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Books > Earth & environment > The environment > Applied ecology > Biodiversity
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Grasslands of the World - Diversity, Management and Conservation (Paperback)
Loot Price: R1,613
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Grasslands of the World - Diversity, Management and Conservation (Paperback)
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This book begins with a brief account of the extraordinary sequence
of events that led to emergence of grasslands as major vegetation
formations that now occupy some of the driest and hottest and the
highest and coldest on earth as well as vast steppes and prairies
in more temperate climes. It is the story of grasses successfully
competing with forests and woodlands, aided and abetted by grazing
herbivores and by humans and their use of fire as a tool. It is a
story of adaptation to changing climates and the changing
biophysical environments. A major focus of the book is the
Palaearctic biogeographic realm that extends over some 45 million
km(2) and thus more than 1/3 of the terrestrial ice-free surface on
Earth. It comprises extensive grasslands of different types and
origin, which can be subdivided into (1) natural grasslands with
(1a) steppes (climatogenic in dry climates), (1b) arctic-alpine
grasslands (climatogenic in cold climates) and (1c) azonal and
extrazonal grasslands (pedogenic and topogenic) as well as (2)
secondary grasslands created and sustained by human activities,
such as livestock grazing, mowing or burning. Grasslands of the
Palaearctic do not only form a major basis for the agriculture of
the region and thus its food supply, but are also crucial for other
ecosystem services and host a supra proportional part of the
realm's plant and animal diversity. To reflect that suitability of
grasslands for biodiversity strongly depends on their state, we
apply the term High Nature Value grassland to those natural
grasslands that are not degraded (in good state) and those
secondary grasslands that are not intensified (semi-natural). The
situation in a variety of countries where grasslands are evolving
under the influence of global climate change is also considered.
Case studies are presented on Southern Africa, Eastern Africa,
India, China, South America, North America and Australia. The
concluding chapter examines a set of themes arising from the
chapters that make up the bulk of this book. The following provide
a focus: recent history of grassland biomes - brief recap of
current thinking and recent trends with special reference to dry
grasslands in the Palearctic regions; the current status of
grasslands and germplasm resources (biodiversity) - an overview;
management systems that ensure sustainability; how to recover
degraded grasslands; socio-economic issues and considerations in
grassland management; the impacts of environmental problems in
grasslands such as future climate change and intensification and
the problems/prospects facing pastoralists and other
grassland-based livestock producers.
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