Abstract

SLOOTEN, Elaine et al. South African grasslands and ploughing: Outlook for agricultural expansion in Africa. S. Afr. j. sci. [online]. 2023, vol.119, n.9-10, pp.1-4. ISSN 1996-7489.  https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2023/15540.

SIGNIFICANCE: Grasslands were often viewed as successional vegetation, a precursor to a possible forest, and were thought to have low diversity. However, a growing number of research projects have shown that these ecosystems boast high biodiversity and massive carbon storing potential, and require at least a century to recover after agricultural ploughing which severely disrupts the environment and consequently lowers plant diversity and carbon stocks. Conserving natural grasslands should be prioritised, as they provide us with important ecosystem services beneficial to not only natural systems, but also the longevity of humans through food security and buffering of the effects of climate change.

Keywords : biodiversity offsets; carbon credits; resilience; vegetation mapping; climate action.

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