Why is it important to develop criteria and indicators to assess rangeland sustainability?
Criteria and indicators can help determine if rangelands are being sustained. By measuring a sound, standardized set of indicators, we can report on a variety of factors that affect the sustainability of rangelands. Indicators provide more than national baseline information. They provide a way of monitoring changes that matter to us. Without an effective, consistent way to accurately monitor social, ecological and economic aspects of rangeland sustainability, it is difficult to measure progress toward sustainability.
