Vegetation monitoring has become an important component of range management on both private and public lands. Rangeland monitoring identifies and documents changes in vegetation over time providing information upon which to evaluate management practices. Data collected by rangeland monitoring can be used to evaluate effects of current management, modify management practices to best meet land objectives and document changes as a result of management or other factors.
The Public Rangeland Improvement Act requires that range condition be reported to Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management operated public lands. Additionally other environmental legislation requires information which can only be acquired through range monitoring and surveys.
In Arizona, ranches and preserves often include State and/or Federal grazing permits in addition to privately owned land. The responsible agency will normally have range monitoring methods in place to document vegetation response to management. However, many Arizona ranchers and land managers have decided to collect data and keep their own records on range condition and trend. Ranchers have initiated monitoring programs designed to dove-tail with agency efforts and provide the baseline information needed to document changes that may occur on rangelands due to management techniques or climatic patterns. Managers of natural areas also require information on vegetation status. Active participation in range monitoring increase awareness of vegetation changes and improves understanding of the process that effect those changes.