The "study reveals that less than 25 percent of non-federal rangelands have significant land degradation but that non-native plant species now occur on nearly 50 percent of all non-federal rangeland. While some of these species have significant benefits for soil conservation, others have negative effects. The study evaluated more than 10,000 field plots across western rangelands using National Resources Inventory (NRI) data, which is a statistical survey designed to help gauge natural resource status, conditions and trends on U.S. non-federal land."
The study was published in "Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment" and was the result of collaboration between the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and the US Geological Survey (USGS).
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack stated, "American ranchers and farmers are at the front line of the effort to protect the health and productivity of our western rangelands ... This new study not only provides valuable information about the current state of these lands, but also sets a baseline that will enable USDA to make our conservation efforts more effective and efficient in the future."
To read the news release, click here.
Posted: 10/04/2010
