Publications and Resources from the Rangeland Center

As part of our mission to create knowledge and foster understanding for the stewardship and management of rangelands, we produce publications and resources related to range management, wildlife, and more. Explore the publications below.

FAQ Series

Science-based summaries on emerging topics that are relevant to rangelands and people.

This document explains how species are evaluated for listing under the ESA and suggests options for landowners who want to avoid ESA-imposed restrictions on uses and activities.

This document explores how climate change is impacting the working rangelands of the Pacific Northwest.

This document explores pioneer plant species for Intermountain Rangeland restoration.

Rangeland Center Strategic Plan

(2025-2029)

The Rangeland Center Strategic Plan addresses two of the three pillars of the University of Idaho Strategic Plan. The Center and its members develop and promote “Ideas That Matter” by encouraging and supporting interdisciplinary research and outreach and by engaging partners from Idaho’s communities to benefit our state and region. Additionally, the Center contributes to “Building Our Team” by engaging our members across Idaho to effectively respond to emerging needs, challenges, and opportunities. 

In the next five years (2025-2029), the Rangeland Center staff, Center members, and the PAC will implement activities in the priority topics identified in this plan. We will seek partnerships and secure resources to accomplish our goals and leverage our resources to build greater capacity in our efforts. Explore the strategic plan here.

About the Rangeland Center

About Idaho’s Rangelands

Idaho at a Glance: Idaho Rangelands

Books & Guides

  • Backpack Guide to Idaho Range Plants: Idaho’s vast rangeland landscapes are rich with diverse plant life that can intrigue the curious and observant naturalist. This full-color guide is designed to help readers learn to recognize some of the most common and important rangeland plants in Idaho. Order Your Copy.

  • A Field Guide to Grasses and Grass-Like Plants of Idaho: Grasses and grass-like plants are key to the productivity, function and diversity of Idaho’s rangelands, wetlands and forests. Learn to identify almost 100 plant species and understand the value of these plants with this one of a kind publication. Rich photographs and detailed drawings fill this visually engaging plant identification book. Order a Print Copy or a Digital Download.

  • Landowner Guide to Sage-grouse Habitat in Idaho: This guidebook helps land owners and managers recognize characteristics of productive and unfavorable sage-grouse habitat, prompting informed approaches to management and conservation. The focus is on ranching, as opposed to other land use activities, because livestock grazing is the primary land use that occurs in sage-grouse habitat. Download PDF.

  • Dormant Season Grazing to Reduce Cheatgrass and Promote Perennial Bunchgrasses: This overview provides key points and information from research that is assessing the value of dormant season grazing to restore degraded rangelands by reducing annual invasive cheatgrass. Download PDF.

Apps & Databases

Resources available for range professionals and enthusiasts.

The UI Rangeland Center helped produce an app that contains 100+ grasses and grass-like plants, complete with common and scientific names, flowering period, colorful photographs, distribution maps and much, much more. Filters and search features make this app perfect for use in the field. Find the app in Google Play or the App Store. View the End User License Agreement.

RangeDocs is an incredible online searchable database that gives land managers access to high quality, applicable information to help them make decisions and find resources to support their work. This digital library allows Extension professionals, agency staff, and other land managers to search rangeland terms and pinpoint paragraphs of applicable information from key national rangeland resources. Visit RangeDocs.

The Idaho Rangeland Atlas provides a simple interface to gather facts about the state of Idaho’s rangelands. Data is aggregated from several public sources to illustrate information such as land cover, livestock and fires. View the Idaho Rangeland Atlas.