Forage

Rangeland refers to any land supporting vegetation that can be consumed by domestic livestock and wildlife, and is managed as a natural ecosystem. Rangelands are located throughout most of British Columbia and include:

• Alpine
• Community pastures
• Forestlands (logged and unlogged)
• Grasslands
• Parkland
• Shrub lands
• Subalpine
• Riparian areas (wetlands and rivers)
• Private and Crown Rangelands
• Rangelands are either owned privately or by the Crown and are managed to supply forage for both livestock and wildlife

Government supports the economic viability of existing ranching operations in British Columbia by ensuring continued access to Crown land for grazing and haycutting. The province manages Crown range resources through tenures issued under the Range Act or the Land Act.

Range Act:

Grazing and hay-cutting tenures are issued under the Range Act as either licences (15-25 year terms) or permits (up to 10-year terms).  

Land Act:

Grazing leases have traditionally been issued under the Land Act as 20-year tenures. Applications for new grazing leases are no longer available but existing grazing leases can be renewed upon application. 

• Learn more about grazing leases on Crown land

Pasture and range health depend on the maintenance and balance of the soil, vegetation, water and air, as well as the ecological processes of the grazing land ecosystem. 

• Learn more about pasture and range health

When developing a grazing management plan it’s important to consider grazing frequency and usage of every pasture in your grazing rotation.

• Grazing Management Guide (PDF, 1.3MB)
• Grazing Management Guide webpage

Pasture management during drought:

• Factsheet: Managing Grazing Lands During Drought (Range) (PDF, 247KB)
• Factsheet: Managing Irrigated Forage Crops During Drought (Pastures) (PDF, 438KB)