Abstract
In light of Harris (2010) finding insufficient evidence to assert a causal linkage between any of the seven previously proposed causative factors and grassland degradation on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP), more recent empirical studies on QTP grassland degradation were explored to ascertain whether, in fact, these factors are casually linked to grassland degradation. The mischaracterization of the underlying causes of grassland degradation among policymakers has and continues to be an obstacle to sustainable regional grassland management practices. Accumulating evidence suggests that privatization and sedentarization, small mammals, climate change, harsh environments, fragile soils, and overgrazing contribute to grassland degradation. However, neither obsolete livestock husbandry methods nor the recent conversion of rangelands to agriculture had a meaningful influence. Estimates of the total area of degraded grasslands and the establishment of grassland degradation criteria have not been properly addressed in the literature. Both omissions constitute the basis for investigating the causes of grassland degradation across the QTP and the adoption of measures to manage these grasslands sustainably.
Highlights
Grassland degradation is a worldwide ecological problem (Harris, 2010; Wu et al, 2014; Lu et al, 2017), posing a major global threat to ecosystem functions and basic services (Lehnert et al, 2014)
Cao et al / Rangeland Ecology & Management 72 (2019) 988e995 suggested figures of 50% (Dong et al, 2013; Wu et al, 2014), 40% (Cai et al, 2015; Wang et al, 2016a), and even as low as 33% (Li et al, 2013b) when estimating grassland degradation through vegetative cover derived from remote sensing
Liu et al (2015a) pointed out that grassland degradation can occur without any obvious reduction in vegetative cover
Summary
Grassland degradation is a worldwide ecological problem (Harris, 2010; Wu et al, 2014; Lu et al, 2017), posing a major global threat to ecosystem functions and basic services (Lehnert et al, 2014).
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