Case studies on grassland and rangeland management

Grassland carbon sequestration: management, policy and economics

This book profiles 13 contributions by some of the world’s best scientists on the subjects of measuring soil C in grassland systems and sustainable grassland management practices. While many different aspects of C sequestration in grasslands are provided as far as possible, many gaps in our knowledge are also revealed and, in line with the role of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) of disseminating available information, it is hoped that this book will promote discussion, prompt further research, help develop global and national grassland strategies, and contribute to sustainable production intensification.

Challenges and opportunities for carbon sequestration in grassland systems

Implementing grassland management practices that increase carbon uptake by increasing productivity or reducing carbon losses (e.g. through high rates of offtake) can lead to net accumulation of carbon in grassland soils – sequestering atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2). Globally, the potential to sequester carbon by improving grassland practices is substantial. This report reviews the current status of opportunities and challenges for grassland carbon sequestration. Based on these observations, the report then identifies components that could foster the inclusion of grasslands in a post-2012 climate agreement, and the development of policies to improve grassland management.

Review of evidence on drylands pastoral systems and climate change

This review first highlights the importance of drylands, grazing lands and livestock-based livelihoods and illustrates the interrelations between climate change, land and livestock. It then provides estimates of the potential carbon storage and sequestration in pasture and rangelands in drylands and outlines the main land management measures for improving carbon cycling and grassland management. The socio-economic dimensions are then highlighted. In conclusion, it presents some key messages on the importance of grasslands and rangelands in terms of their contribution to carbon sequestration and to the livelihoods of the poor.

Grasslands of the World

The present book provides an overview of a range of grassland systems worldwide, with contributions by experts from many regions, and in a final chapter briefly assesses the state of the grasslands, their management, and various grassland resources, the complementary roles of sown pastures, fodder crops and natural grasslands and concludes by looking at various social, economic and environmental actors. Researchers, grassland scientists and policymakers will find the material useful and the book will contribute towards the accumulated knowledge on the world’s grasslands. The contributions of authors are much appreciated by FAO in its efforts to disseminate information on grasslands and pastoral systems.

Coping with a changing climate: considerations for adaptation and mitigation in agriculture

The uncertainties related to climate change impacts and vulnerabilities are often considered as an impediment for concrete and immediate action. This document elaborates on issues of less-than-perfect information on climate impacts and vulnerabilities, and need for better informed decisions on “resilient adaptation” by merging adaptation, mitigation and prevention strategies. It offers new perspectives for policy-makers, institutions, societies and individuals on improved ways of identifying most at-risk communities and “best practices” of coping with current climate variability and extreme climate events.

Grassland resource assessment for pastoral systems

Extensive grazing lands cover a very large part of the earth's surface and are not only important for livestock: they are often major watersheds and wildlife habitats, as well as sites for the in situ conservation of plant genetic resources. In the developing countries there are at least 40 million pastoralists who depend on natural grazing for their livelihood; most are subsistence herders. This publication deals with the study of grazing lands and their livestock, and with the analysis of the results; it is mainly concerned with the traditional sector and with studies for development projects. Modelling is emphasized as a powerful tool for dealing with the complexities of the pastoral system.

Site-specific grasses and herbs: Seed production and use for restoration of mountain environments

Richly varied seed mixtures at middle and high altitudes in mountain environments that provide a natural-like or site-specific vegetation cover, primarily oriented towards nature protection rather than merely the production of forage have gained significance in recent years. This book intends to give impulse to the viability of these prerequisites. The possibilities and conditions for successful use in landscape construction of 25 different grasses and herbs naturally occurring in the middle and high zones are shown, and their botany and distribution comprehensively described.

Lowland and Grasslands of Europe: Utilization and Developement

Temperate Asia has vast areas of grazing lands, which, as well as being important environmentally, provide livelihoods for herders. Both transhumant and agropastoral systems are common and involve both full-time nomads and settled farmers who take their stock to summer pastures. While some of these systems have been studied previously in detail, there is a general lack of knowledge, particularly of many of the transhumant systems. Since the mid-1990s, FAO has been supporting the production of a series of case studies, mostly on transhumant systems, which have generated a series of reports.