Many mires and swamps in the world store carbon in the ground as humus or
peat; wet soils in natural and semi-natural habitats, and the soils of arable land, have
the potential to accumulate much more carbon from the atmosphere than the whole
above-ground biosphere. Thus, these systems are important for reducing carbon in
the atmosphere and play an important role in the carbon cycle on Earth. Humans in
many regions have used, or still use, peat as a multi-purpose resource, and—in
general—bogs and fens are more threatened and damaged than swamps. Most mires
and swamps could simply be protected by regulations that guarantee natural hydrological dynamics.
It is an open question if and how the development and succession of mires, bogs,
fens and swamps should be regulated or not, if they e.g. should be grazed or mowed
or not. This question can only be answered with respect to local or regional history
and conditions. However, also hay production might be an adequate measure to
protect the specific habitat wherever the succession to shrubland or forest should be
limited.
For artificial freshwater habitats, such as canals or pond systems in urban areas,
the question arises how these can be upgraded with respect to wildlife or selected
rare species. This question can be answered with a focus on water quality, environmental heterogeneity and connectivity, and also on the limits of human influence and
pressure of tourism.
5.2.4 Grasslands
Grasslands were once the largest terrestrial biome on Earth. Today it is the second
largest biome. Grasslands provide important goods and services for a range of
commercial and communal activities centred on rangeland and livestock-related
activities, e.g. with the production of animal fodder (hay) and animal products
such as meat, milk and leather. Grasslands also provide a suite of other ecosystem
services in the form of carbon sequestration, water production, climate regulation,
and landscape aesthetics.
Embedded in grasslands are e.g. wet grasslands and fens, which form a vital part
of the landscape matrix and harbor a particular suite of species. Examples of natural
Grasslands are the Prairies of North America, the Highveld of South Africa, the
Madagascan highlands, the Asian steppes, the Cerrado, Pampas and Paramos of
South America, parts of the Australian Outback, and European semi-natural
meadows and pastures.
Grasslands are rich and under-appreciated in terms of species diversity and
endemism. Together with other open-canopy or limited woody vegetation, these
habitats are endemic-rich. The open and half-open landscapes of W and SW Asia, N
Africa and Europe are more species-rich than forest in these regions.
The main drivers of diversity and endemism in the Grassland Biome are often the
same factors that limit the growth of woody plants. Species pool, dispersal, isolation;
adaptation to fire; frost; the continuous reduction of above-ground biomass at local
scales; and cultural behaviour are important factors maintaining biodiversity. These
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473
peat; wet soils in natural and semi-natural habitats, and the soils of arable land, have
the potential to accumulate much more carbon from the atmosphere than the whole
above-ground biosphere. Thus, these systems are important for reducing carbon in
the atmosphere and play an important role in the carbon cycle on Earth. Humans in
many regions have used, or still use, peat as a multi-purpose resource, and—in
general—bogs and fens are more threatened and damaged than swamps. Most mires
and swamps could simply be protected by regulations that guarantee natural hydrological dynamics.
It is an open question if and how the development and succession of mires, bogs,
fens and swamps should be regulated or not, if they e.g. should be grazed or mowed
or not. This question can only be answered with respect to local or regional history
and conditions. However, also hay production might be an adequate measure to
protect the specific habitat wherever the succession to shrubland or forest should be
limited.
For artificial freshwater habitats, such as canals or pond systems in urban areas,
the question arises how these can be upgraded with respect to wildlife or selected
rare species. This question can be answered with a focus on water quality, environmental heterogeneity and connectivity, and also on the limits of human influence and
pressure of tourism.
5.2.4 Grasslands
Grasslands were once the largest terrestrial biome on Earth. Today it is the second
largest biome. Grasslands provide important goods and services for a range of
commercial and communal activities centred on rangeland and livestock-related
activities, e.g. with the production of animal fodder (hay) and animal products
such as meat, milk and leather. Grasslands also provide a suite of other ecosystem
services in the form of carbon sequestration, water production, climate regulation,
and landscape aesthetics.
Embedded in grasslands are e.g. wet grasslands and fens, which form a vital part
of the landscape matrix and harbor a particular suite of species. Examples of natural
Grasslands are the Prairies of North America, the Highveld of South Africa, the
Madagascan highlands, the Asian steppes, the Cerrado, Pampas and Paramos of
South America, parts of the Australian Outback, and European semi-natural
meadows and pastures.
Grasslands are rich and under-appreciated in terms of species diversity and
endemism. Together with other open-canopy or limited woody vegetation, these
habitats are endemic-rich. The open and half-open landscapes of W and SW Asia, N
Africa and Europe are more species-rich than forest in these regions.
The main drivers of diversity and endemism in the Grassland Biome are often the
same factors that limit the growth of woody plants. Species pool, dispersal, isolation;
adaptation to fire; frost; the continuous reduction of above-ground biomass at local
scales; and cultural behaviour are important factors maintaining biodiversity. These
Land Use Change and the Future of Biodiversity
473