CARRYING CAPACITY MODELS
What is a Carrying Capacity Model?
A carrying capacity model calculates and compares total forage production on the landscape (supply) to total forage consumed by wild and domestic animals (demand).
The model provides a snapshot of baseline stocking rates and forage production, as well as providing a management tool for planning and decision-making.
Why is it Valuable?
A carrying capacity model provides a strategic (long-term) and tactical (near-term) planning and decision-making tool based in ArcGIS and Excel software. The tool allows managers to determine optimal stocking rates, set wildlife production benchmarks, perform sensitivity analyses, and annually plan livestock herd movements and then model impacts to the land resource.
A Carrying Capacity Model Includes:
Basic mapping of soils, vegetation, topography and land ownership.
Modeling tool, based in Excel, for managers to perform sensitivity analyses, set benchmarks and plan herd movements.
Report document containing background information, soils and vegetation inventories, baseline analysis and recommendations.
Supplemental information, literature, and references (digital archive).
