Range Lands

7/31/2019 Range Lands

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Rangelands

Are grasslands, in both temperateand tropical climates, that serve asimportant areas of food productionfor humans by providing fodder forlivestock.

Are vast natural landscapes in the

form of grasslands, shrublands, woodlands, wetlands,and deserts.


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Minerals and energy resources Economic values, including ranching, mining, and electrical power.

Used for recreation

Hunting, hiking, and camping.

Preserved for biological habitat The primary use of rangeland has been to provide forage for livestock

and wildlife.

Soil and water resources Also serve as important watersheds for production of clean

abundant water.

Rangelands may be mined for


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46% of the Earth's land surface is Rangeland


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Predominant Vegetation

Grasses The predominant vegetation of rangelands.

It has a fibrous root system. Many roots form adiffuse network in the soil which reduces soilerosion.

Forbs

A more common term for them is "weed.

It is a non-wooded, broad leaved plant otherthan grass, especially one growing in a field,

prairie, or meadow.

Shrubs A woody plant smaller than a tree, with several

main stems arising at or near the ground.


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It is a professional field whose aim is to ensure a sustained yieldof rangeland products while protecting and improving the basicrange resources of soil, water, and plant and animal life.

Many different types of natural resources managers and

practitioners work together, using techniques based on ecologicalprinciples, to assure that these areas are managed sustainably.

Range managers Plant Ecologists Wildlife and Livestock managers Soil Scientists Recreation specialist

Rangeland Management


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Benefits of Managed Grazing

Stimulates rapid growth

Through the removal of mature vegetation by grazing animals.

Allow rainfall to reach root systems The hooves of the grazing animals disturbs the soil surface.

Greater plant diversity

There is more plant growth.


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Overgrazing

Is the practice of grazing too many livestock for toolong a period on land unable to recover its

vegetation.

It is when the carrying capacity of a rangelandexceeded.

The most chronic problem in the management ofranges.

It reduces the production of forage. It exposes the soil to sealing, baking and erosion.


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Land Degradation

It is a process in which the value of the biophysicalenvironment is affected by one or more combinationof human-induced processes acting upon the land.

It is viewed as any change or disturbance to the landperceived to be deleterious or undesirable.

The reduced grass cover caused by overgrazing allows

winds to erode the soil. Water erosion removes the little bit of remaining topsoil,

and the sand left behind forms dunes.


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Most of the worlds rangelands lie in semiarid areasthat have natural extended droughts.

During dry periods, the carrying capacity of therangeland is considerably lower because the lack ofprecipitation reduces plant productivity.

Native grasses in these dry lands can survive a severe

drought:

Dry periodsLower carrying

capacity because ofLack of

precipitation.

Native grasses cansurvive a severe

drought.

AerialPortiondies

Rain returns, the rootsDevelop new shoots

Extensive rootsystem remainsalive and holds

the soil in place


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Desertification

It is a progressive degradation which inducesunproductive desert like conditions on formerly

productive rangeland.

It reduces the agricultural productivity of economically

valuable land, forces many organisms out andthreatens endangered species. Overgrazing + Extended drought = Desert

Once a fertile rangeland can be converted to a desert.


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Agricultural Lands

Denotes the land suitable for agricultural

production, both crops and livestock.

Traditionally, farming was a small business. Now largeragribusinesses own such family farms.


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Uses of Agricultural Lands

Agricultural land is primarily required for:

the production of food for human and animal consumption

the growing of plants for fiber and fuels (including wood)

for other organically derived products (pharmaceuticals, etc).

Agricultural Land Essentials

Soil Moisture Sun

The more capably the land base provides and sustains these inputs,the more capable and productive the land is as agricultural land.

Plants Animals Biological agents


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Urbanization of Agricultural Lands

Not all agricultural land is capable or suitable forproducing all agricultural products, regardless of thelevel of management applied.

Prime agricultural land is falling victim tourbanization and suburban sprawl converted into Parking lots

Housing developments Shopping malls

Homes and businessesoccupy land that was once cornfieldsin York County, Pennsylvania.


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Urbanization

(Baguio Mall Extension )

Sell the land for development or keep thetrees? Environment Secretary Ramon Paje said the

government should make up its mind beforeselling a property to a developer, taking into

consideration the ramificationslike trees beingcutotherwise it might be too late.

He said the government should realize that onceit disposes of a piece of land, it should not expect

the developer to retain its natural features.

The DENR withdrew its permit to the SM Groupto cut down 182 trees as part of its mallexpansion.


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United States Agricultural Lands

Loss of land is a significant problem because ofurbanization.

Top 5 U.S. farm areas threatenedby population

growth and urban/suburban spread are Californias Central Valley

South Florida

Californias coastal region

The Mid-Atlantic Chesapeake region North Carolina Piedmont

More than 160,000 hectares of prime U.S. farmland are lost eachyear.


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The 1996 Farm Bill

Included funding for the establishment of a NationalFarmland Protection Program.

This voluntary program helps farmers keep their land inagriculture.

The farmers sell conservation easements that prevent themfrom converting their land to nonagricultural uses.

The easements are in effect from a minimum of 30 years toforever.

As with other conservation easements, the farmers retain fullrights to use their propertyin this case, for agriculturalpurposes.


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Agricultural Land Reform Code (RA 3844)

Philippine land reform law enacted in1963 under President DiosdadoMacapagal.

It abolished tenancy and established aleasehold system in which farmers paidfixed rentals to landlords, rather than a

percentage of harvest.


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Main Provisions of theAgricultural Reform Code

To establish and encourage the formation of family-sized farms as the basisfor Philippine agriculture.

To improve the lives of farmers by liberating them from harmful practicessuch as illegal interest rates.

To encourage greater productivity and increase income of small farmers.

To apply labor laws equally regardless of status.

To provide a land settlement program and promote equitable distributionof land.

To make poor farmers self-reliant, responsible citizens to strengthensociety.

Range Lands

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