Abstract
Bernardi, R. E., M. Buddeberg, M. Arim, and M. Holmgren. 2019. Forests expand as livestock pressure declines in subtropical South America. Ecology and Society 24(2):19. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-10688-240219
Highlights
The global distribution of forests, savannas, and grasslands has been studied since the first observations by early naturalists that related vegetation structure and composition to local environmental conditions (Darwin 1890, Von Humboldt and Bonpland 2009/1807)
We found that forests contracted in areas with high crop agriculture, whereas forests increased in those grasslands where livestock densities had been reduced
Our results show that current land use and disturbance regimes explain the large extent of grasslands across the South American Campos and suggest that changes in land use and disturbance regimes could facilitate or prevent transitions between subtropical forests, savannas, and grasslands altering the provision of ecosystem services linked to them
Summary
The global distribution of forests, savannas, and grasslands has been studied since the first observations by early naturalists that related vegetation structure and composition to local environmental conditions (Darwin 1890, Von Humboldt and Bonpland 2009/1807). The probability of finding grasslands, savannas, or forests in any particular place results from the complex interplay of resource conditions, land use, and disturbance regimes. Savannas, and grasslands provide different types of environmental services and configure cultural views that strongly influence economic activities and social organization (Berkes et al 2000, Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005). Socioeconomic activities are associated with land uses that can shape ecosystems and landscapes (Foley et al 2005, Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005, Aleman et al 2016)
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