Jeffrey S. Fehmi
I study the restoration and reclamation of degraded rangelands. (Rangelands are grasslands, deserts, and savannas.) Land degradation is one of the most pressing worldwide problems in land management and rangelands, as a vegetation type, comprise about 40% of the earth's terrestrial surface. This combination, of a common problem with a ubiquitous land type, gives research results in this area a deep and far-reaching impact. Finding and communicating solutions to this challenge drive my research, teaching and service.
My research goal is to find causally-linked solutions to actual land management problems. A casually-linked solution derives from understanding how the underlying mechanisms contribute to success. This understanding comes from detailed research on the natural histories of the individual plant and animal species involved and the environment in which they occur.
My approach has been to research three aspects of rangeland systems on their trajectory from degradation to restoration or reclamation. About 50% of my research effort is directed toward finding the most effective methods for returning rangelands to self-sustaining productivity. About 30% of my research studies how disturbances cause degradation. This usually takes place on lands that are not yet completely degraded. Finally, about 20% of my research is to develop and optimize methods for detecting changes in rangelands before they cross the threshold into degradation. These three aspects of my program represent the critical elements for protecting ecosystem services (e.g. site stability, prevention of erosion, etc.) and prescribing appropriate intervention.
My current teaching assignments include RA M446/546 Vegetation Management of Wildlands (4 credits, once per year), RA M456/556 Rangeland Inventory and Monitoring (4 credits, once per year), and RA M487/587 Rangeland Management Planning (2 credits, once every other year).
