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Rangeland grazing framework

Description

Alberta has approximately 3.3 million hectares of Crown rangelands held under grazing dispositions. The Rangeland Grazing Framework recognizes that sustainable management of Alberta's Crown... More ≫

Description

Alberta has approximately 3.3 million hectares of Crown rangelands held under grazing dispositions. The Rangeland Grazing Framework recognizes that sustainable management of Alberta's Crown rangelands relies on collaborative land management by the disposition holder and the province. The framework supports the province's Crown land vision by outlining the essential role of grazing and rangeland stewardship by disposition holders in achieving the environmental objective and long-lasting economic and social outcomes on Crown rangelands that benefit all Albertans.

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Rangeland grazing framework : fostering the health and sustainability of Alberta’s Crown rangelands

Description

This fact sheet provides an overview and outlines the intent of the Rangeland Grazing Framework. The framework supports the Crown land vision by outlining the essential role of grazing and... More ≫

Description

This fact sheet provides an overview and outlines the intent of the Rangeland Grazing Framework. The framework supports the Crown land vision by outlining the essential role of grazing and rangeland stewardship by disposition holders in achieving the environmental objective and long-lasting economic and social outcomes on Crown rangelands that benefit all Albertans.

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Ecological sites and successional plant community types of the Peace River parkland subregion. Second approximation

Description

The Peace River Parkland Natural Subregion accounts for only 0.5 per cent of the province and is characterized by gently rolling cultivated plains and steep south-facing grassy and forested slopes... More ≫

Description

The Peace River Parkland Natural Subregion accounts for only 0.5 per cent of the province and is characterized by gently rolling cultivated plains and steep south-facing grassy and forested slopes along the Peace River and its tributaries. Vegetation is a mosaic and dominated by forests of aspen and white spruce, wetlands and small remnant grasslands on the uplands, and dry grasslands and aspen forests on valley slopes. This guide represents the analysis of 378 plots described in the Peace River Parkland subregion. These 378 plots represent 73 observed and described plant community types. An analysis of successional changes in the presence and absence of grazing disturbance for the grasslands (Appendix 1) and aspen (Appendix 2) dominated community types for the Peace region is also outlined in Appendices 1 and 2. Included in this approximation is a crosswalk table to the Alberta Wetland Classification System (AWCS) and a list of ecological sustainable stocking rates for each plant...

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Range plant communities and range health assessment guidelines for the south ecosection of the Montane Natural Subregion of Alberta. Eighth approximation

Description

The Montane Natural Subregion is comprised of a diverse landscape mosaic of different vegetative communities including grasslands, riparian areas, shrublands, deciduous, mixed wood and conifer... More ≫

Description

The Montane Natural Subregion is comprised of a diverse landscape mosaic of different vegetative communities including grasslands, riparian areas, shrublands, deciduous, mixed wood and conifer forests. The complex landscape has many important ecological attributes such as important winter and summer range for wildlife and livestock, headwaters to prairie rivers, wood production, biodiversity, rare species and species at risk habitat, and aesthetics. This guide is an updated analysis of the rangeland plant communities of the southern Montane subregion. It represents a classification methodology that describes and quantifies the landscape to aid in developing land management prescriptions. Each identified community is described by dominant plant species, canopy cover, environmental conditions, response to grazing, forage production and carrying capacity.

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Ecological sites and successional plant community types of the Peace River Parkland subregion. First approximation

Description

The Peace River Parkland Natural Subregion accounts for only 0.5 percent of the province and is characterised by gently rolling cultivated plains and steep south-facing grassy and forested slopes... More ≫

Description

The Peace River Parkland Natural Subregion accounts for only 0.5 percent of the province and is characterised by gently rolling cultivated plains and steep south-facing grassy and forested slopes along the Peace River and its tributaries. Vegetation is a mosaic and dominated by forests of aspen and white spruce, wetlands and small remnant grasslands on the uplands, and dry grasslands and aspen forests on valley slopes. This guide represents the analysis of 345 plots described in the Peace River Parkland subregion. These 345 plots represent 70 observed and described plant community types. An analysis of successional changes in the presence and absence of grazing disturbance for the grasslands (Appendix 1) and aspen (Appendix 2) dominated community types for the Peace region is also outlined in Appendices 1 and 2.

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Guide to range plant community types and carrying capacity for the Dry and Central Mixedwood subregions in Alberta. 8th approximation

Description

The Dry and Central Mixedwood subregions cover nearly 40 per cent of the province. The vegetative communities in these subregions are important because they provide summer range for livestock,... More ≫

Description

The Dry and Central Mixedwood subregions cover nearly 40 per cent of the province. The vegetative communities in these subregions are important because they provide summer range for livestock, prime habitat for many species of wildlife, productive watersheds, recreational areas and timber production. However, there is limited information on their ecology and succession under the influence of livestock grazing. This guide provides a framework that can be used to easily group the vegetative community types. It is hoped the classification systems presented can be used to assess the ecology of the sites and develop integrated management plans within each region. This edition is a revision of the 6th approximation of the Range Plant Community Types and Carrying Capacity for the Dry and Central Mixedwood and the 7th approximation with minor corrections.

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Guide to range plant community types and carrying capacity for the dry and central mixedwood subregions in Alberta. 7th approximation

Description

The Dry and Central Mixedwood subregions cover nearly 40 per cent of the province. The vegetative communities in these subregions are important because they provide summer range for livestock,... More ≫

Description

The Dry and Central Mixedwood subregions cover nearly 40 per cent of the province. The vegetative communities in these subregions are important because they provide summer range for livestock, prime habitat for many species of wildlife, productive watersheds, recreational areas and timber production. However, there is limited information on their ecology and succession under the influence of livestock grazing. This guide provides a framework that can be used to easily group the vegetative community types. It is hoped the classification systems presented can be used to assess the ecology of the sites and develop integrated management plans within each region. This edition is a revision of the 6th approximation of the Range Plant Community Types and Carrying Capacity for the Dry and Central Mixedwood.

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Range management during a drought

Description

Drought can occur when precipitation in an area is well below normal. The low moisture conditions must be sustained over a period of time. A few months of little or no precipitation is not... More ≫

Description

Drought can occur when precipitation in an area is well below normal. The low moisture conditions must be sustained over a period of time. A few months of little or no precipitation is not necessarily a drought, but can trigger one. Above average temperature or consistently high winds can increase evaporation and exaggerate drought conditions. Signs of drought include low soil moisture reserves, no surface water and limited vegetation growth.

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Range plant community types and carrying capacity for the montane subregion. Seventh approximation

Description

The Montane subregion is one of the most diverse subregions in the province of Alberta, with a mosaic of different vegetative communities. This diversity means that these lands are valued for a... More ≫

Description

The Montane subregion is one of the most diverse subregions in the province of Alberta, with a mosaic of different vegetative communities. This diversity means that these lands are valued for a multitude of uses, including summer range for livestock. However, there is little information available on how grazing influences the plant community. To help develop range management prescriptions for the province, carrying capacity guides are being developed, including a plant classification system, for each natural and subregion in the province. This guide represents an analysis of the Montane subregion, identifying 182 plant community types. The dominant plant species, canopy cover, environmental conditions, response to grazing, forage production and carrying capacity are outlined for each type. This edition is a revision of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th approximations of the Range plant community types and carrying capacity for the Montane subregion.

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Range plant community types and carrying capacity for the Upper Foothills subregion of Alberta. Sixth approximation

Description

The Upper Foothills Natural Subregion is found elevationally below the Subalpine and above the Lower Foothills subregions. In the valley bottoms the shrub and grassland community types are a... More ≫

Description

The Upper Foothills Natural Subregion is found elevationally below the Subalpine and above the Lower Foothills subregions. In the valley bottoms the shrub and grassland community types are a classic example of multiple use land, providing summer range for livestock, prime habitat for many species of wildlife, productive watersheds, and recreational areas. Despite the importance of these vegetation types for livestock grazing, there is little information available on how grazing affects their production. As a result a carrying capacity guide was developed to provide a framework that would easily group the vegetative community types. It is hoped this classification system can be used by field staff to assess carrying capacity and evaluate range condition on lands within the region. Eighty-three plant community types are represented. The dominant plant species, canopy cover, environmental conditions, response to grazing, forage production and carrying capacity are outlined for each type.

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