Cooperative Photo Monitoring

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in 2014 that provides a framework for cooperative monitoring by ranchers and public land managers to improve the health of Idaho public rangelands. The MOU demonstrates the proactive partnership effort by the agencies and participating grazing permittees for the cooperative collection and use of photo monitoring data, which are used to track changes in the health of public rangelands managed by the BLM in Idaho. The BLM and ISDA are joining together to encourage grazing permittees to consider participating in this program, which will assist in maintaining healthy rangelands and sustainable livestock grazing practices. Participating permittees would coordinate with ISDA and BLM to complete photo monitoring at selected sites on their grazing allotments throughout the term of their grazing permit(s). Expected benefits include increasing the amount of information available to BLM for grazing management and permit renewal decisions, and increased mutual understanding of grazing allotment conditions and trends.  We encourage you to contact your local ISDA Rangeland Management Specialist for more information about this program.

The BLM press release regarding the Cooperative Photo Monitoring program may be accessed here.

For more information see the ISDA/BLM Cooperative Monitoring Pamphlet and the MOU.