Biomes which can be grazed by animals or livestock (grasslands, woodlands, prairies, etc)
Rangelands
are
grasslands
,
shrublands
,
woodlands
,
wetlands
, and
deserts
that are grazed by domestic
livestock
or
wild animals
. Types of rangelands include
tallgrass
and
shortgrass prairies
, desert grasslands and shrublands, woodlands,
savannas
,
chaparrals
,
steppes
, and
tundras
. Rangelands do not include
forests
lacking grazable
understory
vegetation, barren desert,
farmland
, or land covered by solid rock, concrete and/or
glaciers
.
Rangelands are distinguished from
pasture
lands because they grow primarily
native vegetation
, rather than plants established by humans. Rangelands are also
managed
principally with practices such as managed livestock grazing and
prescribed fire
rather than more intensive agricultural practices of seeding,
irrigation
, and the use of fertilizers.
Grazing is an important use of rangelands but the term
rangeland
is not synonymous with
grazingland
. Livestock grazing can be used to
manage rangelands
by harvesting forage to produce livestock, changing plant composition, or reducing fuel loads.
Fire is also an important regulator of range vegetation, whether set by humans or resulting from
lightning
. Fires tend to reduce the abundance of woody plants and promote herbaceous plants including grasses,
forbs
, and
grass-like plants
. The suppression or reduction of periodic wildfires from desert shrublands, savannas, or woodlands frequently invites the dominance of trees and shrubs to the near exclusion of grasses and forbs.
[1]
Rangelands cover approximately 80 million square kilometers globally, with 9.5 million square kilometers protected and 67 million square kilometers used for
livestock production
. These areas sustain about 1 billion animals, managed by
pastoralists
across over 100 countries, illustrating their crucial role in both
ecological conservation
and agricultural productivity.
[2]
The United Nations (UN) has declared 2026 the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists, with the
Food and Agriculture Organization
leading the iniative.
[3]
Etymology and definition
[
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]
The
United States Environmental Protection Agency
defines rangeland as "lands on which the native vegetation (climax or natural potential plant community) is predominantly grasses, grass-like plants, forbs, or shrubs suitable for grazing or browsing use."
[4]
The EPA classifies natural grassland and savannas as rangeland, and in some cases includes wetlands, deserts, tundra, and "certain forb and shrub communities."
[4]
The primary difference between rangeland and pasture is management; rangelands tend to have natural vegetation along with a few introduced plant species, but all managed by grazing, while pastures have forage that is adapted for livestock and managed, by seeding, mowing, fertilization and irrigation.
[4]
Types of rangeland
[
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]
According to the UNCCD, 35% o rangelands are deserts and xeric shrublands, 26% tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas and shrublands, 15% tundra, 13% temperate grasslands, savannahs and shrublands, 6% montane grasslands and shrublands, 4% mediterranean forests, woodlands and scrub, as well as 1% flooded grasslands and savannahs.
[5]
Prairie
[
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]
Prairies
are considered part of the
temperate grasslands, savannas and shrublands
biome
by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the dominant
vegetation type
. Temperate grassland regions include the
Pampas
of
Argentina
, and the
steppes
of
Eurasia
.
Grasslands
[
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]
Grasslands
are areas where the
vegetation
is dominated by grasses (
Poaceae
) and other
herbaceous
(non-woody) plants. However, sedge (
Cyperaceae
) and rush (
Juncaceae
) families can also be found. Grasslands occur naturally on all continents except
Antarctica
. In temperate latitudes, such as
northwest Europe
and the
Great Plains
and
California
in
North America
, native grasslands are dominated by perennial
bunch grass
species, whereas in warmer climates annual species form a greater component of the vegetation.
[6]
Steppe
[
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]
Steppe
, in physical geography, refers to a
biome
region characterized by
grassland
plain
without
trees
apart from those near rivers and lakes. The
prairie
(especially the
shortgrass
and
mixed prairie
) is an example of a steppe, though it is not usually called such. It may be semi-
desert
, or covered with
grass
or
shrubs
or both, depending on the
season
and
latitude
. The term is also used to denote the
climate
encountered in regions too dry to support a
forest
, but not dry enough to be a desert.
Pampas
[
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]
Pampas
are the fertile
South American
lowlands that include the
Argentine
provinces of
Buenos Aires
,
La Pampa
,
Santa Fe
,
Entre Rios
and
Cordoba
, most of
Uruguay
, and the State of
Rio Grande do Sul
, in the southernmost end of
Brazil
covering more than 750,000 km
2
(289,577 sq mi). These vast plains are only interrupted by the low Ventana and Tandil hills near
Bahia Blanca
and
Tandil
(Argentina), with a height of 1,300 m (4,265 ft) and 500 m (1,640 ft) respectively. The climate is mild, with
precipitation
of 600 mm (23.6 in) to 1,200 mm (47.2 in), more or less evenly distributed through the year, making the soils appropriate for
agriculture
. This area is also one of the distinct physiography provinces of the larger Parana-Paraguay Plain division. These plains contain unique wildlife because of the different terrains around it. Some of this wildlife includes the
rhea
, the
badger
, and the
prairie chicken
.
Shrubland
[
edit
]
Shrubland
is a
plant community
characterized by
vegetation
dominated
by
shrubs
, often also including
grasses
,
herbs
, and
geophytes
. Shrubland may either occur naturally or be the result of human activity.
[7]
It may be the mature vegetation type in a particular region and remain stable over time, or a transitional community that occurs temporarily as the result of a disturbance, such as fire. A stable state may be maintained by regular natural disturbance such as fire or
browsing
. Shrubland may be unsuitable for human habitation because of the danger of fire. The term "shrubland" was first coined in 1903.
[8]
Woodland
[
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]
Woodland
is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of primary or secondary succession. Higher densities and areas of trees, with largely closed canopy, provide extensive and nearly continuous shade are referred to as forest.
Savanna
[
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]
Savanna
is a
grassland
ecosystem
characterized by the trees being sufficiently small or widely spaced so that the
canopy
does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach the ground to support an unbroken
herbaceous layer
consisting primarily of
C4
grasses
.
[9]
Desert
[
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]
Desert
is a
landscape
or
region
that receives an extremely low amount of
precipitation
, defined as areas with an average annual precipitation of less than 250 millimetres (10 in) per year,
[10]
[11]
or as areas where more water is lost by
evapotranspiration
than falls as precipitation.
[12]
In the
Koppen climate classification
system, deserts are classed as
BWh
(hot desert) or
BWk
(temperate desert). In the Thornthwaite climate classification system, deserts would be classified as arid
megathermal
climates.
[13]
[14]
Tundra
[
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]
Tundra
is a
biome
where the
tree
growth is hindered by low temperatures and short growing seasons. The term
tundra
comes through Russian тундра from the
Kildin Sami
word
t?ndar
"uplands," "treeless mountain tract."
[15]
There are three types of tundra: Arctic tundra,
[16]
alpine tundra
,
[16]
and Antarctic tundra
[17]
In tundra, the
vegetation
is composed of dwarf
shrubs
,
sedges
and
grasses
,
mosses
, and
lichens
. Scattered trees grow in some tundra. The
ecotone
(or ecological boundary region) between the tundra and the forest is known as the
tree line
or timberline.
Uses of rangeland
[
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]
Rangelands produce a wide variety of goods and services desired by society, including livestock forage (
Grazing
), wildlife habitat,
water
,
mineral resources
,
wood products
,
wildland recreation
, open space and natural beauty. The geographic extent and many important resources of rangelands make their proper use and management vitally important to people everywhere.
[18]
Economic benefits
[
edit
]
Rangelands are vital economic assets, contributing substantially to
national economies
, particularly through
livestock production
. For instance, in
Ethiopia
, rangelands account for 19% of the national
GDP
, while in
Brazil
, they contribute one-third of the agribusiness GDP through cattle farming. These vast areas not only support direct agricultural outputs but also bolster related industries, enhancing employment and promoting economic growth. Their management and sustainability are crucial for continuing these economic contributions and supporting the livelihoods dependent on them.
[19]
Rangeland degradation challenges
[
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]
The degradation of Earth's extensive rangelands due to overuse, misuse,
climate change
, and
biodiversity loss
represents a significant threat to humanity's
food supply
and the well-being or survival of billions of people.
In 2024, the
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
(UNCCD) reported that up to 50% of rangelands are degraded. These areas suffer from reduced
soil fertility
,
woody encroachment
,
erosion
,
salinization
,
alkalinization
, and
soil compaction
, which all inhibit plant growth and contribute to drought and fluctuations in precipitation. This degradation is primarily driven by the conversion of
pastures
to
cropland
,
urban expansion
, increasing demands for food, fiber, and fuel, excessive
grazing
, abandonment by pastoralists, and policies that incentivize overexploitation. The UNCCD further observes that the loss of rangeland attracts little public attention and rarely features in internaitonal policy discussions.
[19]
[5]
Global extent
[
edit
]
Rangelands cover up to 8 billion hectares of land globally and therewith 54% of the terrestrial surface. 78% of rangelands occur in drylands.
[5]
Canada
[
edit
]
Rangeland is a prominent feature of rural
Canada
. A provincial jurisdiction, administration and policy regarding range use varies across the country. As in many other
Commonwealth
countries, public tenures on
crown land
for the purpose of range activities are common in geographically compatible areas. Reconciling the economic needs of ranchers and the need for environmental conservation is one of the primary themes in modern range discourse.
In western Canada, both grassland and forested range are significant. In British Columbia, 70 percent of grassland range is privately owned and 60 percent of the total annual livestock forage requirement is provided by grazing on Crown rangeland (34 million hectares), 80 percent of which is forested range.
[20]
Grassland range predominates in much of the prairie provinces’ ranching area; however, forested range is particularly important in the boreal region.
[21]
[22]
Certain rangelands are preserved as provincially-protected areas similar to parks, others are managed as community resources. For example, in Alberta since 2003 there has been legislation allowing the creation of "Heritage Rangelands" within the parks system.
[23]
As of 2012 there were 2 heritage rangelands and 6 proposed future heritage rangelands run by
Alberta Parks
.
[24]
There are also 32 provincial
grazing reserves
located throughout Alberta administered as public lands by
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
.
[25]
The federal government has administered several "Community Pastures" in Western Canada that were reclaimed lands suffering erosion during the 1930s.
[26]
In 2012, it was announced that this federal involvement would be phased out over a six-year period.
[27]
United States
[
edit
]
Of the land within the
United States
borders, 36% is considered rangeland. The western side of the United States is 53% rangeland.
[18]
Around 399 million acres (1,610,000 km
2
) of rangeland are privately owned. The
Bureau of Land Management
manages about 167 million acres (676,000 km
2
) of publicly owned rangeland, with the
United States Forest Service
managing approximately 95 million acres (380,000 km
2
) more.
Ranchers
may lease portions of this public rangeland and pay a fee based on the number and type of livestock and the period for which they are on the land.
Historically much of the land in the western United States was used for grazing and much of some states still is. In many of those states, such as Arizona, an
open-range law
applies which requires a land owner to fence cattle out rather than in; thus cattle are theoretically allowed to roam free. In modern times open-range laws can conflict with urban development as occasional stray cows, bulls, or even herds wander into subdivisions or onto highways.
[28]
North American rangelands - grasslands
[
edit
]
- Tall Grass Prairie
- Mixed Grass Prairie
- Short Grass Prairie
- Pacific Bunchgrass
- Annual Grasslands
North American rangelands - shrublands
[
edit
]
- Sagebrush Steppe
- Salt Desert Shrublands
- Desert Shrublands
Australia
[
edit
]
Australia’s rangelands extend from
tropical savannas
in the north dominated by summer rainfall, though large areas of desert in central Australia to the southern rangelands dominated by winter rainfall. They cover approximately 80 per cent of the Australian continent and equate broadly with the ‘
Outback
’. However, rangelands also occur in higher rainfall areas where limitations other than rainfall restrict use to management of the natural landscape. The rangelands are where values and societal benefits are based primarily on natural resources. They are areas which have not been intensively developed for agriculture but extensive livestock production is a major land use, accounting for 55 per cent of the rangelands.
[29]
Conservation reserves utilise around 11 per cent of the rangelands and the rangelands have areas of significant biodiversity and natural attractions on a world scale. Although mining and petroleum extraction uses a very small percentage of the rangelands, it economically contributes most to Australia’s Gross Domestic Product compared with other rangeland industries (cattle, sheep and goat production, tourism, harvesting of native products). Indigenous land tenures of various types cover around 59 per cent of the rangelands and overlap with grazing and conservation uses.
[29]
Although rangelands cover 80 per cent of Australia’s land mass, at the 2016 Census, they were home to just over two per cent of the population (394,000 people), with 28 per cent of rangeland residents identifying as being Indigenous.
[29]
South America
[
edit
]
Rangelands in South America are located in regions with climate ranging from arid to sub-humid. Annual precipitation in these areas ranges from approximately 150 to 1500 mm (6?60 inches). Within South America, rangelands cover about 33% of the total land area. South American rangelands include; grasslands, shrublands, savannas, and hot and cold deserts. Rangelands in South America exclude hyperarid deserts. Examples of the South American rangelands include the Patagonian Steppe, the Monte, the Pampas, the "Llanos" or "Cerrado," the "Chaco" and the "Caatinga."
The change in the intensity and location of tropical thunderstorms and other weather patterns is the driving force in the climates of southern South America.
Africa
[
edit
]
In
Kenya
, rangelands make up for 85% of the land surface area, and are largely inhabited by nomadic pastoralists who are largely dependent on livestock. This movement often brings along an incursion of different diseases with the common one being the rinderpest virus in the Kenyan wildlife population from the Somali ecosystem.
Asia
[
edit
]
In the past, rangelands in western China supported a pastoral economy and large wildlife populations. Now the rangelands have shrunk due to population growth, economic, government, and social factors. Rangeland types in China include; Semi-desert, Dry Alpine Grasslands, Alpine Dwarf Shrub, Wetland types.
Gallery
[
edit
]
-
Palouse Hills of Washington
-
Sonoran Desert
-
Konza Prairie
-
-
Triodia Hummock Grasslands
-
Savannah in southern Africa
-
Caliente Peak, California
-
Lake Swan, Nevada
See also
[
edit
]
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Micropaedia: The New Encyclopædia Britannica
. Vol. 9 (15th ed.). 2010.
- ^
"
'Silent demise' of vast rangelands threatens climate, food, wellbeing of billions"
.
UNCCD
. Retrieved
2024-05-26
.
- ^
"UN names 2026 as the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralists"
.
www.fao.org
. Retrieved
2024-05-29
.
- ^
a
b
c
"Pasture, Rangeland, and Grazing Operations"
.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
. Retrieved
12 September
2015
.
- ^
a
b
c
UNCCD. 2024.
Global Land Outlook Thematic Report on Rangelands and Pastoralism
. United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, Bonn.
- ^
NASA Earth Observatory webpage
- ^
"Chapter 12 Scrub Management"
. Natural England.
[
dead link
]
- ^
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition (2003).
- ^
Werner, Patricia A.; B. H. Walker; P. A Stott (1991). "Introduction". In Patricia A. Werner (ed.).
Savanna Ecology and Management: Australian Perspectives and Intercontinental Comparisons
.
Oxford
:
Blackwell Publishing
.
ISBN
978-0-632-03199-3
.
- ^
What is a desert?
- ^
According to
What is a desert?
, the 250 mm threshold definition is attributed to
Peveril Meigs
.
- ^
"desert"
.
Encyclopædia Britannica online
. Retrieved
2008-02-09
.
- ^
Fredlund, D.G.; Rahardjo, H. (1993).
Soil Mechanics for Unsaturated Soils
(PDF)
. Wiley-Interscience.
ISBN
978-0-471-85008-3
. Retrieved
2008-05-21
.
- ^
Glossary of Meteorology.
Megathermal Climate.
Retrieved on 2008-05-21.
- ^
Aapala, Kirsti.
"Tunturista jangalle"
.
Kieli-ikkunat
. Archived from
the original
on 2006-10-01
. Retrieved
2009-01-19
.
- ^
a
b
"The Tundra Biome"
.
The World's Biomes
. Retrieved
2006-03-05
.
- ^
"Terrestrial Ecoregions: Antarctica"
.
Wild World
. National Geographic. Archived from
the original
on 2011-08-05
. Retrieved
2009-11-02
.
- ^
a
b
"What is Range"
. Cnr.uidaho.edu. Archived from
the original
on 2011-07-18
. Retrieved
2010-12-22
.
- ^
a
b
"
'Silent demise' of vast rangelands threatens climate, food, wellbeing of billions"
.
UNCCD
. Retrieved
2024-05-26
.
- ^
British Columbia Ministry of Forest, Mines and Lands. 2010. The state of British Columbia’s forests. 3rd Ed.
"Archived copy"
(PDF)
. Archived from
the original
(PDF)
on 2016-08-04
. Retrieved
2015-09-10
.
{{
cite web
}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (
link
)
- ^
Government of Saskatchewan. Forested rangeland grazing.
"Grazing Forested Rangeland - Agriculture -"
. Archived from
the original
on 2015-12-22
. Retrieved
2015-09-10
.
- ^
Range management fact sheet for northern Alberta’s boreal region. Forest grazing.
"Archived copy"
(PDF)
. Archived from
the original
(PDF)
on 2016-03-05
. Retrieved
2015-09-10
.
{{
cite web
}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (
link
)
- ^
Landals, Archie (2003).
"Heritage Rangelands: A Bold Step to Preserve a Legacy"
(PDF)
. Alberta Wilderness Association
. Retrieved
21 July
2013
.
[
permanent dead link
]
- ^
"Management & Land-use - Legislation & Regulations"
. Alberta Tourism Parks and Recreation
. Retrieved
2013-06-30
.
- ^
"Provincial Grazing Reserves"
. Alberta Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Resource Development. 27 October 2006. Archived from
the original
on 19 August 2013
. Retrieved
22 July
2013
.
- ^
"Community Pasture Program"
. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. 2013-06-21
. Retrieved
2013-06-30
.
- ^
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Transfer of grazing pastures.
http://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/?id=1414430742263
- ^
"Arizona Rethinking Open Range Laws"
article by Marc Lacey in
The New York Times
October 11, 2010. Retrieved October 13, 2010.
- ^
a
b
c
Foran, Barney; Stafford Smith, Mark; Burnside, Don; Andrew, Martin; Blesing, Don; Forrest, Kate; Taylor, John (2019).
"Australian rangeland futures: time now for systemic responses to interconnected challenges"
.
The Rangeland Journal
.
41
(3): 271?292.
doi
:
10.1071/RJ18105
.
S2CID
199631304
.
External links
[
edit
]