Sparing grasslands: FAO's active role.

Abstract

We agree with much of the Letter “Tyranny of trees in grassy biomes” (30 January, p. [484][1]), in which J. W. Veldman et al. caution against indiscriminate afforestation in general and especially in grassland areas, as well as acknowledge grasslands' substantial contribution to carbon sequestration ([ 1 ][2], [ 2 ][3]). We consider it misleading, however, to claim that because grasslands are not “formally” recognized, they are not actively studied and considered in ongoing activities of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The FAO has been working on grasslands activities for more than 30 years ([ 3 ][4]) and recognizes that even within grasslands, there are many categories. The FAO's 2005 publication Grasslands of the World explicitly includes grassland biomes ([ 4 ][5]). We estimate that 26% of the world land area and 70% of the world agricultural area are covered by grasslands, which contribute to the livelihoods of over 800 million people ([ 5 ][6]). We have also developed a grassland database with descriptions of more than 300 grassland species from different grassland ecosystems. The FAO has many grassland-related projects and case studies ([ 6 ][7]), including rehabilitation of degraded areas through protected areas and promoting native grassland species. Two relevant projects are the completed “Range rehabilitation and establishment of a wildlife reserve in the Syrian steppe” and the ongoing, globally focused, “Participatory assessment of land degradation and sustainable land management in grassland and pastoral systems” ([ 7 ][8]). We do acknowledge that the definitions of grasslands need to be harmonized and that more research is needed into understanding these areas. 1. [↵][9] FAO, Grasslands Carbon Working Group ([www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/thematic-sitemap/theme/spi/gcwg/en][10]). 2. [↵][11] FAO, Knowledge Base ([www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/thematic-sitemap/theme/spi/gcwg/gcwg-docs/en][12]). 3. [↵][13] FAO, Publications ([www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/pasture/publ_year.htm][14]). 4. [↵][15] 1. J. M. Suttie, 2. S. G. Reynolds, 3. C. Batello FAO, Grasslands of the World, J. M. Suttie, S. G. Reynolds, C. Batello, Eds. (FAO, Rome, 2005); . 5. [↵][16] FAO, Are grasslands under threat? ([www.fao.org/ag/agp/agpc/doc/grass_stats/grass-stats.htm][17]). 6. [↵][18] FAO, Case studies on grassland and rangeland management ([www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/thematic-sitemap/theme/spi/scpi-home/managing-ecosystems/management-of-grasslands-and-rangelands/grasslands-cases/en][19]). 7. [↵][20] FAO, Participatory assessment of land degradation and sustainable land management in grassland and pastoral systems ([www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/intranet/projects-database/detail/en/c/234274][21]). [1]: http://www.sciencemag.org/content/347/6221/484.3 [2]: #ref-1 [3]: #ref-2 [4]: #ref-3 [5]: #ref-4 [6]: #ref-5 [7]: #ref-6 [8]: #ref-7 [9]: #xref-ref-1-1 View reference 1 in text [10]: http://www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/thematic-sitemap/theme/spi/gcwg/en [11]: #xref-ref-2-1 View reference 2 in text [12]: http://www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/thematic-sitemap/theme/spi/gcwg/gcwg-docs/en [13]: #xref-ref-3-1 View reference 3 in text [14]: http://www.fao.org/ag/AGP/AGPC/doc/pasture/publ_year.htm [15]: #xref-ref-4-1 View reference 4 in text [16]: #xref-ref-5-1 View reference 5 in text [17]: http://www.fao.org/ag/agp/agpc/doc/grass_stats/grass-stats.htm [18]: #xref-ref-6-1 View reference 6 in text [19]: http://www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/thematic-sitemap/theme/spi/scpi-home/managing-ecosystems/management-of-grasslands-and-rangelands/grasslands-cases/en [20]: #xref-ref-7-1 View reference 7 in text [21]: http://www.fao.org/agriculture/crops/intranet/projects-database/detail/en/c/234274