Monitoring Grazing Use: Strategies for Leveraging Technology and Adapting to Variability

• Published in: Rangelands Vol. 44; no. 1; pp. 64 - 77
• Main Authors: Jansen, Vincent, Traynor, Alexander C.E, Karl, Jason W, Lepak, Nika, Sprinkle, James
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Littleton Society for Range Management 01.02.2022; Elsevier Inc; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Accuracy; Adaptive management; ADAPTIVE MONITORING TO SUPPORT ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT; Calibration; Cattle; climate variability; Climatic data; Collars; Data collection; Estimates; Flexibility; Global Position Systems; Global positioning systems; GPS; grazing monitoring; Influence; Livestock; Prairies; Precipitation; Rangelands; Remote sensing; Satellites; Seasons; Spatial data; Technology; Trends; utilization; Vegetation; Water quality; climate variability; remote sensing; utilization; rangelands; Global Position Systems; grazing monitoring
• ISSN: 0190-0528; 1551-501X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rala.2021.07.005

Collection, interpretation, and application of use-based monitoring data across large landscapes is challenging given the inherent variability in growing conditions and field-based estimates. We present several approaches on leveraging geospatial data and technology to cope with this variability including weather and climate data, satellite remote-sensing data and associated tools, as well as livestock GPS collars. Field-based estimates also can be improved with more careful consideration of field methods and improved observer training and calibration. Planning and co-implementing of use-based and long-term landscape monitoring can inform causes of declining or improving rangeland health and better inform adaptive management.