Rangelands effect us all, rural and urban alike. They provide valuable habitat for livestock and wildlife. They provide an ecological setting for recharging aquifers, protecting watersheds, purifying air and water, regenerating soil and water fertility, and preserving biodiversity. They provide open space for recreation and cultural enrichment. They provide economic support for grazing communities and cultures. When healthy, they provide an ecological buffer against global warming and climate change.

Rangelands are a type of land - desert, prairie, or savanna - on which the natural vegetation is dominated by grasses, grass-like plants, forbs, and shrubs. The land is not fertilized, cultivated, or irrigated. When managed properly, the land's vegetation and grazing animals function as integral components of a natural ecosystem.

Rangelands occur in every region of Texas. Geographic regions in which Texas rangelands are found include:

1. East Texas piney woods
   
   
2. Coastal prairie
   
   
3. Blackland prairie
   
   
4. Rolling Plains
   
   
5. Edward Plateau
   
   
6. High Plains
   
   
7. South Texas Plains
   
   
8. Trans-Pecos
   
   

Rangelands are sometimes referred to as range, prairie, ranchland, or grassland.

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