Rangeland Center
Promoting Collaborative Solutions for Rangelands
Science and Solutions for the Range
The Rangeland Center is here to use science to find long-term solutions for managing rangelands. We are an interdisciplinary team of researchers and educators, from seven U of I departments, two colleges and University of Idaho Extension sites, which conducts research and outreach focused on rangelands. Our partnerships with other individuals, agencies, and organizations enhance our ability to serve those who manage and enjoy rangelands in Idaho and the western region of the United States.
Today’s West is experiencing some growing pains as its citizens seek landscapes for a host of resources, including habitat for livestock and wildlife, sunlight and wind for energy, trails for recreation, and quiet scenic places to live. These competing interests exist alongside unprecedented changes in wildland fire frequency, exotic plant invasion, and landscape fragmentation.
Rangelands are the stage on which many of these conflicts and challenges are played out. Well-managed rangelands are also a cornerstone to the economic and ecological future of Idaho and the West. After all, half of Idaho’s land is rangeland, as is half of the West and half of all the land on Earth.
Research
Our research is aimed at understanding rangeland communities with an eye on how dynamic biological and physical conditions influence the human communities that live on these rangeland landscapes. We strive to bridge the gap between science and land management by using stakeholder input to develop solution-based research that has valuable and real-world implications for rangelands.
Outreach
Through collaboration with our partners, including University of Idaho Extension, we ensure that science turns into viable “best practices” that are conveyed to stakeholders in Idaho, the region and beyond. The Rangeland Center provides a variety of informational products and venues to those interested in rangeland conservation and management.
Resources
The Rangeland Center’s resources have something to offer everyone, whether you are a producer, resource professional, naturalist, educator, student, or just interested in learning more about the rangelands around you.
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