Usable Socio-Economic Science for Rangelands

Abstract

• Because humans depend on rangelands for a wide variety of ecosystem goods and services, they have a large stake in research that explores supply and demand for those goods and services.
• Scientists and science userswho ranked 142 separate rangeland issues chose a socio-economic concern as most pressing: How to help rural communities plan for,
adapt to, and recover from impacts of increased social, economic, and ecological variability.
• Cross-jurisdictional stewardship is required to address manyrangelandproblems, so it is important to findways to encourage and assist collaborative management efforts.
• Decision makers and citizens need better ways to sift through the conflicting claims and conclusions available from a growing number of information sources.
• Rangeland communities, and the land itself, require a steady supply of individuals who are both willing and able to choose careers in rangeland occupations.

Keywords: ecosystem services, ranching, rural communities, Sustainable Rangelands Roundtable.