Synopsis Rangelands comprise much of the terrestrial earth surface. They are important areas for livestock production, wildlife habitat, a source of clean water, and ecological diversity, not to mention their cultural and historical significance. Rangelands are typified as having relatively low annual precipitation levels (<0.5m) and as a consequence are a brittle environment when compared to the mesic agricultural areas of America's Midwest. Considered part of grassland or desert biomes, rangelands are dominated by grasses and shrubs. This has direct bearing upon geospatial research since the scale of these vegetation types is quite fine compared to vegetation types such as forest.

Over the past seven years scientists at Idaho State University (ISU)'s GIS Training and Research Center (GIS TReC) have developed a strong rangeland research program focusing upon temporal land cover changes. This research has been funded under the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Earth Science Enterprise program since 2000. Through this research, scientists have been able to identify primary causes of land cover change in rangeland ecosystems (fire, weeds, and urbanization). In addition, models quantifying these changes have been developed that are reliable and useful for land management. Most recently, however, investigations have suggested that a constraining effect exists above all other forms of change and that is the land management decision-making process. It appears that the paradigm under which individual land managers function has great influence on the condition and potential of rangelands. Further, it appears that the paradigm is influenced externally by policy and administration.

To determine the effect that human decisions and practices have on rangeland health requires comparison of two or more similar sites (in terms of precipitation, topography, vegetation, etc.) that vary with respect to their management (i.e., culture and policies that guide and constrain the decision making process). Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and satellite imagery, scientists at ISU's GIS TReC have completed a pilot study and identified two international sites that have topography, elevation, climate, growing season, and vegetative structure similar to study areas in southeastern Idaho. The international study areas are in the Aragon region of Spain and the Darhad Valley region of northern Mongolia. Investigators seek to explore the effect of management practices on rangeland health through a comparative international study involving scientists at Idaho State University (USA), the United States Department of Agriculture- Agricultural Research Service, US Sheep Experiment Station (USA), the Pyrenees Institute of Ecology (Spain), and the BioRegions Program at Montana State University. Investigators at ISU have already established working relationship with researchers in these organizations.