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ARS Home » Plains Area » Las Cruces, New Mexico » Range Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #412213
Research Project: Knowledge Systems and Tools to Increase the Resilience and Sustainablity of Western Rangeland Agriculture

Location: Range Management Research

Title: Qualitative assessment of restoration effectiveness using Describing Indicators of Rangeland Health

Author
item LEPAK, NIKA - Bureau Of Land Management
item MOFFITT, JENNIFER - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS, USDA)
item Toledo, David
item Newingham, Beth
item LAURENCE-TRAYNOR, ALEX - Bureau Of Land Management
item JOST, BRAD - Bureau Of Land Management
item COULTRAP, DAWN - Us Forest Service (FS)
item Herrick, Jeffrey - Jeff

Submitted to: USGS - Scientific Investigations Report
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/10/2024
Publication Date: 8/1/2024
Citation: Lepak, N., Moffitt, J., Toledo, D.N., Newingham, B.A., Laurence-Traynor, A., Jost, B., Coultrap, D., Herrick, J.E. 2024. Qualitative assessment of restoration effectiveness using Describing Indicators of Rangeland Health. USGS - Scientific Investigations Report. Report.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: This ignite talk will summarize a technical reference that explains a simple, repeatable protocol to describe and quantify 17 indicators of rangeland health where no reference is available. The protocol uses a combination of quantitative measurements and observations. Describing Indicators of Rangeland Health (DIRH) results can be used in several ways, including  (1) to help develop Interpreting Indicators of Rangeland Health (IIRH) reference sheets, when collected on the same ecological site in areas that are at potential, (2)to  develop ecological site-specific evaluation matrices when collected in areas on the same ecological site that both are and are not at potential, (3) as a monitoring tool that integrates standardized quantitative data with observations of difficult-to-measure indicators such as soil erosion indicators, and (4) understanding the relationship between quantitative data and ecosystem processes. Use of DIRH requires basic rangeland monitoring experience, knowledge of soils, vegetation, and strong observational skills.