Losses to Tree Encroachment
Herbaceous production is fundamental to the structure and function of rangelands. A widespread pattern of tree expansion at the expense of herbaceous cover (i.e., woody plant encroachment) is significantly reducing rangeland production worldwide. This product estimates herbaceous (i.e., grasses and forbs) production losses from tree encroachment in western U.S. rangelands.
Rangeland Production Lost to Tree Encroachment
The Great Plains lost 11.9 million tons of rangeland production to woody encroachment in 2022. This equates to $175+ million lost forage, 19.9 million round bales, and the yearly forage need of 2.5 million cows.
Nebraska lost 218,734 tons of rangeland production to woody encroachment in 2022.
Additional Tools/Resources
Related UNL Programs and Expertise
Rangeland Production Losses Follow Early Warning Signals of Woody Transitions
Like desertification, coral reef bleaching, or eutrophication in lakes, woody plant encroachment is a process that causes a state transition. When state transitions progress over space, on type of ecological regime (e.g., woodland) becomes geographically larger at the expense of a neighboring ecological regime (e.g., grassland). We now have the capability to detect the scale at which these transitions occur, monitor the boundaries seperating alternative grassy:woody regimes, and provide earlier warning for land managers and planners. this interactive mapping tool provides early-warning for woody plant encroachment across the Great Plains.
Woody Plant Encroachment Interactive Map