Upland vegetation on each ecological site consists of plant communities appropriate to the site which are resilient, diverse, and able to recover from natural and human disturbance.
THIS MEANS THAT:
In order to maintain desirable conditions and/or recover from disturbance within acceptable timeframes, plant communities must have the components present to support the nutrient cycle and adequate energy flow. Plants depend on nutrients in the soil and energy derived from sunlight. Nutrients stored in the soil are used over and over by plants, animals, and microorganisms. The amount of nutrients available and the speed with which they cycle among plants, animals, and the soil are fundamental components of rangeland health. The amount, timing, and distribution of energy captured through photosynthesis are fundamental to the function of rangeland ecosystems.
INDICATORS MAY INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:
Vegetative cover
Plant composition and diversity (species, age class, structure, successional stages, desired plant community, etc.)
Bare ground and litter
Erosion (rills, gullies, pedestals, capping)
Water infiltration rates
The above indicators are applied as appropriate to the potential of the ecological site.