have resulted in a proliferation of subterranean growth forms and strong seasonality
(plants), seasonal plumage (birds), subterranean burrowing (small mammals), and
migrations (local and continental) in response to forage conditions (e.g. large mammals), prey (e.g. carnivores tracking herbivores), and temperature (e.g. birds,
butterflies).
Grasslands are among the most transformed biomes in the world, being highly
suitable for cropland, plantations, mining and urbanization; natural rangeland is also
abused through over-grazing and inappropriate fire management regimes, and is
increasingly vulnerable to woody encroachment by indigenous species and to alien
species invasion. As a result, natural grassland is often intensely fragmented,
resulting in a major need for both species-specific and landscape-scale conservation
efforts. Many large indigenous animals have been extirpated, with populations a
fraction of their historical size and distribution; this has had a major impact on
ecosystem functioning, as natural processes that include migrations have been
replaced with more sedentary livestock. Moreover, the species diversity is declining
due to the use of mineral fertilisers and pesticides, overgrazing, under-grazing,
intensification of use and—in the case of semi-natural grassland—cessation of use.
Decisions made for conservation at regional scales are frequently not strong
enough to promote sustainable grassland utilisation and protection of habitats and
biodiversity, neither at local to regional nor at national to supranational scales.
Grasslands in Europe and parts of W Asia are not only affected by conversion to
cropland or forest and intensification but also by abandonment (under-grazing, no
mowing). This has to do with the fact that many grassland types in these regions
represent semi-natural and traditionally grazed or mowed grasslands.
For many ecosystems, the classic assumption of optimal nature protection is the
protection of wilderness and natural processes, and human influence should totally
be excluded. However, many examples in grasslands indicate that human influence—under certain conditions and depending on the intensity—can support nature
conservation and biodiversity in a sustainable manner. Furthermore, usage means
trade, exchange of money and therefore upvaluation of the system compared with a
habitat that is not used. Not used and without any price is often seen as unimportant.
The first and main goal of the Convention of Biological Diversity is the survival
of all biota on Earth, and preventing the irreplaceable loss of biodiversity. Therefore,
if human activities can support this goal, interactive relationships that accommodate
conservation, cultural activities and livelihoods need not be at odds. In essence,
grasslands are living landscapes that require human influence in some form, e.g. fire
management or other forms of biomass reduction, to function optimally. In fact,
often the most effective form of conservation is in situ conservation, through
responsible land stewardship by landowners—educating and empowering landowners to be effective stewards of grasslands is the most practical means from a
fiscal perspective, given limited government funds to purchase and manage large
tracks of land for purely conservation reasons. Adding subsidies to tackle major
problems such as controlling invasive species, mitigating soil erosion, managing or
re-introducing local populations of endangered species, etc. would assist landowners
in meeting the bottom line and maintaining their investment in the land.
474
C. Hobohm et al.
(plants), seasonal plumage (birds), subterranean burrowing (small mammals), and
migrations (local and continental) in response to forage conditions (e.g. large mammals), prey (e.g. carnivores tracking herbivores), and temperature (e.g. birds,
butterflies).
Grasslands are among the most transformed biomes in the world, being highly
suitable for cropland, plantations, mining and urbanization; natural rangeland is also
abused through over-grazing and inappropriate fire management regimes, and is
increasingly vulnerable to woody encroachment by indigenous species and to alien
species invasion. As a result, natural grassland is often intensely fragmented,
resulting in a major need for both species-specific and landscape-scale conservation
efforts. Many large indigenous animals have been extirpated, with populations a
fraction of their historical size and distribution; this has had a major impact on
ecosystem functioning, as natural processes that include migrations have been
replaced with more sedentary livestock. Moreover, the species diversity is declining
due to the use of mineral fertilisers and pesticides, overgrazing, under-grazing,
intensification of use and—in the case of semi-natural grassland—cessation of use.
Decisions made for conservation at regional scales are frequently not strong
enough to promote sustainable grassland utilisation and protection of habitats and
biodiversity, neither at local to regional nor at national to supranational scales.
Grasslands in Europe and parts of W Asia are not only affected by conversion to
cropland or forest and intensification but also by abandonment (under-grazing, no
mowing). This has to do with the fact that many grassland types in these regions
represent semi-natural and traditionally grazed or mowed grasslands.
For many ecosystems, the classic assumption of optimal nature protection is the
protection of wilderness and natural processes, and human influence should totally
be excluded. However, many examples in grasslands indicate that human influence—under certain conditions and depending on the intensity—can support nature
conservation and biodiversity in a sustainable manner. Furthermore, usage means
trade, exchange of money and therefore upvaluation of the system compared with a
habitat that is not used. Not used and without any price is often seen as unimportant.
The first and main goal of the Convention of Biological Diversity is the survival
of all biota on Earth, and preventing the irreplaceable loss of biodiversity. Therefore,
if human activities can support this goal, interactive relationships that accommodate
conservation, cultural activities and livelihoods need not be at odds. In essence,
grasslands are living landscapes that require human influence in some form, e.g. fire
management or other forms of biomass reduction, to function optimally. In fact,
often the most effective form of conservation is in situ conservation, through
responsible land stewardship by landowners—educating and empowering landowners to be effective stewards of grasslands is the most practical means from a
fiscal perspective, given limited government funds to purchase and manage large
tracks of land for purely conservation reasons. Adding subsidies to tackle major
problems such as controlling invasive species, mitigating soil erosion, managing or
re-introducing local populations of endangered species, etc. would assist landowners
in meeting the bottom line and maintaining their investment in the land.
474
C. Hobohm et al.