This indicator quantifies the amount of land area defined as rangeland at any given time. The amount of rangeland at any instant and the associated changes over time are important metrics because they provide information on one of the important global land types as well as inform the spatial and temporal framework from which all other indicators will be considered. Change in land cover converts land of one type of cover to another. The area of rangeland at any point in time and the changes over time have major consequences for the availability of ecosystem services from rangelands. Given that 84 percent of mammals and 74 percent of the bird species within the United States (inhabitants or common migrants) use rangeland habitats, changes in rangeland area (to urban or other agricultural cover) have implications to the sustainability of these species and populations.