Rangeland Health Assessment Tools

Grassland type Cultivated, Natural, Semi-natural, Permanent

Name of practice Rangeland Health Assessment Tools

Name of main actor Environment and Sustainable Resource Development, Government of Alberta

Type of actor(s) Government

Location Canada

Agro-ecological region Temperate

Sustainability dimension involved Governance, Environmental

Sustainability sub-themes Atmosphere, Water, Land, Biodiversity

Year of implementation 2009

Description of best practice Rangeland health refers to the ability to perform key environmental functions. Based on scientific advice, the Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development (ESRD) have defined a broad list of functions that contribute to healthy rangelands: • Net primary production • Maintenance of soil/site stability • Capture and beneficial release of water • Nutrient and energy cycling • Functional diversity of plant species The Alberta Rangeland Health Task Group has developed a short form that can be used to monitor the functions and assess the health of the various rangeland plant community types.

Outcomes and impacts This monitoring information has allowed ESRD to develop ecological classifications and assess the ongoing health of rangelands on public land. Further information and access to the rangeland health tools is available at: http://esrd.alberta.ca/lands-forests/grazing-range-management/range-health.aspx