A Perspective on Rangeland and Wildlife Disciplines: Similarities Over Differences

The disciplines of rangeland and wildlife management were born out of necessity to protect dwindling resources during the early twentieth century. The development of the fields followed parallel paths to meet the needs and desires of society. Around the world, rangelands provide habitat for a wide variety of wildlife species. Across North America, wildlife conservation problems have impacted rangelands and thus influenced rangeland management. Wildlife and rangeland professionals often work on the same landscapes to manage related resources. Yet, because of professional traditions and biases, there is potential for misunderstanding of terminology, values, and conflicts. However, these two professions have more in common than differences. For example, early management for both fields revolved around sustainable harvest (i.e., game species and forage) and providing guidance on conserving limited but renewable resources. Although both disciplines were born out of similar needs, they have often been viewed as separate entities. In this chapter, we will attempt to address the differences and parallels between these two disciplines with the objective of finding common ground for future collaboration. We will outline the parallel development of crucial principles of rangeland and wildlife management, and professionals can improve communication and understanding between disciplines.