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Articles 11131 - 11160 of 302419

Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Plant Functional Diversity Increases Biomass Production In The Establishment Of Perennial Herbaceous Polycultures, V. D. Picasso, E. C. Brummer Aug 2023

Plant Functional Diversity Increases Biomass Production In The Establishment Of Perennial Herbaceous Polycultures, V. D. Picasso, E. C. Brummer

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Natural grasslands are functionally diverse mixtures of perennial species and provide a model for sustainable agriculture systems. There is strong evidence for positive relationships between species and functional diversity and ecosystem processes like productivity and stability (Loreau et al., 2001). This research aimed mainly to study the effect on biomass production (BM) of increasing plant functional diversity in agriculturally relevant perennial herbaceous polycultures during their establishment years.

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Relationships Between Productivity, Quality And Traits In Seven Co-Occurring Grass Species, L. S. Pontes, Jean-François Soussana, P. Carrère, F. Louault, J. Aufrère, D. Andueza Aug 2023

Relationships Between Productivity, Quality And Traits In Seven Co-Occurring Grass Species, L. S. Pontes, Jean-François Soussana, P. Carrère, F. Louault, J. Aufrère, D. Andueza

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The impacts of management options sometimes have dramatic effects on botanical composition which in turn affect yield and nutritive value. A functional analysis of vegetation response may help to understand and predict the impact of changes in grassland management in a more general way screening for plant traits that may control productivity and nutritive value.

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Specific Leaf Area On Fresh Matter Basis: A Soft Trait For Leaf Thickness?, J. Debril, E. Kerneïs, S. Carré, P. Cruz, F. Gastal Aug 2023

Specific Leaf Area On Fresh Matter Basis: A Soft Trait For Leaf Thickness?, J. Debril, E. Kerneïs, S. Carré, P. Cruz, F. Gastal

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Leaf dry matter content (LDMC) and the specific leaf area (SLA), are leaf traits frequently measured in field studies. Unfortunately, leaf thickness (LT) rarely is measured because that is time consuming and needs special equipment. Specific leaf mass (SLM), or leaf dry matter content/unit of leaf area, has been correlated positively to leaf density (Van Arendonk & Poorter 1994) but very few studies have examined its correlation with leaf thickness (Witkowsky & Lamont 1991). Since leaf volume is basically related to its water content, specific leaf area on a fresh matter basis (SLAW) could be consistently correlated to …

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The Potential For Using The Alkanes And Long-Chain Alcohols Of Plant Cuticular Wax To Distinguish The Contribution Of Different Plant Species To A Mixed Root Mass, Hugh Dove, T. P. Bolger Aug 2023

The Potential For Using The Alkanes And Long-Chain Alcohols Of Plant Cuticular Wax To Distinguish The Contribution Of Different Plant Species To A Mixed Root Mass, Hugh Dove, T. P. Bolger

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

In mixed pastures, plants compete below ground for soil water and nutrients, just as they compete above ground for light. Quantifying below-ground competition is difficult, partly because of the difficulty of measuring the contribution of different plant species to a mixed root mass. For some years, the hydrocarbons (alkanes) of plant cuticular wax have been used to quantify the species composition of the diet of herbivores (see Mayes & Dove, 2000). More recently, the long-chain aliphatic alcohols (LCOH) of plant wax have also proved useful markers (Bugalho et al., 2004). Plant roots also contain cuticular alkanes and these may …

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Does Niche Complementarity Explain The Relationship Between Biodiversity And Ecosystem Functioning In Managed Grasslands?, Nina Buchmann, A. Kahmen Aug 2023

Does Niche Complementarity Explain The Relationship Between Biodiversity And Ecosystem Functioning In Managed Grasslands?, Nina Buchmann, A. Kahmen

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Niche complementarity was suggested to largely explain the positive relationship noted between plant diversity and productivity in some recent studies. This suggests that an increasing number of species exploits resources more efficiently and thus enhance ecosystem functions. This hypothesis, however, implies that niches occupied by different plant species are rather distinct so that niches from extinct or missing species stay unoccupied by the remaining species of an ecosystem. This experiment tested if plant species occupy different and distinct niches with respect to soil N uptake, being a possible functional explanation for the biodiversity ecosystem functioning relationship.

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Linking Community And Ecosystem Ecology By Developing A Grassland Ecosystem Model (Gemini) With Interactions Between Plant, Herbivore And Soil Microbial Populations, Jean-François Soussana, S. Witzmann, P. Loiseau, S. Fontaine, Pascal Carrère, Catherine Picon-Cochard, F. Louault Aug 2023

Linking Community And Ecosystem Ecology By Developing A Grassland Ecosystem Model (Gemini) With Interactions Between Plant, Herbivore And Soil Microbial Populations, Jean-François Soussana, S. Witzmann, P. Loiseau, S. Fontaine, Pascal Carrère, Catherine Picon-Cochard, F. Louault

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Simulation models may help to understand the functional role of plant and soil biodiversity for C and N cycles and for intake by herbivores in semi-natural grassland ecosystems. Detailed models of grassland ecosystems calculate C, N, water and energy fluxes without accounting for the species dynamics in the plant and soil communities. Schwinning & Parsons (1996) proposed a simple pasture growth model that includes mixed grass and clover components. This model was, however, restricted to 2 plant functional groups and it excluded the dynamics of the soil organic matter. The role of competitive interactions between at least 2 functionally distinct …

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Study Of Characteristics Of Soil Animals In Halophilous Plant Communities Of Leymus Chinensis Grasslands Of Northeast In China, Xiuqin Yin, Y. Zhang, W. Dong Aug 2023

Study Of Characteristics Of Soil Animals In Halophilous Plant Communities Of Leymus Chinensis Grasslands Of Northeast In China, Xiuqin Yin, Y. Zhang, W. Dong

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

We have researched soil animals in 8 types of halophilous plant communities of Leymus chinensis grasslands of Northeast China to characterise soil animal groups and explain the role and function of soil animals in grassland ecosystems (Richard & Roger, 1998) and provide a scientific basis for research to improve alkaline lands in these grasslands.

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Spatial Distribution Of Soil Macroinvertebrates In A Dry Steppe (South-Eastern Siberia, Russia), K. B. Gongalsky Aug 2023

Spatial Distribution Of Soil Macroinvertebrates In A Dry Steppe (South-Eastern Siberia, Russia), K. B. Gongalsky

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Soil macroinvertebrates are important components of ecosystems. They play a key role in decomposition processes and turnover of the most of elements. Adequate estimation of abundance and biomass of these animals is fundamental for understanding their input in steppe ecosystems. Asian steppes of Russia are poorly studied. Therefore, baseline soil invertebrate composition, abundance and rules of distribution were estimated.

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Grazing Effects On Spatial Microdistribution Of Soil Macroinvertebrates In A Steppe Of European Russia, F. A. Savin, K. B. Gongalsky, A. D. Pokarzhevskii Aug 2023

Grazing Effects On Spatial Microdistribution Of Soil Macroinvertebrates In A Steppe Of European Russia, F. A. Savin, K. B. Gongalsky, A. D. Pokarzhevskii

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Measures of ecosystems and their populations include biomass, production and trophic composition and animal spatial distribution. Grazing of grasslands influences spatial distribution of vegetation seriously. The same effects on soil macroinvertebrates are less well studied. Spatial distribution is usually studied at a coenosis level, and not at a studied point level, although the scale of sampling has a giant importance in estimation of organism's distribution. The aim of our study was to estimate grazing impact on large soil invertebrates in steppe ecosystems in Chernozem Nature Reserve in Russia.

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Grassland Arthropod Species Richness In A Conventional Suckler Beef Production System And One Compatible With The Irish Agri-Environment Scheme (Reps), Alvin J. Helden, A. Anderson, Gordon Purvis Aug 2023

Grassland Arthropod Species Richness In A Conventional Suckler Beef Production System And One Compatible With The Irish Agri-Environment Scheme (Reps), Alvin J. Helden, A. Anderson, Gordon Purvis

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Grassland management practices, such as grazing, strongly affects the biodiversity of grassland arthropods; increasing grazing intensity causes a general decline in species richness (Morris, 2000). One of the aims of the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) is to conserve and enhance biodiversity within Irish agricultural land (Feehan et al., 2002). In order to determine the effectiveness of this aspect of REPS, one must compare the relative biodiversity of grassland under REPS with that of conventionally managed grassland. Aiming to determine whether species richness was higher in REPS-compatible compared with a standard system of management, we measured the species richness …

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Comparison Of Epigeic Spider (Arachnida : Araneae) Assemblages In Winter Wheat Agroecosystems Of The European Part Of Russia, R. R. Seyfulina Aug 2023

Comparison Of Epigeic Spider (Arachnida : Araneae) Assemblages In Winter Wheat Agroecosystems Of The European Part Of Russia, R. R. Seyfulina

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Spiders comprise 20-80% of predatory fauna (Ferguson et al., 1984) and are important in controlling dangerous pests (Horner, 1972). Although different from most natural associations, cropland spider complexes resemble meadow communities and their diversity varies from tens to more than 300 species. About 20 species, referred to as agrobionts (Luczak, 1979), are common to all European agroecosystems.

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Grassland And Avian Biodiversity Within Irish Agriculture, Barry J. Mcmahon, J. Whelan Aug 2023

Grassland And Avian Biodiversity Within Irish Agriculture, Barry J. Mcmahon, J. Whelan

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

In the last quarter of the 20th century, populations of farmland birds have declined markedly, representing a severe threat to biodiversity (Donald et al., 2001). Because the vast majority of Irish farmland is devoted to intensive grassland, it is important to establish what quality of habitat this provides for biodiversity, especially avian. This study aimed to establish the avian species on the selected sites, compared with the total number of species that have been recorded on Irish farmland in recent years, as documented by the Complete Guide to Irish Birds (Dempsey & O'Clery, 2002).

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The Effect Of Burning Abandoned Reclaimed Land In Early Spring On The Distribution Of An Endangered Grassland Bird Species - The Japanese Marsh Warbler, T. Sugiura, E. Ochiai, M. Baba, H. Kobayashi Aug 2023

The Effect Of Burning Abandoned Reclaimed Land In Early Spring On The Distribution Of An Endangered Grassland Bird Species - The Japanese Marsh Warbler, T. Sugiura, E. Ochiai, M. Baba, H. Kobayashi

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The Japanese Red Data Book of Birds lists the Japanese Marsh Warbler (Locustella pryeri pryeri) as an endangered species. It feeds and breeds in-reed dominated (Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin.ex.Steud.) grassland in N Japan. Expanses of reclaimed land (Hotokenuma) are its largest breeding grounds. Each April, fire management is used to rid the area of the dead reed material amassed from the previous year. Circa 1 month after burning, the species returns to the area to inhabit and breed in the unburned areas. Fire use to manage grasslands is an important tool for the conservation and management of …

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Lapwing And Redshank Nesting Sites On Coastal Marshes: Does Sward Structure Matter?, D. Durant, Muriel Tichit, E. Kernéïs Aug 2023

Lapwing And Redshank Nesting Sites On Coastal Marshes: Does Sward Structure Matter?, D. Durant, Muriel Tichit, E. Kernéïs

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Grazing is central to the debate on wildlife conservation. Agricultural grasslands are the main breeding areas for many waders and grazing is very important in grassland use by these species. Waders, groundnesting birds, are very sensitive to sward structure for nesting (Milsom et al., 2000). As a marsh has different grazing regimes, all fields are not equally suitable for waders. This study evaluated the factors affecting lapwing and redshank selection of nesting sites. Also, the hypothesis was tested that sward structure (mean grass height, frequency of tussocks) is an important factor affecting this selection.

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Management Of Grasslands Used By Waders: Integrating Time And Key Spatial Scales Of Grazing Processes, M. Tichit, D. Durant, O. Renault, E. Kernéïs Aug 2023

Management Of Grasslands Used By Waders: Integrating Time And Key Spatial Scales Of Grazing Processes, M. Tichit, D. Durant, O. Renault, E. Kernéïs

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Agriculture has many functions. Mainly through agri-environment schemes, farmers are asked to manage grasslands of special value to conserve biodiversity. Assessment of grazing as an ecological factor of variation of grassland characteristics is needed to understand how grazing contributes to grassland management for species conservation. Several wader species use wet grasslands preferentially for nesting and foraging. Like many ground-nesting birds, they are very sensitive to the sward structure (see Durant et al., this congress).

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A Comparison Of Restored Native Grasslands And Exotic Grass Pastures As Wintering Habitat For Declining Grassland Bird Species In The Southeastern United States, A. B. Mcmellen, S. H. Schweitzer Aug 2023

A Comparison Of Restored Native Grasslands And Exotic Grass Pastures As Wintering Habitat For Declining Grassland Bird Species In The Southeastern United States, A. B. Mcmellen, S. H. Schweitzer

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Southeastern grasslands were not pristine when the first Europeans arrived in the 15th century. American Indians had modified the landscape through centuries of fire use, cultivation, and other activities (Denevan, 1992). However, native southeastern grasslands did not evolve with disturbance from intensive grazing. Livestock and intense grazing pressure arrived with the Europeans. Modifications to southeastern grasslands by the early 1900s included exclusion of fire, intensive grazing, and introduction of cultivated, sodforming grasses, which resulted in an increase in hardwood trees and shrubs, changes in herbaceous species composition, and the near extirpation of native warm-season species such as switch grass ( …

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Agricultural Intensification: Have Sown Pastures Damaged The Environment?, John G. Mcivor, C. K. Mcdonald, Neil D. Macleod, Ken C. Hodgkinson Aug 2023

Agricultural Intensification: Have Sown Pastures Damaged The Environment?, John G. Mcivor, C. K. Mcdonald, Neil D. Macleod, Ken C. Hodgkinson

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Concerns are growing about the impact of agriculture on the environment. Particular concerns have been expressed about the impacts of intensive agriculture (e.g. cropping involving fertiliser, pesticides, limited germplasm, fuels, etc) on biodiversity, and both on-site (e.g. soil health and fertility) and off-site resources (e.g. pesticide contamination). Less intensive agriculture (e.g. sown pastures) can also have undesirable impacts. In the woodlands of eastern Australia sown pasture development has been associated with loss of native vegetation and wildlife habitat, accelerated soil acidification, salinisation and poor tree health (McIntyre et al., 2002). Based on this, there have been calls to restrict …

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The Use Of Ecological Indicators In Studies Of Ecological Recovery For Sustainable Management Of Grazed Grassland Ecosystems, G. A. Heshmati Aug 2023

The Use Of Ecological Indicators In Studies Of Ecological Recovery For Sustainable Management Of Grazed Grassland Ecosystems, G. A. Heshmati

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Early warning systems that depend on the selection of suitable indicators of thresholds are useful (Friedel, 1991). An ideal indicator should be unbiased, sensitive to changes, predictive, referenced to threshold values, data transformable, integrative and easy to collect and communicate (Liverman et al., 1988). Methods for selection of indicators for assessing ecosystem health are being developed (Pyke et al., 2002). This paper examines the situation in grassland vegetation grazed by sheep in a semi arid region of northeastern Iran.

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Investigation On The Temporal Variation Of Vegetation Cover In Karaj River Basin (1973-1993), M. Mohseni Saravi, A. Malekian, B. Mohammadi Golrang Aug 2023

Investigation On The Temporal Variation Of Vegetation Cover In Karaj River Basin (1973-1993), M. Mohseni Saravi, A. Malekian, B. Mohammadi Golrang

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Area changes in vegetation cover depend on several climatic and edaphic factors as well as direct and indirect human activities. Vegetation maps in a region are mosaics of various associations and types, which clearly show their characteristics and provide a useful tool for classification purposes. Kochler (1967) suggested that vegetative forms and species are 2 most important factors for descriptive purposes. This research aimed mainly to determine the vegetation types based on floristic-physiognomic forms and comparison of vegetation cover maps of 2 different dates to clarify the temporal variations of vegetation cover over this period. This detection of change would …

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Operating Systems Of The Meadows In Semi-Arid Region Of Algeria, K. Abbas, M. Abdelguerfi-Laouar, Aissa Abdelguerfi, T. Madani, A. Mebarkia Aug 2023

Operating Systems Of The Meadows In Semi-Arid Region Of Algeria, K. Abbas, M. Abdelguerfi-Laouar, Aissa Abdelguerfi, T. Madani, A. Mebarkia

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Permanent meadows are the base of the fodder resources and also provide environmental services (MAP France, 2002). The function of fodder production is no longer solely to ensure bulk agricultural production. It must also allow the development of livestock products of good quality, contribute to environmental protection, the quality of the landscape and ensure a viable economic activity in the rural areas. These areas have decreased greatly (from 1 million ha at the beginning of the century (Lapeyronie, 1982) to less than 300,000 ha in 2000), in particular in the semi-arid zones at high altitude; however they contribute very effectively …

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Protection Of Agrobiodiversity: Model Calculations In Rhineland-Palatia: Costs And Implications For Farmer, H. Bergmann Aug 2023

Protection Of Agrobiodiversity: Model Calculations In Rhineland-Palatia: Costs And Implications For Farmer, H. Bergmann

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

Biological conservation and production use the same areas of land in less favoured areas. Grassland in these areas makes an important contribution to the protection of agro-biodiversity. However, under existing market conditions and production needs, the use of low yielding grasslands is not economically efficient. The objective of this study was to analyze the economic consequences of different mowing strategies in a small region in Rhineland-Palatia (Germany) that served the protection of two butterfly species.

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The Victorian Volcanic Plains Grassland: Past, Present And Future, Steve G. Clark, J. Crosthwaite, J. Dorrough, J. R. Hirth, Y. Ingeme, J. Mavromihalis, V. Turner Aug 2023

The Victorian Volcanic Plains Grassland: Past, Present And Future, Steve G. Clark, J. Crosthwaite, J. Dorrough, J. R. Hirth, Y. Ingeme, J. Mavromihalis, V. Turner

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The Grasslands of the Victorian Volcanic Plains have been replaced with introduced pastures and crops since European settlement with the loss of many plant and animal species. What remains, on public and private land, has high conservation value and needs urgent protection.

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Contributions Of The United States Department Of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service To Conserving Grasslands On Private Lands In The United States, L. P. Heard Aug 2023

Contributions Of The United States Department Of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service To Conserving Grasslands On Private Lands In The United States, L. P. Heard

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The future of biodiversity in the USA is tied inseparably to activities taking place on private lands. Agriculture is by far the most important user of these lands, with about 50% or 900M acres managed as private cropland, grassland or rangeland. Decisions made by America's farmers and ranchers directly affect grasslands and their impact on food supply, biodiversity, soil protection and water quality. Agricultural programs and policies in the USA have had a large influence on the choices available to farmers and ranchers in land management. Since the 1930s, USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) has been working with farmers, …

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Biodiversity In Grassland: Bangladesh Perspective, B. Hossain Aug 2023

Biodiversity In Grassland: Bangladesh Perspective, B. Hossain

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The rapidly increasing human population in Bangladesh has caused widespread damage to and disturbance of natural habitats and a loss of indigenous wildlife. There are now very few, if any, extensive patches of grassland in Bangladesh and any that might remain are inundated for two-thirds of the year with no alternative refugia available. Most remaining grassland areas are fragmented, heavily used and harvested up to three times a year. Furthermore, the reed lands of northeast Bangladesh were leased out for paper production and are reported to have been entirely destroyed and settled by encroachers. Tall grasslands around rivers and lakes …

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The Global Environment Programme (Gef) And United Nations Development Programme (Undp) Supporting The Conservation Of Grassland Systems In Africa, W. A. Rodgers, M. Niamir-Fuller Aug 2023

The Global Environment Programme (Gef) And United Nations Development Programme (Undp) Supporting The Conservation Of Grassland Systems In Africa, W. A. Rodgers, M. Niamir-Fuller

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The Global Environment Facility (GEF) was created after the World's Environmental Summit in Rio in 1992. The GEF provides funding for developing countries to meet their responsibilities and commitments under global conventions. The GEF is the financing mechanism for the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the United Nations Framework Convention for Combating Desertification (CCD). The conservation and wise use of grasslands can be supported through a variety of funding opportunities. The GEF channels support through Implementing Agencies, of which UNDP specialises in technical assistance and capacity building. The HQ of UNDP is in New York. There are Regional Offices …

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Undp-Gef Grasslands Project: Conserving Mountain Biodiversity In Southern Lesotho, W. A. Rodgers Aug 2023

Undp-Gef Grasslands Project: Conserving Mountain Biodiversity In Southern Lesotho, W. A. Rodgers

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The Kingdom of Lesotho contains some 70% of the Drakensberg-Maloti Mountains, recognised as the Eastern Mountains "Centre of Biodiversity and Endemism" of southern Africa. The Mountains have globally significant plant diversity, with unique habitats and high endemism. These resources have been increasingly degraded by a grazing regime based on communal access, with reduced regulatory capability. Lack of ownership has restricted investment in conservation. Lesotho has the lowest Protected Area coverage of any nation in Africa (<0.4%). Biodiversity is thus at risk.

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Undp-Gef Grasslands Project: The Southern Africa Botanical Network "Sabonet", Y. Steenkamp, W. A. Rodgers Aug 2023

Undp-Gef Grasslands Project: The Southern Africa Botanical Network "Sabonet", Y. Steenkamp, W. A. Rodgers

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

This six-year biodiversity capacity building project closes at the end of June 2005. The principal outcomes have been greatly strengthened capacities within, and interaction between, the national herbaria of southern Africa, in order to improve plant taxonomic outputs to better serve the needs of conservation end-users. Grassland plants have in many ways been the main regional focus. The project was based in the National Botanical Institute (NBI) of Southern Africa (now the South Africa Biodiversity Institute - SANBI) and had components in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The NBI provide regional coordination and technical support.

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Undp-Gef Grasslands Project: Mainstreaming Biodiversity Into Productive Landscapes: The Southern African Grasslands Programme, C. Maze, W. A. Rodgers Aug 2023

Undp-Gef Grasslands Project: Mainstreaming Biodiversity Into Productive Landscapes: The Southern African Grasslands Programme, C. Maze, W. A. Rodgers

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

This is an exciting new initiative under the second strategic priority for the Global Environment Programme (GEF)'s Biodiversity Focal Area: Mainstreaming biodiversity into productive landscapes and sector. The rationale is that whilst grassland biomes cover some 30% of South Africa, (within montane, coastal and high-veld systems) less than 3% is formally protected at national, provincial or private land-owner levels. Over 40% of the grasslands have been totally converted to other land usages and 30% is degraded. Forces of degradation and conversion (cultivation, forests, urban spread) continue. The issues of conservation are of land use and putting in place incentives to …

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Undp-Gef Grasslands Project: The Tanzania Montane Grasslands Project, T. Davenport, W. A. Rodgers Aug 2023

Undp-Gef Grasslands Project: The Tanzania Montane Grasslands Project, T. Davenport, W. A. Rodgers

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The Tanzania Southern Highlands and adjacent Nyika montane grasslands in Malawi form a distinct centre of plant diversity and endemism. The area is characterised by complex geology with old basement mountains and much more recent volcanoes (Mount Rungwe) adjacent to the rift valet faulting with Lakes Malawi (Nyasa) and Rukwa. Lake proximity generates rainfall up to 3,000 mm per annum. The maximum altitude is 3,000 m asl.

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Long Term Results For The Naturalisation Of River Valley Grassland In The Lower Floodplains Of The River Oder, G. Schalitz, A. Behrendt Aug 2023

Long Term Results For The Naturalisation Of River Valley Grassland In The Lower Floodplains Of The River Oder, G. Schalitz, A. Behrendt

IGC Proceedings (1993-2023)

The flooded grassland area in the lower reaches of the River Oder covers about 10,000 ha, of which 4,000 ha are situated on the German side and the remainder in Poland. In spite of extreme flooding conditions (annual winter flooding from 15 Dec. to 15 April and occasional summer flooding) the area was used very intensively in GDR times. After the political change in 1989, the management of the cross-border GermanPolish National Park, which was situated in this area, was changed abruptly to extensive grassland utilisation. This paper reports on changes in the composition and productivity of the grassland.

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