Land Management Planning Addresses Ecological Threats

Rangeland-based livestock producers face complex challenges across Oregon sagebrush step ecosystem. In particular, invasive annual grasses and encroaching juniper can threaten the ecosystem and the viability of rangeland-based agricultural operations. Furthermore, wildfire has interacted with these ecological threats, devastating Oregon's working and natural landscapes and rural enterprises that support domestic food systems. The fear is that if rangeland-based livestock producers are not able to preemptively promote sagebrush rangelands that are resistant to invasive annual grasses and resilient to disturbance, benefits we receive from the sagebrush step may be lost.

Land Management Planning So how can we work with Oregonians to promote sustainable agriculture, food systems, and gardening? We have responded by creating an innovative land management planning course that equips rangeland-based agricultural producers with scientific knowledge and GIS skills to develop land management plans that preemptively address ecological threats. We've adapted in-person content so anyone can access the online course from the comfort of their home. In particular, we have streamlined the process where our producers can create goals, objectives, and a virtual map representing the land that they manage.

Impacts participants receive an immersive experience with content, 360-degree images, and videos aligned to teach ecological and management concepts. To date, impacts include an ecological threat-based land management framework whereby 1.9 million acres in Oregon were mapped to aid local management decisions that affected livestock producers. Furthermore, we've trained 33 land managers in Idaho and Oregon, which collectively managed over 1.4 million acres of private and public rangelands that support livestock grazing. As more people enroll, we can further land management plans so all Oregonians can enjoy healthy and diverse landscapes that support secure domestic food systems.