Multiple Use of Summer Range, and the Place of Research in Range-Land Conservation

Abstract Summer grazing is clearly one of the multiple uses of the open forest lands of the West, and as such involves correlation with wood production, watershed protection, wildlife management, and recreation. Special problems arise on summer ranges because they are grazed during the growing season and because much of the area lies on comparatively steep slopes which intensify erosion hazards. Range research as conducted by the various forest and range experiment stations applies not only to summer ranges but to the other seasonal ranges, and to both public and private lands. Practical application of its findings has led to material improvement of the range, increased production of livestock, larger financial returns, greater stability in the range livestock industry, and better correlation of grazing with other land uses.