Ecosystem Management

Ecosystem management is defined as the implementation of practices to maintain the provision of major ecological goods and services while restoring and conserving natural resources that sustain productive grasslands.

Ecosystem management practices provide strategies for reducing habitat loss and fragmentation, restoring habitat for wildlife and endangered species, improving forage production, maintaining watershed and soil protection and increasing biodiversity conservation at multiple scales. A healthy grassland ecosystem is the backbone of a sustainable ranching operation and contributes to the overall health of the surrounding environment.

These practices can also reduce the need for inputs such as pesticides and fertilizers, increase the productive capacity of the land and reduce production risks. They have the potential to maintain or even increase operational profitability. In addition, adopting such beneficial management practices can increase land value and provide opportunities for alternative income generation through recreation and other niche market activities.

Rangeland Management Strategies

Sustainable Agriculture Network, USA

This bulletin from the Sustainable Agriculture Network (SARE) recommends strategies that may help to integrate range management techniques that have long-term benefits for people, their land and their communities.
Sharing the Land with Pinyon-Juniper Birds

Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory, Colorado

The Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory created this document to educate land managers about beneficial practices that can enhance pinyon-juniper bird habitat on their land. It was developed with funding primarily provided by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Sharing Your Land with Prairie Wildlife

Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory, Colorado

The Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (RMBO) created this document to educate land managers about grassland management practices to help enhance bird and wildlife habitat in short grass prairies.
Silver Hills Ranch

Lumby, British Columbia

At Silver Hills Ranch located in Lumby, British Columbia, productivity has increased by using grazing and water management practices. Livestock rotation has been employed to reduce grassland overexploitation and increase manure spreading over the property.
Slovek Ranch Philip, South Dakota

Bill and Pennie Slovek

The Slovek Ranch is located near Philip, South Dakota, where Bill – a third generation rancher – his wife Pennie and their youngest son Bo, run approximately 900 cow-calf pairs on over 13,000 acres. They also rent 6,000 to 7,000 acres every year.
Spirit View Ranch Rycroft, Alberta

The Weder Family

In 1996, the Weder’s acquired a quarter section of land and 10 beef cows in Camrose, AB. They then relocated to Peace Country in 2003, and increased their herd to 60 cows, 20 open heifers, and began ranching on 880 acres of deeded land.
The Weedon Ranch

Swift Current, Saskatchewan

Located in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, the Weedon Ranch lies across a sandhill ecosystem where water and grass management are a top priority. The focus of the ranch’s sustainability management strategy is on the development of an efficient and reliable watering system.
Veno Ranch

Hanna, Alberta

With her husband Murray McArthur, Marj Veno’s operation has grown from a 120-head commercial cow herd to 300 purebred and 300 commercial Angus cows on 5,050 hectares, the majority of which is native range.
Veno Ranch (2)

Hanna, Alberta

With her husband Murray McArthur, Marj Veno’s operation has grown from a 120-head commercial cow herd to 300 purebred and 300 commercial Angus cows on 5,050 hectares, the majority of which is native range.
Weedon Ranch Swift Current, Saskatchewan

The Weedon Family

The Weedon Ranch encompasses approximately 11,500 acres of native prairie range and 1,920 acres of tame grass in the dry brown soil zone of Saskatchewan. Located in Swift Current, the ranch is mostly in a sandhill ecosystem, making water and grass management a priority.
Z-BAR RANCH LLC

Barber County, Kansas

This project was designed to improve rangeland health for livestock, manage grazing distribution, control invasive trees, improve wetland management, and enhance habitat for aquatic and grassland-dependent wildlife species.