Combatting global grassland degradation

Nature Reviews Earth & Environment, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 2(10), P. 720 - 735

Published: Sept. 7, 2021

Language: Английский

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Resilience and restoration of tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and grassy woodlands

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 94(2), P. 590 - 609

Published: Sept. 24, 2018

ABSTRACT Despite growing recognition of the conservation values grassy biomes, our understanding how to maintain and restore biodiverse tropical grasslands (including savannas open‐canopy woodlands) remains limited. To incorporate into large‐scale restoration efforts, we synthesised existing ecological knowledge grassland resilience approaches plant community restoration. Tropical communities are resilient to, often dependent on, endogenous disturbances with which they evolved – frequent fires native megafaunal herbivory. In stark contrast, extremely vulnerable human‐caused exogenous disturbances, particularly those that alter soils destroy belowground biomass (e.g. tillage agriculture, surface mining); after severe soil is expensive rarely achieves management targets. Where have been degraded by altered disturbance regimes fire exclusion), exotic invasions, or afforestation, efforts can recreate vegetation structure (i.e. historical tree density herbaceous ground cover), but species‐diverse communities, including endemic species, slow recover. Complicating plant‐community many invest in underground storage organs, difficult propagate re‐establish. guide decisions, draw on old‐growth concept, novel ecosystem theory regarding cover along resource gradients propose a conceptual framework classifies three broad states. These states are: (1) ancient, ecosystems), where should focus maintenance regimes; (2) hybrid grasslands, emphasise return towards state; (3) ecosystems, magnitude environmental change shift an alternative state) socioecological context preclude conditions.

Language: Английский

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Land‐use change and land degradation on the Mongolian Plateau from 1975 to 2015—A case study from Xilingol, China

Land Degradation and Development, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 29(6), P. 1595 - 1606

Published: April 18, 2018

Abstract Land degradation is a severe environmental problem on regional and global scale that often aggravated by intensive land‐use climate change. The arid to semi‐arid Xilingol in Inner Mongolia, China, an example of area has witnessed continuous land for decades, spite numerous attempts reverse this trend. In study, land‐cover change (LUCC) between 1975 2015 was investigated based multi‐temporal remote sensing images. aim the study derive detailed information LUCC over space time as basis assessing ecological social consequences bid develop better strategies combating degradation. Two main processes two distinct phases were identified: During Phase 1 (1975–2000), pattern dominated degradation, affecting 11.4% (22,937 km 2 ) total area. (2000–2015), restoration increased (12.0% or 24,161 whereas continued, resulting further 9.5% (19,124 degraded land. transition changed accordingly. Our findings show that, notable successes past, grassland continues be Xilingol, requiring continued attention decision‐makers. Strategic management already had significant influence area, leading expectation science‐based can developed reduce Xilingol.

Language: Английский

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Classification of South Brazilian grasslands: Implications for conservation

Applied Vegetation Science, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 22(1), P. 168 - 184

Published: Nov. 17, 2018

Abstract Aims We offer a first classification of South Brazilian grasslands ( Campos Sulinos ) based on quantitative vegetation data and describing grassland types in terms dominant indicator species. Location (Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul states). Methods described plots 167 sampling units throughout the region using stratified nested design, totalizing 1,502 1 m² quadrats. classified cluster analysis Bray–Curtis dissimilarities, establishing three ten subtypes. conducted species within resulting subtypes, for all possible combinations Results In analyses, clear separation poorly drained from drier sites appeared. Further, distinction between highland region, situated Atlantic Forest biome, Pampa to south, emerged, reflecting climatic management differences. Highland showed lower cover dominance, while Pampa, Paspalum notatum clearly was most important abundance exotic higher. Conclusions Our study provides recorded standardized design. The support division into main phytogeographic (Brazilian biome classification). Grasslands these two regions also differ dominance pattern (higher grasslands, likely due higher grazing levels) conservation state (low presence grasslands). results are policies, which can now consider different but more will be necessary detailed that considers abiotic features detail.

Language: Английский

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Clarifying the confusion: old-growth savannahs and tropical ecosystem degradation

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2016, Volume and Issue: 371(1703), P. 20150306 - 20150306

Published: Aug. 9, 2016

Ancient tropical grassy biomes are often misrecognized as severely degraded forests. I trace this confusion to several factors, with roots in the nineteenth century, including misinterpretations of nature fire savannahs, attempts reconcile savannah ecology Clementsian succession, use physiognomic (structural) definitions and development degradation frameworks focused solely on Towards clarity, present two models that conceptualize drivers ecosystem operating both savannahs These highlight how human-induced environmental changes create ecosystems superficially similar physiognomies but radically different conservation values. Given limitation physiognomy differentiate from forests, an alternative approach based floristic composition. Data eastern lowland Bolivia show old-growth can be reliably distinguished by eight grass species identity influences flammability. recommend scientists incorporate alongside qualified reference ancient or derived deforestation. conceptual advances will require attention not only tree cover, also herbaceous plant their ecologies. This article is part themed issue ‘Tropical biomes: linking ecology, human conservation’.

Language: Английский

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Changes in vegetation parameters and soil nutrients along degradation and recovery successions on alpine grasslands of the Tibetan plateau

Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 284, P. 106593 - 106593

Published: July 5, 2019

Language: Английский

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Status and Challenges of Qinghai–Tibet Plateau’s Grasslands: An Analysis of Causes, Mitigation Measures, and Way Forward

Sustainability, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 12(3), P. 1099 - 1099

Published: Feb. 4, 2020

Grassland ecosystems on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) provide numerous ecosystem services and functions to both local communities populations living downstream through provision of water, habitat, food, herbal medicines, shelter. This review examined current ecological status, degradation causes, impacts various grassland mitigation measures employed their effects health growth in QTP. Our findings revealed that QTP grasslands are continually being degraded as a result complex biotic abiotic drivers processes. The actions have resulted soil erosion, plant biomass loss, organic carbon reduction grazing carrying capacity, emergence pioneer species, loss nutrients, an increase pH. A combination factors such overgrazing, land-use changes, invasive species encroachment, mining activities, rodent burrowing road dam constructions, tourism, migration, urbanization, climate change caused conceptual framework way forward tackling is presented together with other appropriate needed amicably combat It recommended comprehensive detailed survey be carried out across determine percentage hence, support sound policy intervention.

Language: Английский

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Long-term ecological research in southern Brazil grasslands: Effects of grazing exclusion and deferred grazing on plant and arthropod communities

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 15(1), P. e0227706 - e0227706

Published: Jan. 13, 2020

Grazing exclusion may lead to biodiversity loss and homogenization of naturally heterogeneous species-rich grassland ecosystems, these effects cascade higher trophic levels ecosystem properties. Although grazing has been studied elsewhere, the consequences alleviating disturbance regime in ecosystems remain unclear. In this paper, we present results first five years an experiment native grasslands southern Brazil. Using a randomized block experimental design, examined three treatments on plant arthropod communities: (i) deferred (i.e., intermittent grazing), (ii) (iii) control under traditional continuous grazing, which were applied 70 x m plots, six regionally distributed blocks. We evaluated community responses regarding taxonomic functional diversity (life-forms) separate spatial components: alpha (1 1 subplots), beta, gamma (70 plots), as well cascading high-taxa. By estimating effect sizes (treatments vs. control) by bootstrap resampling, both mostly increased vegetation height, biomass standing dead biomass. The was negative. Conversely, diversity, but reduced diversity. Reduced pressure promoted break dominance prostrate species, followed fast structure towards ligneous erect species. These changes led increases high-taxa richness abundance vegetation-dwelling groups treatments, had no detectable epigeic arthropods. Our indicate that decision-making conservation Brazil should include intensive alleviated management, not complete exclusion, maximize when considering communities.

Language: Английский

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Land use significantly improved grassland degradation and desertification states in China over the last two decades

Journal of Environmental Management, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 349, P. 119419 - 119419

Published: Oct. 27, 2023

Language: Английский

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Effects of climatic and grazing changes on desertification of alpine grasslands, Northern Tibet

Ecological Indicators, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 107, P. 105647 - 105647

Published: Aug. 17, 2019

Language: Английский

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