Changes in bird assemblages because of vegetation homogenisation in communal livestock systems

Harris, Mathew Andrew; Voysey, Michael D.; Jamison, Samantha-Leigh; Greve, Michelle

doi:10.4102/koedoe.v61i1.1543

Cited by 2 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…Overgrazing and/or frequent fires are the two main causes of habitat degradation across many African grassland types (Jansen et al 1999, Maphisa et al 2016, Addisu & Girma 2019. Increasing domestic grazing pressure is degrading land and affecting grassland birds by reducing native plant cover and diversity (Herremans 1998) and maintaining homogeneously short swards (Harris et al 2019). Effects of such degradation include increased nest failure (Little et al 2015, Mahamued et al 2021) and reduced food availability (Herremans 1998).…”

Section: Africa (51 Studies)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Multiple authors recommend that this management should include responsible fire and grazing regimens to create a mosaic of suitable habitats, which should benefit a range of species (Maphisa et al 2019). Protected land area should be increased, ideally connecting existing protected areas through corridors of suitable habitat and expanding reserves (Harris et al 2019). The role of grasslands as water source areas and carbon offsets could incentivize protection in areas prone to water scarcity (Egoh et al 2011, Di Sacco et al 2021.…”

Section: Africa (51 Studies)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Increasing domestic grazing pressure is degrading land and affecting grassland birds by reducing native plant cover and diversity (Herremans 1998) and maintaining homogeneously short swards (Harris et al . 2019). Effects of such degradation include increased nest failure (Little et al .…”

Section: Regional Summariesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Protected land area should be increased, ideally connecting existing protected areas through corridors of suitable habitat and expanding reserves (Harris et al . 2019). The role of grasslands as water source areas and carbon offsets could incentivize protection in areas prone to water scarcity (Egoh et al .…”

Section: Regional Summariesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A global review identifies agriculture as the main threat to declining grassland birds

Douglas,

Waldinger,

Buckmire

et al. 2023

Ibis

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Grasslands are globally threatened and their biodiversity, including grassland birds, is declining markedly. To inform grassland bird conservation globally, we systematically reviewed threats and conservation actions for grassland birds, extracting data from 528 papers. Across the 10 primary grassland regions of the globe, agriculture was the most frequently or joint most frequently reported threat in nine regions (reported as a threat in 73% of publications); hunting was the most frequently reported threat in the remaining region. Natural system modifications (reported as a threat in 32% of publications) and climate change and severe weather (24%) were less frequently reported threats compared with agriculture. The types of threat from agriculture varied regionally, but the most pervasive were livestock farming and ranching (reported in 58% of publications where agriculture was a primary threat) and non‐timber cropping (43%). Most agricultural threats relate to intensification, but agricultural abandonment, typically the cessation of grazing, sometimes accompanied by tree planting/succession, poses an emerging threat to some grassland birds (reported in 32% of publications where agriculture was a primary threat). The most frequent conservation actions implemented to date include land/water management and protection, and species‐specific management actions. Authors of reviewed publications in almost all regions recommend more land/water management, followed by calls for further land/water protection. The parlous state of grassland birds globally suggests that existing conservation actions for grasslands are inadequate. Furthermore, our review suggests that these should be primarily targeted at reversing the negative impacts of agriculture, in particular livestock farming and cropping.

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