Systematic review of field research reveals critical shortfalls for restoration of tropical grassy biomes

Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 61(6), P. 1174 - 1186

Published: March 30, 2024

Abstract Scientists and policymakers are becoming aware of the pressing need to restore tropical grassy biomes (TGB), which home unique biodiversity provide essential ecosystem services hundreds millions people. TGB face increasing threats, including forest‐ tree‐centric restoration approaches that promote their degradation we still lack a systematic assessment where how research has been done guide policy practice. We synthesized knowledge on field experiments by conducting literature review map studies, examine association techniques sources investigate diversity indicators used monitor outcomes. was concentrated at Brazilian Australian savannas, with large blindspots in Asia, Africa northern western South America. Studies were largely context‐dependent, an inconsistent usage different degradation. Less than half evaluated monitored consistently through time, often using low‐dimensional approach related functioning. Few studies manipulated fire, herbivores soils, key drivers for re‐establishment dynamics. Unfortunately, many lacked negative (degraded ecosystems), positive (reference ecosystems) controls, or both, impairing attempts robustly determine Our overview highlights needs improvement refine our ability assess, plan, implement restoration. Severe issues experimental designs data reporting identified as barriers find generality upscale meet goals UN Decade Ecosystem Restoration. Synthesis applications . synthesis calls enhanced experiments, transparent quantitative syntheses large‐scale The overall improving resilience measuring outcomes hampers meaningful comparisons between hinders synthetic views determining appropriate suitable monitoring indicators. To overcome scarcity reliable supporting restoration, propose simple checklist minimum information more complete multilingual standardized guidelines.

Language: Английский

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What to expect from restored Cerrado grasslands? Indicators and reference values from pristine ecosystems

Restoration Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 20, 2025

Open ecosystems are disappearing worldwide, requiring urgent restoration efforts. However, limited knowledge of their structure and composition hinders the assessment success. We aimed to establish reference values for plant community attributes in undisturbed native grasslands guide restoration. In an unprecedented data collection, we sampled 14 remnants under different climate, soil, fire regimes, representing a broad portion Brazilian savanna (except least converted northern). assessed composition, richness at scales, ground cover by functional groups, aboveground biomass. From 794 species recorded, half were unique occurrences, few present over 70% areas. Richness ranged from 9 22 species/m 2 53 130 30 m . Grasses (22–80%) non‐grasses (9–45%) did not entirely, leaving 4–56% exposed. Biomass 57 715 g/m Because is variable, finding “reference set” whole Cerrado possible. Regional subsets key guilds recommended instead. The number good proxy diversity, species/30 total richness. unreliable indicator due natural range independent integrity. maximum biomass, however, should never be surpassed. Structural targets include grasses, non‐grasses, bare soil within range, but achieving pristine may unrealistic most cases. Strong efforts focus on conservation rather than restoration, once recovering all reference's difficult.

Language: Английский

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Insights from remote sensing for the study of deforestation drivers in savannas

Journal for Nature Conservation, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 126918 - 126918

Published: March 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Restoration of open ecosystems in the face of climate change

Global Ecology and Conservation, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 53, P. e02989 - e02989

Published: May 18, 2024

Open ecosystems occur all around the world in various forms including temperate and tropical grasslands, savannas, shrublands, heathlands, among others. They are home to unique biodiversity, provide key ecosystem services sustain traditional livelihoods of nearly two billion people. In face ongoing climate change, practitioners aiming restore open need support scientific community more than ever. The aim this Special Issue (SI) is an attention-grabbing collection high-quality publications addressing growing challenges restoration. SI contains 14 papers that fill various, often interdisciplinary knowledge gaps. Three deal with identifying right target states, genetic composition constituting plant species, for restoration under changing environmental conditions competing stakeholder interests. Five advance our understanding on appropriate timing methodological toolkit actively ignite re-assembly communities, while focus situations where spontaneous processes can still also be relied on. interaction health recovery higher trophic levels, particularly grazers, discussed three papers. Finally, a review paper systematically identifies further gaps, such as role soil microbes grassland makes clear guidelines how them. Due variety topics rigorous content, provides strong policy practice UN Decade Ecosystem Restoration beyond.

Language: Английский

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Open ecosystems restoration: a global review shows biases and mismatches between theory and practice

Restoration Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Oct. 7, 2024

Ecological restoration aims to recover the structure, biodiversity, and function of degraded ecosystems. However, open ecosystems have been largely overlooked in restoration, extent theory‐based is unclear. We systematically review papers on from 2011 2021, examining publication trends with data restored site age, size, indicators, assessment frequency. also explore relationships between interventions, ecological concepts. By analyzing 343 papers, we found that concentrated North America Europe, nearly 75% areas originating these continents. Restored are small, assessed for a short duration, plethora indicators no establishment clear control or reference meaningful comparisons. Common sites interventions involved trees shrubs management, soil seeding, transfer plant material as main interventions. From our analyzed 30% them mentioned any concepts, community assembly succession being most ones. Furthermore, exploratory analysis revealed relationship suggesting widespread mismatch theory practice. As Decade Ecosystem Restoration unfolds, call practitioners, researchers, stakeholders working address challenges curtail biases. Despite uniqueness each project, clear, well‐planned design encompassing site‐specific variables solid theoretical bases expected enhance outcomes, optimizing costs biodiversity gains.

Language: Английский

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Rethinking radical veld improvement: a sustainable approach to grazing land restoration?

African Journal of Range and Forage Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 9

Published: Nov. 20, 2024

Language: Английский

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