PS 59-2
Future directions of usable science for rangeland sustainability
As funding and support for rangeland research becomes more competitive, researchers and funders must ensure that needs of public and private land managers are met. Coupled with rangeland research funding constraints are ever-expanding environmental, financial, and societal pressures. Given these challenges, we must closely align on-the-ground knowledge needs with knowledge production by university and agency rangeland researchers, as well as research funding organizations. The Sustainable Rangelands Roundtable partnered with the Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation and the Consortium for Science Policy and Outcomes to convene a workshop of researchers, public and private land managers and producers, and representatives of funding agencies and organizations to develop a research agenda focused on Future Directions for Usable Science for Rangeland Sustainability. Rangelands provide ecosystem services including domestic livestock forage, open space, clean air and water, carbon sequestration, recreation opportunities, wildlife forage and habitat, food security, and scenic landscapes. Grazing animals (wild and domestic) affect rangeland systems, as do human communities that manage these unique ecosystems to maintain structure and function. Therefore, areas of emphasis for this workshop included soils, water, plants, animals, and socio-economic aspects of rangeland sustainability.
Results/Conclusions
Results and conclusions derived from this interdisciplinary workshop reflect 20 hours of dialogue among over 30 contributors from varied backgrounds and rangeland professions. Perspectives were incorporated from agencies, funding organizations, land managers, producers, non-government organizations, and academics. Usable science considers the needs of its users throughout the scientific enterprise, in this case to ensure that rangelands continue to provide a desired mix of economic, ecological, and social benefits to current and future generations. Ecological drivers identified as influencing socio-economic aspects included climate change, drought, flooding, fire and invasives. Research questions developed address: restoration of abandoned cropland; using a landscape perspective for rangeland management; assessing resilience of rangeland systems to extreme events; integration of agricultural production and wildlife habitat conservation; effects of spatial pattern of plant communities and soils on livestock production, wildlife habitat, and water quality; understanding the role of space:time variability for rangelands; determining effects of invasive species on rangeland ecosystem goods and services; developing methods to rehabilitate degraded soils, recover from wind erosion, and deal with soil stabilization; and cost benefit analysis of restoring forage crops. Guidance generated during the workshop is categorized to address soil health, water, plants, animals, and socio-economic aspects of sustainable rangelands. The workshop concluded with an assessment of project and product components for decision-makers and thought leaders.