ABSTRACT
Sustainable development is recognized as an appropriate analysis paradigm for assessing natural resource systems. The Sustainable Rangelands Roundtable (SRR), which includes representatives from conservation groups, the livestock industry, local, state, and federal government, and university partners, has identified a common set of factors for assessing rangeland sustainability. The SRR distinguished a set of criteria and indicators embodying social, economic, and ecological factors that offer a framework for rangeland assessment. Availability of such information will foster sound decision-making relative to the sustainability of economic, social, and ecological benefits derived from rangelands. Indicators of sustainability are identified for five criteria: (1) conservation and maintenance of soil and water resources of rangelands, (2) conservation and maintenance of plant and animal resources of rangelands, (3) maintenance of productive capacity on rangelands, (4) maintenance and enhancement of multiple economic and social benefits to current and future generations, and (5) legal, institutional, and economic framework for rangeland conservation and sustainable management. This suite of criteria and indicators serves as the basis for the assessment of rangeland sustainability described in subsequent chapters and also facilitates evaluation of data availability and data quality to characterize indicators of social, ecological, and economic elements of sustainability.
