Journal of Rangeland

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Accurate range condition assessment is required for selecting best management methods in rangeland ecosystems. Most of the condition assessment methods are not appropriate for Steppe zones of Iran due to the ecological condition incompatibility of Steppe zone with the origin of these methods: Weakness of their theoretical conceptual frameworks and lack of adapting stakeholders and expert’s knowledge in their design. These shortcomings lead to select inappropriate management practices in these vast zones. Forty indices for assessing Steppe rangelands were selected using literature and conducting two workshops with experts and ranchers. The selected indices were scored inside (as reference) and outside of Kolah Ghazi National Park in Isfahan province. Paired t test was used to identify the indices that varied significantly inside and outside of the National park. The selected indices were compared with those introduced by literature and participative workshops with experts and ranchers. The common indices were introduced as appropriate indices for assessing rangeland condition. Results indicated that twenty-seven out of forty initial indices varied significantly between the range places of inside and outside of the Park (p <0.01). Finally, twelve appropriate indices including canopy form of desirable shrubs, forage production, desirable plant frequencies, plants composition, invader species, regeneration of rangeland plants, litter percentage, undesirable plant species frequencies, erosion status, vigor and vitality of plant species, plants density and canopy cover of perennial plants were introduced for assessing rangeland condition in Steppe zones.
 

Keywords: Range condition, Sagebrush habitats, Range condition indicators, Participatory workshop.

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