International Affairs (IA) Committee

Introduction

The International Affairs Committee promotes the mission of the SRM by providing information to SRM members on rangeland science and management in an international context and by informing the international community about SRM’s role and the opportunities SRM provides for professional development and participation in rangeland issues.

For information on the International Travel Fellowship Award, click on the “International Travel Fellowship” tab on the left menu.

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Members - 2019

Chair Elect
Too Be Determined

Current Committee Members in attendance at AM 2018:
Eddie Alford
Jay Angerer
Layne Coppock
Maria Fernandez-Gimenez
Bill Fox
Doug Johnson
Urs Kreuter
Jim Linebaugh
Mounir Louhaichi
Brandon Mayer
Devan  McGranahan
Jim O’Rourke
Alfonso (Poncho) Ortega
Humberto Peretto
Chantsallkham Jamsranjav
Sandra Santos
Joe Wagner
Robert Washington-Allen

Business

2017 Committee Business
Report to Board (pdf)

2016 Committee Business
Report to Board (pdf)

2015 Committee Business
Meeting Minutes (pdf)
Report to Board (pdf)

2014 Committee Business
Meeting Minutes (pdf – 118kb)
Report to Board (pdf – 135kb)

2013 Committee Business
Meeting Minutes (pdf – 169kb)
Report to Board (pdf – 171kb)

2012 Committee Business
Meeting Minutes (pdf – 37kb)
Report to Board (pdf – 35kb)

2011 Committee Business
Meeting Minutes (pdf – 16kb)
Report to Board (pdf – 68kb)

2010 Committee Business
Report to Board (pdf – 71kb)

2009 Committee Business
Meeting Minutes (pdf – 16kb)
Report to Board

2008 Committee Business
Meeting Minutes
Report to Board

2007 Committee Business
Meeting Minutes
Report to Board

2006 Committee Business
Meeting Minutes
Report to Board

2005 Committee Business
Meeting Minutes
Report to Board

Contributions

International Travel Fellowship

This travel fellowship is awarded to rangeland scientists from developing countries to allow them to attend annual SRM meetings. One $2,000 fellowship is available.

ANNOUNCEMENT – 2019 SRM INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL FELLOWSHIP

2019 SRM Annual Meeting, Technical Training & Trade Show
72nd Annual Meeting
Minneapolis, Minnesota
10 – 14 February 2019
Meeting website: http://annualmeeting.rangelands.org/

PURPOSE

The Society for Range Management (SRM) has established a program intended to:

• Support attendance at the Annual Meeting by rangeland scientists or managers from countries other than the U.S. and Canada.
• Foster international exchange about advances in rangeland ecology and management.

THE AWARD
The recipient will receive funds of US $2,000 for general travel support to the meeting. The funds can be used to support any aspect of the travel including air travel, visa, lodging, per diem, etc.  The recipient will also be responsible for paying their registration fee for the meeting.

The $2,000 will be provided at the venue, thus the recipient will need to initially cover his or her up-front travel costs and use the ITF funds as reimbursement. It is the recipient’s responsibility to make their own travel arrangements to attend the meeting. Opportunities for recipients to share accommodation at the venue can be reviewed by the IAC membership upon request from the ITF winner.

ELIGIBILITY
Applicants are not eligible if they are citizens or current residents of the United States or Canada.  Preference will be given to candidates from developing countries.

HOW TO APPLY
All application materials must be in English. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. A complete application must include the following:

1. Name, institution, email address, postal address, citizenship.
2. Curriculum vitae (maximum 3 pages).
3. A summary of your research (500 words maximum) explaining how your research extends the scientific basis or application of rangeland ecology and management (see Selection Criteria listed below).
4. Statement on what you hope to gain professionally from attending the SRM Annual Meeting (200 words maximum).
5. Title and abstract of the paper or poster you submitted for presentation at the upcoming Annual Meeting, if any.
6. An explanation (also 200 words maximum) of why you need financial assistance to attend the Annual Meeting (see Selection Criteria listed below).
7. A statement that the applicant understands the need to determine their own visa needs for travel to the Annual Meeting in February 2019. The IAC understands that while confirmation of the award might be necessary before the visa application process may begin, it is also important that earning a visa will be possible between the time this travel award is granted and travel to the meeting. Thus, awardees are required to respond to a travel award offer within 10 business days to confirm the likelihood of obtaining necessary travel documents and permissions.

 

SELECTION CRITERIA

1. The research summary and CV will be evaluated for scientific merit with regard to your past record of research accomplishments, promise of future accomplishments, and applicability to rangeland ecology or social science and management. We will favor applicants who demonstrate that their research advances (i) the scientific basis of rangeland ecology or social science, and/or (ii) the application of rangeland ecology or social science for rangeland resource conservation and management. New and established rangeland professionals are encouraged to apply.
2. Financial need. You must demonstrate financial need and show that without ITF support, you would not be able to attend the Annual Meeting. Applicants must demonstrate the extent to which they have pursued travel funding from their host institution.
3. Professional development. You must demonstrate that attending the SRM Annual Meeting will represent a significant professional opportunity for:

• Developing your expertise in rangeland ecology and management.
• Establishing working relationships with rangeland professionals from other countries.

5. Clarity of expression and proficiency in the use of English.
6. Evidence of feasibility to enter the US in time for the 2019 Annual Meeting.

The IAC reserves the right not to award an ITF in any given year if a suitable candidate is not identified.

Submit your ITF application materials to the address below by 26 November 2018 via email to Dr. Devan McGranahan (devan.mcgranahan@ndsu.edu) or by post [please include a disk copy with all materials in a single file in Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, Rich Text Format or Adobe Acrobat (pdf) format] to:

Dr. Devan McGranahan
School of Natural Resources Science
North Dakota State University
Dept 7650
PO Box 6050, Fargo, ND 58108-6050
E-mail: devan.mcgranahan@ndsu.edu

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Recent awardees include:

2018 — Sandra Santos, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA),  Corumbá

2017 —  Javier A. Ñaupari, Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, Peru

2016 — Chantsallkham Jamsranjav, Mongolia

2015 — Martín Do Carmo – Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria, Uruguay
2014 — Dr. Kevin Kirkman – University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
2013 — Veronica Vasquez Garcia – Mexico
2012 — Batbaatar Amgaa — Republic of Mongolia
2012 — David Berman — Australia
2011 — Pedro Angel Calderon-Dominguez
2010 — Yan Zhaoli — Kathmandu, Nepal
2009 — Pedro Jurado — Chihuahua, Mexico
2008 – Dr. Alicia Melgoza, Universidad Autonoma de Chihuahua, Mexico
2007 – Dr. Batbuyan of Centre for Nomadic Pastoralism Studies, Mongolian Institute of Geography

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Recipient of the 2017 International Travel Fellowship

Dr. Javier Naupari was the recipient of the 2017 SRM International Travel Fellowship award.  He received the $1,600 award and a waiver of his registration for the meeting.  During the meeting,   Dr. Naupari met with the International Affairs committee and provided the committee with a presentation and video about National Agricultural University, La Molina, in Lima Peru where he currently works as an Associate Professor in the Animal Production Department.  During a technical session later in the week, he gave an oral presentation titled: Llamas and Cattle Grazing Effects on Rangeland Hydrological Function. Dr. Ñaupari received his B.S. degree in Animal Husbandry and M.S. degree in Animal Production from National Agricultural University, La Molina, in Lima Peru.  He received a Fulbright Scholarship that allowed him to pursue his Ph.D. in Natural Resources from University of Idaho. He was also a Fulbright Nexus Scholar in 2012-2013. His research focuses on remote sensing and geographic information systems applied to ecological processes in mountain rangeland ecosystems. He serves as the principal researcher of the Rangeland Ecology and Utilization Laboratory at La Molina, and is currently involved in research projects assessing the ecological status and productivity of rangeland ecosystems and the impacts of climate change on livestock production.  He also directs the Office of Technical Cooperation at La Molina.

Recipient of the 2017 International Travel Fellowship Javier A. Ñaupari of Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina, Peru enjoying the “Red Rocks and Rangeland” during the Zion National Park tour.

Recipient of the 2015 International Travel Fellowship

Mr. Martín Do Carmo of Uruguay received the $1,000 International Travel Fellowship plus a waiver of the non-member registration fee to attend the 2015 SRM conference in Sacramento. He was present at the annual meeting of the SRM International Affairs Committee and presented a poster later in the week entitled, “Measurement of Campos Rangelands Herbage Mass by Simple Methods.” His co-authors on the poster were G. Cardozo and P. Soca. Mr. Do Carmo received his B.A. and M.S. degrees in Agronomy from the School of Agronomy at the Universidad de la Republica in Uruguay. Following attainment of his master’s degree in 2013, he has been employed as a researcher with the Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria, also in Uruguay. His professional experiences vary from work in tropical pasture assessments in support of dairy and beef production to analyses of the bio-economic efficiency of beef cow-calf systems. Mr. Do Carmo already has over 25 publications and has been the recipient of several funding awards and training scholarships. Mr. Do Carmo wanted to attend an SRM meeting because he desired to learn more from American researchers. He also wanted to make professional contacts to spur future research and educational collaborations. We were delighted to meet Mr. Do Carmo. His friendly demeanor and enthusiastic smile are memorable. As a bonus when attending the SRM meeting Mr. Do Carmo joined several of the SRM-sponsored tours; on the San Francisco tour he was able to ride a bicycle across the Golden Gate Bridge. Truly great recollections for a fist-time visitor to the USA!

Recipient of the 2015 International Travel Fellowship Mr. Martín Do Carmo of the Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria, Uruguay, with 2014 SRM President Jenny Pluhar. Photo courtesy of Charlie Hart

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Recipient of the 2014 International Travel Fellowship

Professor Kevin Kirkman received the $1,000 International Travel Fellowship at the 2014 SRM conference in Orlando. He presented a paper entitled, “Grassland management strategies for subsistence livestock production in South Africa.” His work was part of a symposium called, “Unsettled Futures for Subsistence Pastoralism” sponsored by the Feed the Future Innovation Lab—Adapting Livestock Systems to Climate Change. Click here to view more information about the symposium. Professor Kirkman is a graduate of the University of Natal (South Africa) with a PhD in Grassland Science. He subsequently worked as a researcher for the Mpumalanga Department of Agriculture for nine years, where he conducted research in veld management. He then worked for two years as a pasture advisor in the dairy industry. In 2001 Kirkman joined the University of Natal (now called the University of KwaZulu-Natal) as a Professor of Grassland Science, and has continued his research in veld ecology, management, and restoration. He has also served the same institution as Head of the School of Biological and Conservation Sciences as well as Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Science and Agriculture. Kirkman is currently the Director of Professional Services for the College of Agriculture, Engineering, and Science.

Dr. Kevin Kirkman-University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, with 2013 SRM President Wally Butler. – Photo courtesy of Katrina O’Farrell.

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Recipient of the 2013 International Travel Fellowship

Veronica Vasquez Garcia received the $1000 International Travel Fellowship at the 2013 SRM conference in Oklahoma City.  Veronica is a full professor at the Colegio do Postgraduados in Mexico.  She studies gender and environmental issues in the Mexican countryside.  She does extensive fieldwork and has advised 19 graduate students from Mexico, El Salvador, and Spain in their research projects.  Veronica received her doctorate at Carleton University in Canada.  Her presentation at the conference was “Livestock Farming in Mexico from a Gender Perspective”, which she presented as part of the International Affairs Committee’s symposium, “Women as Change Agents in the World’s Rangelands.”  Her presentation and abstract are found under the Activities tab for this committee. Veronica says she learned a great deal at the conference. More specifically, she says, “Before going to Oklahoma, I had a very poor understanding of the notion of ‘rangelands’. When I was there, I learned it had a lot to do with the history of the USA and Mexico’s changing rural landscapes. As I came back, I decided to contact some colleagues in order to write a nation-wide proposal on pastoral women’s rangeland management. The conference was a very enlightening experience!”

Veronica doing field work in Mexico

Symposia

2013 -: “Women as Change Agents in the World’s Rangelands”
66th Annual Meeting of the Society for Range Management (SRM)
Tuesday, February 5, 2013, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

This symposium included an excellent group of speakers who reviewed changing roles for women in the world’s rangelands. Rangeland populations have historically been marginalized in terms of their access to public services and lack of exposure to the outside world. Social, economic, and technological forces are rapidly altering this situation, however. Women are now having larger profiles as community leaders, range managers, and professionals in research, extension, or agency administration. This symposium explored such trends and asked what these gender dynamics imply for new frontiers in rangeland research, outreach, education, and rural development strategies, both overseas and in North America.

We thank the donors who supported this symposium. They included: the SRM Board of Directors, the SRM International Affairs committee, the SRM Oklahoma Organizing Committee; SRM Sections of the Pacific Northwest, Arizona, and Nevada; the National Riparian service Team, the Brainerd Foundation, the  Sustainable Northwest Foundation, and the Commonwealth Government of Australia.

From Left to Right – Sally Leigo, Robin Boies, Barbara Allen-Diaz, Corinne Valdivia, Layne Coppock, Pat Johnson, Tungalag Ulambayar, Caryl Elzinga, Jeannie Harvey, Rachel Mealor (front), Becky Hatfield-Hyde (rear), Laura Van Riper, Veronica Vazquez-Garcia, Hailey Wilmer, Claudia Radel, Maria Fernandez-Gimenez, Amy Ganguli, Katherine Minthorn-Goodluck.

Absent: Catherine Schloeder, Wink Crigler

Program
Abstracts
Symposium Presentations

2012 – Mongolian Rangeland Development and Management Spokane Convention Center 202 A,B,C Thursday, February 2, 2012 Organizer: James O’Rourke, Rancher, Chadron, NE From Left to Right: Chantsallkham, J. – Colorado State University, Erdenetsetseg, B. – National Agency for Meteorology, Hydrology and Environmental Monitoring, Tungalag, U. –  Colorado State University, Davaabaatar, D. –  Administration, Land Agency for Geodesy and Cartography –  Ministry of Construction & Urban Development, Bulgamaa, D. –  Green Gold Project, Batbuyan, B. –  Centre for Nomadic Studies, Enkhmaa –  Administration, Land Agency for Geodesy and Cartography, Batbaatar, A. – National University of Mongolia, Suvd, M. –  School of Law, Otgontenger University, Altantsetseg, B. – Peri-Urban Rangeland Project – Millennium Challenge Account – Mongolia, Tumenjargal, D. –  Mongolian State University of Agriculture, Jigjidsuren, S. –  Professor, Gankhuyag, G. –  Ministry of Food  and Agriculture, Light Industry, Oyunbileg, Kh. –  National University of Mongolia, Sumjidmaa, S. –  National University of Mongolia, Sukhbaatar, P. –  Research Institute of Animal Husbandry, Bayarmaa, B. –  Peri-Urban Rangeland Project – Millennium Challenge Account – Mongolia, Enkh-Amgalan, Ts. –  Green Gold Project Agenda Symposium Presentations 2011 – No Symposium
2010 – Pastoralists and Property Rights. In 2010, there were two symposia.  The first was Community Based Conservation on the Rangelands.  This symposium brings together scholars and practitioners from various regions of the world to share and discuss their experiences with community-based rangeland conservation and management, with the aim of identifying common threads, potential best practices, and needs and opportunities for broader collaborative research to document the process and outcomes of these efforts. This symposium was largely funded by Dow Agrosciences. From left to right: Mara Goldman, University of Colorado, Boulder Robin Reid, Center for Collaborative Conservation, Colorado State University Heather Knight, The Nature Conservancy, John Taylor, Australian Rangeland Society Qian Zhang, Center for Rural Environmental Studies, Institute of Sociology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, David Nkedianye, Reto-o-Reto Foundation and International Livestock Research Institute, Maria Fernandez-Gimenez, Dept. of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, Colorado State University The second was Pastoralists and Property Rights.  This symposium examines this paradox of pastoral land tenure (the simultaneous demands for tenure security and flexible access to spatially heterogeneous resources), bringing together pastoralists and scholars from multiple continents to reflect on their experiences with pastoral tenure transformations, and their implications for the well-being of livestock keepers and the lands they depend upon.  This symposium was funded largely by a grant from Dow Agrosiences. From left to right: Maria Fernandez-Gimenez, Dept. of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship, Colorado State University, Nathan Sayre, University of California, Berkeley David Nkedianye, Reto-o-Reto Foundation and International Livestock Research Institute Sebastian Villagra, INTA, Argentina, Andrew Ash, CSIRO, Australia Ken Bauer, Dartmouth College, Chantsalkham Jamsranjav, formerly Green Gold Ecosystem Management Program (currently, Colorado State University), Suvd Mandibadar, Green Gold Ecosystem Management Program, Qian Zhang, Center for Rural Environmental Studies, Institute of Sociology, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Symposia Presentations
2009 – Borderlands Watershed Management: a Collaborative Approach to Resource Management. Scientists from the United States and Mexico presented a bilateral perspective on the issues and challenges in watershed management along the US-Mexico border (funded largely by a grant from Dow Agro-Sciences). From left to right: Andres Cibils (New Mexico State University), Jose Manuel Perez Cantu (Pronatura, México), Rosendo Treviño (USDA-NRCS), Dr. Alicia Melgoza (Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, México), Forrest Smith (Texas A&M, Kingsville), Roy Mann (USDA-NRCS) Program
2008 – Livestock Management in Shrub-Dominated Semi-Arid Rangelands: A Comparison of Landscape Histories and Use Patterns in the Mediterranean and Southwestern North America (funded largely by grant from Dow Agro-Sciences) Presenters and Committee (from left to right): Zalmen Henkin, Ed Frederickson, Derek Bailey, Antonio Gomez Sal, Matteo Barbari, Humberto Perotto-Baldivieso, Stephano Simonini, Maria Fernandez-Gimenez, and Leonardo Conti Symposium Presentations
2007 – Pampas, Savannas and Deserts of Argentina: Traditions and Transitions in Rangeland Management, Research, and Education – Symposium Presentations Resulting publications: Paper in Rangelands 33(1):2-12. 2011 Paper in Outlook on Agriculture 40(2):181–189. 2011
2006 – Grasslands in Northern China: Ecology and Contemporary Issues Resulting publication:  A special feature containing seven papers. 2009. Rangeland Ecology and Management 62(4).
2005 – Mexico Rangelands: Common Issues, Perspectives, and Future Challenges 2004 – Rangelands of Central Asia: Transformations, Issues, and Future Challenges Resulting publications: Bedunah, D.J., McArthur, E.D., Fernandez-Gimenez, M. 2006. Rangelands of Central Asia: Proceedings Conference on Transformations, Issues & Future Challenges. 27 Jan 2004, Salt Lake City, UT. Proceedings, RMRS-P-39. Fort Collins, CO: USDA, U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station 2003 – No symposium 2002 – Rangeland Professionals and Policy: Prospects for Effective Influence Resulting publication:  Synthesis paper in Rangelands 24(4):34-40 2001 – Rangeland Professionals and Society: Future Directions Resulting publications:  Papers in Rangelands 23(5-6), 24(1) 1999-2000 – No symposia 1998 – Privatization of the World’s Rangelands: Consequences for Sustainable Societies Resulting publication:  Paper to USAID Global Bureau summarizing issues and lessons learned 1996-1997 – No symposia 1995 – Rangeland Development in Mongolia, Ukraine, Patagonia, Pakistan, Morocco, Iran & Botswana Resulting publication:  Proceedings printed by University of Wyoming 1994 – Country Presentations 1992-1993 – No symposia 1991 – New Concepts in International Rangeland Development: Theory and Application Resulting publication:  Proceedings printed by Department of Range Science, Utah State University 1990 – Low Input Sustainable Yield Systems: Implications for the World’s Rangelands Resulting publication:  Proceedings printed by Department of Range Science, Utah State University 1988-1989 – No symposia 1987 – Institutions for Rangeland Development: Strategies and Lessons Learned Resulting publication:  Proceedings printed by Winrock International Institute for Agricultural Development 1986 – Developing Successful International Rangeland Management Programs Resulting publication:  Proceedings printed by Winrock International Institute for Agricultural Development 1985 – Human and Cultural Understanding – Key to Improve Benefits from Rangelands     Resulting publication:  Proceedings printed by Washington State University

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