Rangeland Measurements

Cost: $400

Dates

• In Person: Sun., Oct. 12, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. & Online: Thurs., Oct. 16-Nov. 6, 6-7:50 p.m.

Location: In person/Online

Credit: FOR 680, 1 unit

With Marc Horney

This course is one of five short courses designed to help review for the California Certified Rangeland Manager (CRM) exam administered by the Professional Forester Examination Committee (PFEC).

Completion of this course will appear on university transcripts, and will provide evidence of range management coursework for the CRM application and for federal job series 0454 (Rangeland Management Specialist) and other qualifications.

Rangeland Measurements focuses on objective-driven measurements of rangeland ecosystems for assessment, inventory, monitoring of changes in ecosystem components and processes resulting from restoration and improvement practices, and other purposes.

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

1. Establish clear management objectives and appropriate measurement approaches for both resource assessment and long-term monitoring.
2. Understand fundamental metrics used in rangeland measurements, such as cover, density, frequency, composition, diversity, biomass, structure, phenology, utilization, and other metrics; evaluate science-validated pros/cons and benefits of each metric in a typical California rangeland resource assessment, livestock production and grazing management program, and monitoring program.
3. Apply traditional on-the-ground methods to gather metrics described above.
4. Illustrate protocols used by different agencies and NGOs to perform California rangeland measurements (i.e. UCCE, BLM AIM, rangeland health assessments, Pt. Blue Rangeland Monitoring Network); evaluate science-validated pros/cons and benefits of each protocol.
5. Summarize remote sensing and other technological platforms and techniques used to perform rangeland measurements.

This course starts with a Saturday field day (7 hours). The locations will be determined. 

Lectures are presented in a voiceover/video format that should be watched and studied before the online meeting time. A small quiz is required the night before the online weekly synchronous Zoom meetings of two hours each over a four-week period. In addition to the class time, you will spend at least two hours or more doing out-of-class work per week. Assignments are turned in via Canvas, the university's learning management system.

You will need a computer with a microphone and webcam, and internet access. You may use campus computer labs and if needed, you may be able to check out a device from the library.

You will be responsible for travel-related costs for in-person field trips. A charge of no more than $100 total may be necessary to access a ranch or other property for field exercises.

Prerequisites: Introductory rangeland management and ecology course preferred. Senior or post- baccalaureate standing.

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Marc Horney

Marc Horney is a professor of Rangeland Ecology & Management at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He is also a state-licensed Certified Rangeland Manager (CRM), a member of the state CRM panel, chair of the Range Management Advisory Committee which advises the California Natural Resources Agency, is a 25-year member of the Society for Range Management and the American Society of Animal Science, and The Wildlife Society for over 15 years.