Tropical Grassland Ecosystems are Mismanaged and Threatened, Study Says

Ineffective land management is threatening the world's tropical grassy areas, according to scientists from the University of Liverpool.

Tropical grassy ecosystems, such as savannas and upland grasslands in Africa and savanna-type grasslands in India, Australia, and South America, cover a huge extend of land globally. But tropical grasslands revive less attention than tropical rainforests, which the researchers contend poses a unique set of threats to the environment.

These tropical grasslands are characterized by continuous grassy understorey, shade-intolerant plants and the prevalence of wildfire. About 20 percent of the world's population depends on these areas of land for their livelihoods. Tropical grasslands are a source of fuel and food, as well as prime grazing territory for many animals. They also store about 15 percent of the world's carbon, the researchers said.

Writing in the journal Trends in Ecology and Evolution, the researchers report that these tropical grassy ecosystems are often misclassified, which leads to degradation of the land and goes on to have a negative impact on the areas' native plants and animals.

"The distinctive evolutionary histories and biodiversity values of these areas needs to be recognized by conservation managers and policy makers," said lead study author Kate Parr.

Parr said that a "more trees are better" mentality works for tropical rainforests, but that position does not necessarily hold true for tropical grassy ecosystems.

"Any changes to the balance between human livelihoods and ecosystem function would have an impact on the use of land, the availability of resources and would affect the way the land functions including its climate," she said.

"The vast extent of tropical grasslands and the reliance of human welfare on them means that they deserve far more research and conservation attention than they currently receive," Parr said.