Management of prairie rangeland

Abstract

Issued also in French under title: Gestion des parcours des Prairies canadiennes. Distributed by the Government of Canada Depository Services Program (Weekly checklist 2010-44). Acknowledgements -- Highlights -- Chapter 1: Introduction. Prehistory ; Remnant natural grasslands today ; References -- Chapter 2: Climate, soils, ecological services, and climate change. Highlights ; Prairie landscape ; Climate ; Soils ; Climate change: overview ; Ecological goods and services ; References -- Chapter 3: Rangeland ecoregions and plant communities. Highlights ; Introduction ; Dry mixed grass prairie ecoregion ; Mixed grass prairie ecoregion ; Foothills fescue prairie ecoregion ; Riparian ecosystems in foothills fescue prairie ; Parkland-northern fescue prairie ecoregion ; Southeastern Canadian prairies ; Tall grass prairie ecoregion ; References -- Chapter 4: Land use history of natural grass rangelands. Highlights ; Grazing managers in pre-history ; Historical managers ; Settling of the prairies ; History of grazing practices ; Absence of grazing management ; References -- Chapter 5: Managing natural grass rangelands. Highlights ; Introduction ; Principles of grazing management ; How are grazing animals attracted to preferred range and preferred plants? ; Key range management principles ; Season of grazing: managed grazing during vulnerable periods ; Management of riparian natural grasslands: grazing strategies ; Grazing systems suitable for management of natural grasslands ; Issues relevant to management of natural grassland ranges ; What should contemporary grazing management systems accomplish? ; The relationship of animal health to grazing systems ; Grazing systems ; What grazing system is best? ; What forage type is best? ; References -- Chapter 6: Managing prairie natural grasslands under special conditions. Highlights ; Introduction ; Managing rangeland during drought cycles ; Managing natural grasslands in drought cycles ; Integrating use of prairie forage resources during drought ; Rangeland management of prairie grasslands on military training bases ; Rangeland management for natural grasslands in parks and other wildland conservation areas ; Management of invading woody plants into natural grasslands ; Management of invasive weeds in natural grasslands ; Reclamation of natural grasslands following disturbance ; Re-establishment of natural grasslands ; References -- Appendix 1. Common Canadian prairie range plants. The emphasis in this bulletin is on the effective range management of grazing by wild ungulates and livestock. Introductions are made to the specialized needs of range management for interest groups such as the Canadian military training facilities and the national and provincial parks. An emphasis will be placed on how to maintain a high level of ecological health on natural grassland ranges regardless of which interest has highest priority for a specific landscape unit.