National Forest System Grazing Objectives

1. Manage range vegetation to protect basic soil and water resources, provide for ecological diversity, improve or maintain environmental quality, and meet public needs for interrelated uses.

2. Integrate management of range vegetation with other resource programs to achieve multiple use objectives contained in Forest land and resource management plans.

3. Provide for livestock forage, wildlife food and habitat, outdoor recreation and other resource values dependent on range vegetation.

National Forest System Grazing Objectives cont.

3. Provide opportunities for economic diversity and promote stability for communities that depend on range resources for their livelihood.

4. Provide expertise on range ecology, botany, and management of grazing animals.

Grazing Plan

• Develop Goals and Objectives • Identify a Management System• Maintain or Develop Range Improvements• Livestock Distribution– Herding– Fencing– Water development– Salting sites

• Monitoring Plan

Monitoring pastureland for desired conditions

– ANNUAL MONITORING– LONG TERM CONDITION & TREND MONITORING• Criteria developed by US Forest Service specialists• Hydrology• Soil• Vegetation

Monitoring pastureland for desired conditions

• Monitoring goals • To maintain: – Species habitat– Meadow health– Stream health– Water Quality

• OUTCOME – SUSTAINABLE GRAZING

Monitoring using a Team Approach

Monitoring in Consultation with Livestock Owners

MONITORING

• Permittee Monitoring– Grazing Planning– Education/Training– Implementation– Range Staff Verification

Monitoring Training

Learning monitoring methods