Arid and Semiarid Rangeland Monitoring in North America

TitleArid and Semiarid Rangeland Monitoring in North America
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2006
AuthorsHerrick JE, Moya E.G., Willms W, Bestelmeyer BT, Sundt P., Barnes W.
JournalSecheresse
Volume17
Pagination235-241
Date PublishedSeptember 2006
ARIS Log Number190947
Keywordsarid, arid zone, data base, monitoring, rangeland, rangelands, semi-arid
AbstractCanada, the United States and Mexico all have a long history of rangeland monitoring. However none have developed a nationwide database or even standardized set of protocols. The lack of standardization, inadequately developed relationships between management objectives and monitoring protocols, and an emphasis on data collection rather than analysis and interpretation have limited the value of past monitoring efforts. The future of monitoring is bright in all three countries. New policies reward ranchers who can document positive changes on their land. Non-equilibrium theory developed in Europe, Africa, Australia and North America increase the value of monitoring data. New protocols increasingly focus monitoring on ecological processes.
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