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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Comment on “The global tree restoration potential”

Science, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 366(6463)

Published: Oct. 17, 2019

Bastin et al's estimate (Reports, 5 July 2019, p. 76) that tree planting for climate change mitigation could sequester 205 gigatonnes of carbon is approximately five times too large. Their analysis inflated soil organic gains, failed to safeguard against warming from trees at high latitudes and elevations, considered afforestation savannas, grasslands, shrublands be restoration.

Language: Английский

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Ancient grasslands guide ambitious goals in grassland restoration

Science, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 377(6606), P. 594 - 598

Published: Aug. 4, 2022

Grasslands, which constitute almost 40% of the terrestrial biosphere, provide habitat for a great diversity animals and plants contribute to livelihoods more than 1 billion people worldwide. Whereas destruction degradation grasslands can occur rapidly, recent work indicates that complete recovery biodiversity essential functions occurs slowly or not at all. Grassland restoration-interventions speed guide this recovery-has received less attention restoration forested ecosystems, often due prevailing assumption are recently formed habitats reassemble quickly. Viewing grassland as long-term assembly toward old-growth endpoints, with appreciation feedbacks threshold shifts, will be crucial recognizing when how globally important ecosystem.

Language: Английский

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Measuring the success of climate change adaptation and mitigation in terrestrial ecosystems

Science, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 366(6471)

Published: Dec. 13, 2019

Measuring mitigation and adaptation As more carbon dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere, humans natural world are beset by damaging consequences of a rapidly changing climate. Natural seminatural ecosystems likely to be best starting place for immediate solutions. First, though, many environments need restoration maximize their own resilience climate change. In reviewing our options, Morecroft et al. point out that we can directly observe success strategies quantifying atmospheric dioxide. Successful challenging because it involves range social biodiversity measures. However, could make matters worse if do not constantly monitor effects interventions devise react flexibly as conditions unfold. Science , this issue p. eaaw9256

Language: Английский

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The diversity of post‐fire regeneration strategies in the cerrado ground layer

Journal of Ecology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 109(1), P. 154 - 166

Published: June 25, 2020

Abstract Disentangling species strategies that confer resilience to natural disturbances is key conserving and restoring savanna ecosystems. Fire a recurrent disturbance in savannas, vegetation highly adapted often dependent on fire. However, although the woody component of tropical savannas well studied, we still do not understand how ground‐layer plant communities respond fire, limiting conservation management actions. We investigated effects prescribed fire community structure composition, evaluated which traits are involved regeneration after cerrado ground layer. assessed related persistence colonization capacity including resprouter type, underground structure, fire‐induced flowering, strategy growth form. searched for functional groups response shed light main post‐fire recovery among changed composition short term, leading greater richness, population densities increasing bare soil, compared with unburned communities. Eight months abundance did differ from pre‐disturbance values 86% species, demonstrating this layer Only one ruderal was disadvantaged by 13% benefited. Rapid soil cover native burned areas driven high resprout spread vegetatively. Recovery community, as whole, resulted combination different traits. summarized these into five large groups, encompassing Synthesis . dramatically changes but system resilient, quickly recovering pre‐fire state. involves strategies, categorized species: grasses , seeders bloomers undergrounders resprouters Knowledge diverse should be used tool assess restoration status fire‐resilient ecosystems cerrado.

Language: Английский

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The last continuous grasslands on Earth: Identification and conservation importance

Conservation Science and Practice, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 4(3)

Published: Jan. 20, 2022

Abstract Grasslands are the most threatened and least protected biome. Yet, no study has been conducted to identify last remaining continuous grasslands on Earth. Here, we used World Wildlife Fund (WWF) International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifications measure degree intactness world's grassland ecoregions. This analysis revealed three findings critical conservation importance. First, only a few large, intact remain. Second, every continent with ecoregion considered in this contains at one relatively ecoregion. Third, largest identified have persisted despite centuries anthropogenic pressures best chance withstand 21st century global change. We discuss how these regions importance efforts under anthropogenically driven They provide essential ecosystem services, play an important role mitigating effects climate change, serve as repositories biodiversity, foundational continental migration pathways, hold unique cultural heritage, people's livelihoods depend upon their persistence.

Language: Английский

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International principles and standards for the ecological restoration and recovery of mine sites

Restoration Ecology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 30(S2)

Published: Nov. 1, 2022

Executive Summary Mining has been, and remains, an integral part of human existence from Stone Age quarries through to the iron coal that fueled industrial revolution, new materials needed support shift renewable energy. mining products are major contributors national economies with value tripling in past two decades. As 2020, global footprint was 57,000 km 2 growing at a faster rate now than any other time history. Much this is operational, but many areas where complete, sites represent environmental liabilities. Although site stabilization managing waste remains challenging mine closure parts world, liability these means more being just safe, stable, nonpolluting, companies increasingly expected restore ecosystems representative their pre‐mined (natural) state. The International Principles Standards for Ecological Restoration Recovery Mine Sites (Mine Site Standards, MSRS) present first international framework delivery socially environmentally responsible ecological restoration after mining, regardless whether legally mandated. MSRS designed inspire drive higher better outcomes post‐mining landscapes by both guiding encouraging highest level achievable supports need protecting restoring nature. This comes unparalleled impacts climate change, land degradation, biodiversity loss threaten very fabric planet. player local regional demonstrating leadership protecting, enhancing, environments which they operate, can maintain, enhance social license operate. aim provide industry, governments, stakeholders, including Indigenous peoples communities, address mining‐specific issues delivering effective sites. emphasize achieving possible depends upon ingenuity, knowledge investment, supportive corporate ethos build culture continuous improvement. approach will maximize benefits environment, ultimately industry. For be utilized optimize leave positive legacy long ceased. Early adoption industry reduce environmental, financial, risk relinquishment commitment increasing natural capital, responding change and, recovering biodiversity, threatened culturally significant species. agreed‐upon use (PMLU), some cases, same general prior disturbance, often includes fully functioning intact native ecosystems. In PMLU may different pre‐mining condition. Regardless, potential should not invoked as justification destroying or damaging existing When impacted full recovery informed reference models target. Where “recovery gap” between initial ecosystem created. highly man‐altered landscapes, processes approaches require solutions undertaken within Standards. followed, help limit gap, (e.g., if implemented had previously been degraded activities), close gap move toward net gain. underpinned eight principles enable decisions evidence‐based, resilient, acceptable companies, stakeholders. They are: Engage stakeholders throughout life mine. Draw on types knowledge. Be ecosystems, while considering change. Support processes. Assess against clear goals objectives, using measurable indicators. Seek attainable. Gain cumulative when applied large scales. Employ continuum restorative activities. recommend best practice, future practice harnesses unique investment technical capacity applies it most practices possible. These align United Nations Decade Ecosystem Restoration, Sustainable Development Goals, Mitigation Hierarchy, restoration. Practice key concepts customized meet challenges mining. living document evolve develop technological ability, community expectations, understanding changes over time.

Language: Английский

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Placing Brazil's grasslands and savannas on the map of science and conservation

Perspectives in Plant Ecology Evolution and Systematics, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 56, P. 125687 - 125687

Published: June 4, 2022

Language: Английский

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Conflation of reforestation with restoration is widespread

Science, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 383(6684), P. 698 - 701

Published: Feb. 15, 2024

Across Africa, vast areas of nonforest are threatened by inappropriate restoration in the form tree planting.

Language: Английский

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Challenges and opportunities for grassland restoration: A global perspective of best practices in the era of climate change

Global Ecology and Conservation, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 46, P. e02612 - e02612

Published: Aug. 22, 2023

Grasslands are ubiquitous globally, and their conservation restoration critical to combat both the biodiversity climate crises. There is increasing interest in implementing effective multifunctional grassland restore concomitant with above- belowground carbon sequestration, delivery of credits and/or integration land dedicated solar panels. Other common considerations include improved forage value, erosion control, water management, pollinator services, wildlife habitat provisioning. In addition, many grasslands global hotspots. Nonetheless, relative impact, as compared forests, importance preservation, conservation, has been widely overlooked due subtle physiognomy underappreciated contributions human planetary well-being. Ultimately, success sequestration will depend on more complete ecosystem restoration. this review, supported by examples from across Western world, we call for strenuous unified development best practices three areas concern: initial site conditions preparation; implementation measures management; social context sustainability. For each area, identify primary challenges highlight case studies proven results derive successful generalizable solutions.

Language: Английский

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