Future directions of usable science for sustainable rangelands vegetation

Vegetation monitoring has been central to the development of the rangeland discipline. Focus on vegetation has been at the community level with a single target composition and with limited appreciation of spatial and temporal variability characteristic of rangeland ecosystems. The profession has been focused primarily on maintaining production of specific species most important for sustained livestock production and soil stability while society is interested in many other objectives. We propose that usable science of rangelands should focus on landscapes and incorporate the concepts of heterogeneity, scale and pattern to more effectively address multi-functionality that society expects from rangelands.