ABSTRACT
This chapter describes how Clementsian concepts have influenced range management thinking, examines some undesirable consequences of this influence which could be avoided by alternative concepts, and suggests how an alternative view of succession and range condition could be implemented. The purpose of assessing range condition, or the uses to which the results will be put, should be the basis for defining range condition and evaluating alternative approaches to evaluation of range condition and trend. Attempts to measure range condition simply as departure from climax, and general acceptance of questionable concepts of successional processes, has had a number of undesirable consequences for rangeland managers and the credibility of range management as a profession. Range condition classes have often been used to estimate carrying capacity or initial stocking rate. In any case, the basic environmental and economic reasons, for evaluating range condition are just as important on seeded ranges, forest-ranges, and woodland ranges as in grasslands.
