determinants of Indicators must capture: Determinants of Productive Capacity, and the Variety of Outputs Productive Capacity, and the Variety of Outputs that can be produced on Rangelandsthat can be produced on Rangelands

Indicators: Determinants of Indicators: Determinants of Productive CapacityProductive Capacity Extent of Rangeland Available for

production of goods and servicesAboveground

Biomass Production

Integrates biotic and abiotic factors influencing capacity

Invasive and Noxious Plants

Measures alterations in productive capacity

Rangeland available for livestock grazing

Influences mix of commodity and non-commodity products

Indicators: Productive Capacity Indicators: Productive Capacity OutputsOutputs

Wildlife Harvested

Domestic Livestock

Non-forage Products

Number of cattle, sheep, goats, horses, bison measures a consumptive use

Measures the variety of other consumptive uses

Indirect measure of consumptive use

Maintenance of Ecological Health Maintenance of Ecological Health and Diversity of Rangelandsand Diversity of Rangelands

Rangeland healthRangeland health .. “degree to which .. “degree to which the integrity of the soil and the ecological the integrity of the soil and the ecological processes of rangelands are sustained” processes of rangelands are sustained” Nutrient cycling, energy flow, hydrologic processesNutrient cycling, energy flow, hydrologic processes

Biodiversity Biodiversity .. “variety of life and its .. “variety of life and its processes” which encompasses “the variety processes” which encompasses “the variety of living organisms, the genetic differences of living organisms, the genetic differences among them and the communities and among them and the communities and ecosystems in which they occur”ecosystems in which they occur” Landscape, community, population, geneticsLandscape, community, population, genetics

Indicators: Indicators: HealthHealth and and DiversityDiversity

Vegetation ProductionSoil Fertility

Integrates abiotic and biotic influences on ecosystem health

Changes in Fire RegimesCaptures influences on natural disturbances

Riparian ConditionCondition of Aquatic Systems

Assesses the terrestrial role in watershed health and the sensitivity of aquatic systems to surrounding landscapes

Indicators: Health and Indicators: Health and DiversityDiversity

FragmentationPlant CommunitiesParcel SizeDifferent Management

Captures changes in landscape patterns, connectedness, habitatsPlant Communities

AreaInvasives, Non-nativesVegetation Structure

Captures changes in plant community structure and function

Population DynamicsT&E, Species of ConcernSelected Species

Captures finer scale details for individual species

Conservation and Conservation and Maintenance of Soil and Water Maintenance of Soil and Water ResourcesResources

Soils influence hydrologic Soils influence hydrologic processes by providing the medium processes by providing the medium for the capture, storage, and for the capture, storage, and release of water. release of water.

Flow of water through rangelands Flow of water through rangelands influences soil physical and influences soil physical and biological properties. biological properties.

In most rangelands, water is In most rangelands, water is extremely limiting. extremely limiting.

Indicators: Indicators: SoilSoil and Water and Water ResourcesResources

Area of Rangeland withArea of Rangeland with Significant ErosionSignificant Erosion

Significant Significant CompactionCompactionChanges in aggregate Changes in aggregate stabilitystabilityBare groundBare ground

Diminished Organic Diminished Organic MatterMatterChanges in Soil Changes in Soil OrganismsOrganismsPesticide ApplicationPesticide Application

Measures loss of soil

Physical properties

Potential for erosion Potential for erosion through resistances through resistances to wind and waterto wind and water

Measures of soil Measures of soil productivity, and ties productivity, and ties to water qualityto water quality

Indicators: Soil and Indicators: Soil and WaterWater ResourcesResources

Percent of Water Bodies withVariation in Natural Range of Biological DiversityVariation in pH, Chemicals, Temperature, SedimentationChanges in Groundwater

Area in Wetlands

Stream Channel GeometryChanges in Intermittent Streams

Indicates changes in water quality and aquatic habitat conditionsIndicates potential for changes in vegetation and water availability

Assesses watershed functioning, and impacts to aquatic and terrestrial diversity

Maintenance and Enhancement of Maintenance and Enhancement of Multiple Economic and Social Benefits to Multiple Economic and Social Benefits to Current and Future GenerationsCurrent and Future Generations

Socio-economic indicators provide a Socio-economic indicators provide a measure of societal values reflecting measure of societal values reflecting allocation of scarce economic allocation of scarce economic resources.resources.

Economic indicators complement Economic indicators complement social measures by assessing social measures by assessing changes resulting from adjustments changes resulting from adjustments in social, ecological, legal, and in social, ecological, legal, and political systems. political systems.

Indicators: Indicators: SocialSocial and Economic and Economic BenefitsBenefits

Social measures are widely available: Social measures are widely available: Population, Migration, Mortality, Population, Migration, Mortality, Education, Income, etc.Education, Income, etc.

However, few are rangeland-specific. However, few are rangeland-specific.

For example, “social acceptability” of For example, “social acceptability” of rangeland policies, practices, conditionsrangeland policies, practices, conditions

Assumption: Human communities are Assumption: Human communities are better off if rangelands are both healthy better off if rangelands are both healthy and productive.and productive.

Indicators: Indicators: SocialSocial and Economic and Economic BenefitsBenefits

Area managed forArea managed forCultural, Spiritual Cultural, Spiritual ValuesValuesSubsistenceSubsistenceNon-consumptive-useNon-consumptive-useLand Ownership Land Ownership

New Technologies New Technologies

Viability and Viability and adaptability of social adaptability of social systemssystems

Assess management Assess management support for these support for these values and usesvalues and uses

Measures effect of Measures effect of change change Assess adoption for Assess adoption for improvement and improvement and protectionprotectionAssesses how use and Assesses how use and conditions impact conditions impact range-dependent range-dependent communitiescommunities

Indicators: Social and Indicators: Social and Economic Economic BenefitsBenefits

Amount and Economic Amount and Economic ValueValue

AUMsAUMsForageForageNon-livestock productsNon-livestock products

Management for Management for RecreationRecreation

Area, Facilities, Area, Facilities, VisitorsVisitorsInvestment in RangelandsInvestment in Rangelands

Assess availability Assess availability and value of diverse and value of diverse usesuses

Assess desire for Assess desire for tourism, recreation, tourism, recreation, wildernesswildernessDemand for different Demand for different usesuses

Rangeland Research, Development and Education

Investment in the future

Indicators: Social and Indicators: Social and Economic Economic BenefitsBenefits

Ranching SectorRanching SectorUse of new Use of new technologytechnologyRate of returnRate of returnEmployment in sectorEmployment in sectorLand Use and ConservationLand Use and Conservation

Conservation easementsConservation easementsOwnership by NGOsOwnership by NGOsContribution to restorationContribution to restoration

Trade Flows between Rural and Urban Areas

Ability to remain in business, importance in total employment Willingness to contribute to conservation by people and by organizationsIdentifies where investment income is occurring

Sustainable rangelands are Sustainable rangelands are influenced byinfluenced by U.S. laws, regulations, guidelines,U.S. laws, regulations, guidelines, Issues of equity, cultural traditions, Issues of equity, cultural traditions,

legal rights and obligations, andlegal rights and obligations, and Availability of scientific Availability of scientific

understanding and appropriate understanding and appropriate management technologies and management technologies and skills. skills.

Legal, Institutional, and Economic Legal, Institutional, and Economic Framework for Rangeland Conservation Framework for Rangeland Conservation and Sustainable Managementand Sustainable Management

Legal, Institutional and Economic Legal, Institutional and Economic FrameworksFrameworks CriteriaCriteria

Support for sustainability through frameworks of:

Legal InstitutionalEconomic Capacity to monitor

change in sustainable managementCapacity in R&D aimed at improving management and delivery of goods and services

Property rights, range-related planning, public involvement in policy, investment, taxation Inventories, policy review, enforcement of laws and regulations Existence of research and development programs

ChallengesChallenges

Capacity?Capacity? To what extent can To what extent can productive capacity be measured? productive capacity be measured?

Transition between rangeland and Transition between rangeland and forests?forests? What triggers identification What triggers identification of land as rangeland vs. forests? of land as rangeland vs. forests?

ScaleScale? National inventory? National inventory

Integration?Integration? Links between Links between economic, social, and ecological economic, social, and ecological sustainability?sustainability?

Next Technical StepsNext Technical Steps

Reduce duplication of indicatorsReduce duplication of indicators Develop protocols for evaluating Develop protocols for evaluating

indicatorsindicators Protocols for identifying data setsProtocols for identifying data sets Inventory structure at national levelInventory structure at national level Agency rolesAgency roles First Approximation ReportFirst Approximation Report

A journey of 1000 miles A journey of 1000 miles begins with 1 stepbegins with 1 step

Future Plans

May 30, 2002

Future PlansFuture Plansandand

Milestones Milestones

Short-term Goals & Short-term Goals & ObjectivesObjectives

Complete development of criteria and Complete development of criteria and indicatorsindicators

Finalize criteria listFinalize criteria list Complete indicator developmentComplete indicator development Complete peer reviewsComplete peer reviews

Develop first approximation report Develop first approximation report (2003)(2003)

Short-term Goals Short-term Goals & Objectives& Objectives (cont.)(cont.)

Expand interactive outreach activities to Expand interactive outreach activities to include:include:

WorkshopsWorkshops Ecological Society of America – August 2002Ecological Society of America – August 2002 Society for Range Management – February 2003Society for Range Management – February 2003 77thth International Rangeland Congress – July 2003 International Rangeland Congress – July 2003

Stakeholder Comment SessionsStakeholder Comment Sessions NCBA Summer Meeting – July 2002NCBA Summer Meeting – July 2002 Billings, Montana – August 2002Billings, Montana – August 2002

Long-term Goals & Long-term Goals & ChallengesChallenges

Broad based adoption of C & I by Broad based adoption of C & I by local, state, regional and federal local, state, regional and federal rangeland management agencies rangeland management agencies and non-government organizations.and non-government organizations.

Challenge – overcoming perceived and real “cultural” barriers.

Long-term Goals Long-term Goals & Challenges& Challenges (cont.)(cont.)

Implementation of C & I by adopting Implementation of C & I by adopting agencies and organizations.agencies and organizations.

Challenge – garnering resources for implementation.

Value of Effective Value of Effective Implementation in Developing Implementation in Developing Management Policies and Management Policies and StrategiesStrategies

Provides a suite of common indicators Provides a suite of common indicators for assessing and monitoring a multi-for assessing and monitoring a multi-use suite of sustainable rangeland use suite of sustainable rangeland management policies and strategies.management policies and strategies.

Value of Effective Value of Effective Implementation Implementation in Developing Management in Developing Management Policies and StrategiesPolicies and Strategies

Offers opportunity to improve Offers opportunity to improve management efficiencies as they relate to management efficiencies as they relate to ecological, economic, and social factors by ecological, economic, and social factors by helping you:helping you:

Focus research on key criteria and indicators Focus research on key criteria and indicators that are sensitive to changing ecological that are sensitive to changing ecological processes that either impact economic processes that either impact economic sustainability and social acceptance or are sustainability and social acceptance or are impacted by local economic situations and impacted by local economic situations and social mores.social mores.

For example, consider:For example, consider:

Declining quality of wildlife habitat, secondary Declining quality of wildlife habitat, secondary productivity, water yields, etc. because of productivity, water yields, etc. because of increases in noxious and invasive weeds, orincreases in noxious and invasive weeds, or

Declining economic well-being of community Declining economic well-being of community because of the threat of rangeland because of the threat of rangeland recreational activities on an endangered plant recreational activities on an endangered plant or animal species.or animal species.


Identify severely degraded and high risk Identify severely degraded and high risk systems that merit immediate attention systems that merit immediate attention to prevent further degradation and/or to to prevent further degradation and/or to initiate effective restoration actions.initiate effective restoration actions.


Example – systems that are subjected to increasing rates of fragmentation resulting from increasing rates of urban development.

Provide framework for:Provide framework for:

Development of coordinated, multi-use, Development of coordinated, multi-use, multi-level management strategies, andmulti-level management strategies, and

Improved accountability.Improved accountability.

Cost savingsCost savings


Provides a golden opportunity to Provides a golden opportunity to improve our understanding of the improve our understanding of the interaction effects of ecology, interaction effects of ecology, economics, and social factors as economics, and social factors as they relate to the sustainability of they relate to the sustainability of rangeland ecosystems.rangeland ecosystems.


““Sustainability is not a Sustainability is not a destination, but a journey: no destination, but a journey: no deadlines are set, but work deadlines are set, but work steadily progresses towards a steadily progresses towards a goal over time.”goal over time.”

-Phil Janik,

Co-chair, Roundtable on Sustainable Forests

Questions?

May 30, 2002 Sustainable Rangelands Roundtable. Purpose Today Introduce the Sustainable Rangelands...

Documents

Transcript of May 30, 2002 Sustainable Rangelands Roundtable. Purpose Today Introduce the Sustainable Rangelands...