"This Coalition provides a major opportunity to achieve widespread conservation of rangeland, to aid stewardship and help maintain ranching
as a viable way of life."
- John Hopkins, Institute for Ecological Health

  
 
     
  In January 2007, at the California Rangeland Conservation Coalition 2nd Annual Summit, the following action items were developed. Through a series of breakout groups, participants outlined the priorities of the California Rangeland Conservation Coalition for 2007 and beyond. Below, you will find the priorities determined by the partners that will guide the Rangeland Coalition’s efforts in the future.   
     
  Internal and External Communication:  
    1. Quarterly newsletter to partners on coalition activities, grazing research, partner events, etc.  
    2. Communicate to members about opportunities for public input – CEQA, legislation, county general plans, etc.  
    3. External outreach piece– research summary with references, information on grazing management in California  
         
  Research and Science:  
    1. Form research committee  
    2. Develop a research plan  
    3. Translate literature for partners and the public  
    4. Create a list of completed rangeland research  
    5. Develop protocols for simple monitoring and assessment of rangeland across region  
         
  Congressional Legislation:  
    1. 2007 Farm Bill – adequate funding, local staffing, weed management area funding, etc.  
    2. Conservation tax credits for easement revenue  
         
  State Legislation: Policy impacts on-the-ground results  
    1. Work on the development of bond funding guidelines and incentives for conservation management  
    2. Develop dedicated funding stream  
    3. Define working landscapes as a funding priority  
    4. Define and fund necessary staffing  
    5. Facilitate permit coordination on a statewide level  
         
  Focus Regions: Concerns for prioritization  
    1. Ecological threats - fire, invasive weeds, fragmentation, etc.  
    2. Water and aquatic species  
    3. Factor in opportunities  
    4. Local ordinances  
    5. Climate affects, change and adaptation  
    6. Economic viability of ranching – forage production, connection of private lands to public lands  
         
  Interagency Coordination: Need to expedite  
    1. Develop template for a permitting checklist that covers all major/minor permitting needs  
    2. Complete region-wide Safe Harbor Agreement (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)  
    3. Create region-wide Local Voluntary Program (Ca. Dept. of Fish and Game - Safe Harbor equivalent)  
    4. Facilitate permit coordination in order to get voluntary restoration and enhancement projects on the ground  
         
  Pilot Projects: Use holistic, practical projects to achieve Rangeland Coalition goals. Use current, innovative projects for public education. Demonstrate grazing benefits and outreach to other regions such as Alameda County ponds restoration projects  
    1. Grazing on previously ungrazed lands with monitoring of stewardship consequences  
    2. Use herding, preference training, etc.  
    3. Showcase the rehabilitation of rangelands with use of cattle  
         
  Landowner Outreach: Local focus  
    1. How do you bring people together at the local level? Trust is required, list goals, have tours, utilize the media to help communicate goals, look at pre-existing relationships and highlight past successful work  
    2. Funding –use existing infrastructure and develop list of resources for easements, grants, funds, etc.  
    3. Provide ranchers with a list of permit requirements and resources for restoration and enhancement  
    4. Need to coordinate state, federal, local, and non-profit restoration and enhancement funding  
    5. Provide technical assistance to landowners for management plans, monitoring, grazing processes for local use, etc.