Range Conservation

Rangelands are uncultivated lands such as grasslands, shrublands, and forest lands that provide the necessities of life for grazing and browsing animals. Range Conservationists focus on maintaining the health of range ecosystems so they can continue to be used for domestic or wildlife animal production and recreational opportunities. Because rangelands are managed through ecological processes, a rangeland manager must have broad expertise in areas such as grazing management and animal nutrition, fire ecology and prescribed burning, as well as plant and restoration ecology, with significant knowledge in the areas of wildlife and aquatic ecology.
Graduates of this program frequently pursue careers in government agencies like the Natural Resource Conservation Service, Forest Service, and Bureau of Land Management because it meets the Civil Service requirements for their range conservation positions. They may also develop expertise in one type of management tool (e.g. fire) and work in consulting firms or non-governmental organization's that assist and advise private landowners in its use.

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