ABSTRACT
This chapter aims to define rangeland and range management, with particular emphasis on how these definitions have changed during the developmental period of the discipline. Rangelands did not really change from 1943 to 1975. However, people's and society's attitudes toward range-land changed. Historical use of rangeland must be approached from two perspectives: the pattern of actual use that has occurred on US Rangelands lands, and the pattern of legislation that has been passed in an effort to direct use or respond to changes in use. The development of the range management discipline has created a demand for knowledgeable people to apply the research information. Membership in the Society included those who worked for the federal and state agencies charged with managing or providing assistance in managing range-lands, researchers, teachers, consultants, and ranchers. Rangelands are an important land resource of the world because of the amount of rangeland and the multitude of products and values that man obtains from rangelands.
