University of Namibia Master of Science (Rangeland Resources Management)

What is Master of Science (Rangeland Resources Management) 2?

Skilled manpower trained at the post-graduate level in rangeland resource management is limited in most African countries. The majority of the rangeland resource managers in the region have been trained abroad where training is not appropriate for the African set up where the mode of production is largely labour-intensive, low capital subsistence pastoralism. Trained skilled manpower is expected to act as a catalyst for enhancing the productivity and human support capacity for pastoral systems in the region.

Entry Requirement:

N.1.1 The University of Namibia general regulations regarding admission of students to Masters Degree programmes shall apply.
N.1.2 Notwithstanding the above, students wishing to enroll for this programme must be in possession of a good undergraduate Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture, Biology, Life Sciences, or related field from a recognized and accredited institution of higher learning.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is rangeland resource science?

Rangeland resource science is the art and science of optimizing the returns from rangelands in those combinations most desired by and suitable to society through the management of range ecosystems.

What does a rangeland management specialist do?

Rangeland management specialists at the Department of the Interior analyze and protect natural resources, develop programs and standards for rangeland use and preservation, and advise officials and landowners on rangeland management practices.

How do I become a rangeland management specialist?

To become a Rangeland Management Specialist you need a degree in range management or related discipline with at least 42 semester hours in a combination of the plant, animal, and soil sciences, and natural resources management, as follows: 18 semester hours of Range Management.

What is a range management specialist?

A rangeland management specialist oversees the conservation of ranges in rural areas. As a range management expert, you sometimes work in the field to evaluate the condition of the land. Your duties include working with agencies and agricultural operations to implement a plan for rangeland improvement.

How is rangeland used?

Globally rangelands are used to raise livestock for food and fiber, harvest renewable and non-renewable energy and mineral resources, provide habitat for wildlife, and open space for human enjoyment and recreation.

What are the types of rangeland?

Rangeland is uncultivated land that is suitable for grazing and browsing animals. Rangeland is one of the major types of land in the world. (Other types are: forest, desert, farmland, pasture, and urban/industrial.)

What are the main goals of range management?

Maintaining and improving the health of rangeland ecosystems. Preserving threatened and endangered species. Fire and fuels management. Expanding the supply of rangeland products as livestock products as follows: recreation, wildlife, water, energy, aesthetics, and other.

What are the characteristics of rangeland management?

This includes livestock forage, wildlife habitat, water, mineral resources, wood products, wildland recreation, open space and natural beauty. The geographic extent and the resources of rangelands make their sustainable use and management very important.

What are the biggest threats to rangelands?

The proximate causes of rangeland degradation include overgrazing, unsustainable fuel wood (including shrubs) use, mining, and plowing of rangelands with subsequent loss of soil productivity.

What is the most common human use of rangeland?

The most common human use of range- land is for the grazing of livestock, as shown in Figure 13. The most common livestock are cattle, sheep, and goats, which are valued for their meat, milk, wool, and hides. Native wildlife species also graze these lands.

What is the difference between pasture and rangeland?

Rangelands include natural grassland, savannas, many wetlands, some deserts, tundra, and certain forb and shrub communities. Pastures are those lands that are primarily used for the production of adapted, domesticated forage plants for livestock.

How productivity of our rangelands can be increased?

However, still many of these ranges have potential for improvement by using grazing management practices, natural recovery of vegetation and artificial re-vegetation at suitable sites coupled with better water harvesting and conservation practices.

What are the main issues of rangelands?

The main factors of rangelands degradation are change in the species compositions, loss in range biodiversity, less plant cover, decrease in biomass productions and less small ruminants productivity with soil erosion (Ahmad and Ehsan, 2012).

How important are rangelands to human and wildlife?

Suggested Citation:”1 RANGELANDS ARE IMPORTANT.” National Research Council. Federal and non-federal rangelands provide grazing areas for wild herbivores such as deer, antelope, and elk. Many species of fish and wildlife depend on rangelands and their associated streams and lakes for habitat.

What are those potential threats to rangelands?

Land degradation, biodiversity loss and climate change are major threats to the rangelands and to the livelihoods of rangeland populations. Rangeland degradation reduces productivity, which weakens livelihood opportunities, increases exposure to risk, and exacerbates poverty.

How do you manage rangelands?

Rangeland management is characterized by extensive, rather than intensive strategies. Foremost among the management strategies for rangelands is grazing management and prescribed fire. Herbicides are used particularly on areas with a history of poor management (i.e., lack of fire and overgrazing).