The Importance of Strategic Questions and Tactical Ground Rules in Rangeland Studies for Grazing Management

All parties participating in rangeland studies (i.e., monitoring, inventory, or assessment) should clearly understand strategic questions concerning "why?, what?, when?, where?, who? and how often?" data are being collected, as well as tactical ground rules that should be followed when conducting a particular sampling technique. This information should be clearly recorded either directly on data sheets or described in each report or cover sheet that accompanies the data. The information should also be catalogued and stored in a safe location in both hard copy and electronic formats where it is easily accessible by current and future observers.