Sustainable Grazing Resource Hub

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• Bird Friendly Land Certification & Conservation Ranching

  Audubon Conservation Ranching  (ACR) works with ranchers in California to improve grasslands for birds and people. Their program supports healthy and productive land.

  The ACR Program also helps create Habitat Management Plans. These plans support grazing, control invasive plants, and restore native plants.

   

• The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

  CAL FIRE’s Livestock Grazing Management Resources page offers tools to support grazing. It includes help with Management Action Plans (MAPs), grazing agreements, and trainings and workshops.

  View the Board of Forestry’s webpage for information on how to qualify and apply to become certified.

   

• Resource Conservation District (RCD) of Greater San Diego

  The Resource Conservation District (RCD) of Greater San Diego supports farmers, ranchers, land stewards and private landowners to protect, restore and conserve natural resources. They provide education and technical assistance for land management, including:

  • Prescribed Grazing Plan – Rancho Jamul
  • Grazing Handbook
  • Prescribed Grazing Webinars

   

• Rangeland Conservation Science

  Rangeland Conservation Science helps landowners and agencies care for land used for grazing. Their work supports both healthy land and working ranches.

  • Planning: Create grazing plans that protect soil, water, plants, and wildlife.
  • Monitoring: Track how the land is doing over time and suggest improvements.
  • Research: Study how grazing affects the land and share best practices.
  • Program Support: Help set up grazing programs and improve how they are managed. 

   

• San Diego Management and Monitoring Program (SDMMP)

  San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), the San Diego Management and Monitoring Program (SDMMP), and the University of California, Berkeley are working together on a grazing monitoring plan for conserved lands in western San Diego County.

  The project studies how livestock grazing can help control invasive plants, support native plants in grasslands and shrublands, improve habitat for rare species like the Quino checkerspot butterfly, California gnatcatcher, and Western burrowing owl, and reduce wildfire fuel on rangelands.

   

• University of California – Agriculture and Natural Resources

  This Livestock and Range page from the University of California shares tools and guides for grazing. It includes tips on grazing, and how to manage and take care of the land.

  The UC Cooperative Extension Imperial and San Diego County provides research, classes, and programs that support farming in San Diego and Imperial counties. It offers workshops, field visits, and provides guidance for livestock and land management.  

  UC Rangelands shares research and tools to help people manage grazing land. It focuses on keeping land healthy, supporting wildlife, and reducing risks like drought and wildfire.

   

• Other Resources

  Below are additional helpful resources for rangeland management including information on certified rangeland managers, how to identify invasive plants, and soil data tools to support sustainable grazing:

  • California Invasive Plant Council
  • California Rangelands Portal and Academic Programs
  • Certified Rangeland Managers
  • Web Soil Survey

   

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• Wildfire Prevention and Resilience Grants

  Below are grants that provide funding to support local wildfire prevention efforts including hazardous fuel reduction, planning, and community education to reduce wildfire risk:

  • CAL-FIRE Wildfire Prevention Projects
  • State Fire Capacity Grant Program

   

• California Grants Portal

  California Grants Portal - This is the State's website for finding grants and loan funding from California agencies.

  Note: This tool is not specific to grazing, but it can help you search for funding opportunities.

   

• Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

  The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a conservation program that works one-on-one with landowners to develop conservation plans. Financial assistance may be available through EQIP as well technical assistance through their Conservation Technical Assistance (CTA) program.