Grasslands
Restoring grassland ecosystems using a combination of management and planting of native species.
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The climate change mitigation potential of annual grasslands under future climates
This study investigates the impact of composted manure and green waste amendments on carbon sequestration in rangeland soils and their potential to reduce atmospheric CO2 levels. It also examines how future climate changes might affect soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks and greenhouse gas emissions in these ecosystems. Using the DayCent biogeochemical model, the researchers simulated the long-term effects of climate change on carbon dynamics in annual grasslands, both with and without compost amendments. The simulations, based on data from seven California grasslands, used climate projections from two Earth system models (CanESM2 and HadGEM-ES) and two emissions scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) through 2100.
The Amazonian Savannas of French Guiana: Cultural and Social Importance, Biodiversity, and Conservation Challenges
The Amazonian savannas of French Guiana are rare and of high ecological and cultural value but are also highly threatened. They are socio ecological systems that have been co-constructed by humans and nature and today form mosaic landscapes along the country’s coast. From pre-Columbian raised fields through colonial and Créole uses to contemporary uses, they have been largely shaped and modified by human activities. They are currently threatened by changes in fire regimes, agricultural practices, invasive species, and infrastructure development. Less than 3% are protected, despite their importance for several endangered animal and plant species. A shift is required in the way we think about their conservation to create a new strategy that would be completely different from existing French environmental protection tools and adapted to the complexity of these landscapes.
Grassland plants show surprising appetite for carbon dioxide
Results from a long-running field experiment suggest that a major group of plants could thrive as the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere increases.