SAES-422 Multistate Research Activity Accomplishments Report
Sections
Status: Approved
Basic Information
- Project No. and Title: WERA_OLD1008 : Rangelands West Partnership
- Period Covered: 10/01/2010 to 09/01/2011
- Date of Report: 04/23/2012
- Annual Meeting Dates: 03/11/2012 to 03/14/2012
Participants
Harris, Norman UAF; Hutchinso, Barbara U AZ; Mashiri, Fadzayi U AZ; Merrigan, Sheila U AZ; Pfander, Pfander U AZ; Rahr, Matt U AZ; Ruyle, George U AZ; Schalau, Jeff U AZ; Torrey, Toby U AZ; Tolleson, Doug U AZ; George, Mel UC Davis; Harper, John UC Davis; Sheehy, Cody UC Davis; Level, Allison CSU; Thorne, Mark U HI; Roselle, Lovina U ID; Fick, Walter KSU; Olsen, Livia KSU; Frost, Rachel MSU; Mosley, Jeff MSU; Schultz, Brad NV Reno; Shannon, Amy NV Reno; Watkins, Cindy NMSU; Ganguli, Amy NDSU; Mason, Nicole NDSU; Marshall, Nancy SDSU; Reddy, Deva TAMU; McDonald, Alyson TAMU; Burritt, Beth USU; Palacios, Patsy USU; Kruger, David U WY; Mealor, Rachel U WY; Tanaka, John U WY (WERA 1008 Administrative Advisor); Pesce, Valeria FAO (Rome, Italy); Ayala, Felix Universidad de Sonora, Mexico; Xaba, Lucky Rhodes University, South Africa; Online attendees: Kawula, John UAF; Boden, Dana UN Lincoln; Borman, Mike OR St U; Hudson, Tip WA St U; Fraker-Marble, Merrita U WY; Taylor, John University of Queensland Australia
Meeting was hosted by the University of Arizona. Next meeting is planned to be hosted by the University of Alaska, Fairbanks.
Membership is working on Bylaw revisions for the Rangelands West Partnership. An online vote is expected prior to the 2013 meeting.
Mark Thorne, Chair, Rangelands West Partnership, opened the meeting, followed by a welcome from Dr. Shane Burgess, Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at the University of Arizona. The morning agenda includeda review of RWP activities during the past year (presentations and meetings at the 2012 SRM Annual Meeting, updates on grant-funded projects -eXtension Rangelands, RSIS, HEC/Rangelands Education; CEAP; ISE Global Rangelands, etc). Dr. Jeff Silvertooth, Associate Dean for Economic Development and Director, Arizona Cooperative Extension at the University of Arizona CALS, gave a brief welcome to attendees. Richard Collins (Arizona rancher, Canelo Hills Coalition) gave a presentation The Land Ethic and Limits for Grazing in Red Rock Canyon. Felix Ayala (University of Sonora, Mexico) and Valeria Pesce (FAO/GFAR) gave updates on their institutions for an international perspective. A virtual online presentation was given by John Taylor, President of the Australian Rangelands Society. State updates from members followed. Rangelands West Trailblazer awards were presented to Mel George, UC-Davis and Carla Stoffle, Dean of the UA Libraries for their many contributions to the work of the Partnership.
A hands-on workshop was presented by Matt Rahr and Toby Torrey on data input for the Rangelands West portal. This was followed with break-out sessions on RW state site maintenance & support options, including Az IT support and the LibGuides approach. Cody Sheehy gave a lunchtime presentation on his documentary film work in Australia and Mongolia. There were presentations and discussion on new approaches to fundraising (George Ruyle AZ) and the use of social media tools in Extension (Sheila Merrigan AZ).
Task Force for Hot Topics Development & Maintenance - Amy Ganguli - ND, Lovina Roselle - ID, Rachel Frost - MT, Fadzayi Mashiri - AZ, Nicole Mason - ND
Task Force for finding quick and easy method to incorporate records for agricultural experiment station repositories - Allison Level - CO and Matt Rahr - AZ
Task Force for Recruiting Canadian institutions into RW/GR - Barb Hutchinson - AZ and Amy Ganguli - ND
Task Force for Revised Bylaws for RWP (Finalize revision and Bring for Vote) - Jeanne Pfander - AZ, Rachel Mealor - WY, Dave Kruger - WY, Amy Shannon - NV, Walt Fick - KS, Mark Thorne - HI, Jeff Mosley - MT
Accomplishments
Successful annual meeting of the Rangelands West Partnership (May 2011, Bozeman, MT). attendees (25 on-site; 4 virtual attendees) representing 16 U.S. states and Australia
Convened a half-day symposium at the Society for Range Management Annual Meeting in Spokane, WA
Developed two peer reviewed papers
Progress on several grants received by different RWP partners for rangelands information projects
* USDA Higher Education Challenge Grant - Repositioning Rangeland Education for a Changing World (University of Idaho, Humboldt State University, New Mexico State University, Oklahoma State University, South Dakota State University, University of California-Davis and Utah State University)
* USDA-NIFA International Science and Education Global Rangelands Project (AZ, CA, ID, South Africa, Australia, FAO)
* Range Science Information System Project (WY, ID, MT)
* RWP members contributing to eXtension Rangelands Community of Practice
Significant progress on technical requirements and design for new Global Rangelands site and the existing Rangelands West site.
Impacts
- Increased quality of rangeland information and resources to meet the needs of a broad range of users and audiences from around the world.
- Improved navigation and accessibility of desired information through the redesigned Rangelands West/Global Rangelands website.
- Creation of user-oriented services based on direct input from diverse audiences through formal needs assessments.
- Strengthened relationships among rangeland professionals, librarians, and information specialists in each Western state through improved communications resulting in greater sharing of information and content development.
- Development of standardized methods for metadata, incorporating input from the Western Rangelands Partners, FAO, and other interested stakeholders. The metadata for significant rangelands resources will then be input into the new portal.
- Identification of Western Rangeland Partnership university institutional repositories with relevant rangeland resources that could also be made available through Global Rangelands for additional access.
- Increased use and exposure of the Rangelands West website, and state rangelands websites to the global community.
- Significant steps taken toward the achievement of the primary vision of Rangelands West/Global Rangelands as the premier website for dissemination of scientifically-based printed information on rangeland ecology and management.
Publications
Hutchinson, B., J. Pfander, J. Tanaka, and J. Clark. 2011. Rangelands West/Global Rangelands, eXtension Rangelands, and the Range Science Information System: a suite of new web resources. Rangelands 33(4):55-63.
John Tanaka, Barbara Hutchinson, Merrita Fraker-Marble, Rachel Frost, Karen Launchbaugh, and Mel George. In Press. Using Rangelands on the Web as a Teaching Resource. Rangelands.