Myth‐busting tropical grassy biome restoration

Abstract

The historical focus in research and policy on forest restoration and temperate ecosystems has created misunderstandings for the restoration of tropical and subtropical old-growth grassy biomes (TGB). Such misconceptions have detrimental consequences for biodiversity, ecosystem services, and human livelihoods in woodlands, savannas, and grasslands worldwide. Here, we demystify TGB restoration myths to promote a positive agenda to increase the likelihood of success of ambitious landscapescale restoration goals of nonforest ecosystems. The 10 TGB restoration myths are: (1) grasslands originate from degraded forests, (2) tree cover is a reliable indicator of habitat quality, (3) planting trees is always good for biodiversity and ecosystem services, (4) grasslands are biodiversity-poor and provide few ecosystem services, (5) enhancing plant nutrition is needed in restoration, (6) disturbance is detrimental, (7) techniques used to restore temperate grasslands also work for TGB, (8) grasslands represent early stages of forest succession, (9) grassland restoration is only about grasses, and (10) grassland restoration is fast. By demystifying TGB restoration, we hope that policymakers, scientists, and restorationists come to understand and embrace the value of these ecosystems and are motivated to establish policies, standards, indicators, and techniques that enhance the success of TGB restoration. We must abandon misperceptions and misunderstandings of TGB ecology that result in ill-conceived policies and build an informed and compelling global ecosystem restoration agenda that maintains and improves the well-being of all inhabitants of grassy biomes.

A research agenda for the restoration of tropical and subtropical grasslands and savannas

“…Such threats compromise biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and human livelihoods. Owing to large knowledge gaps and widespread misconceptions concerning their basic ecology (Bond 2019; Silveira et al 2020), large‐scale restoration in these key ecosystems is not yet feasible, despite their rich biodiversity, provision of ecosystem services, and direct support of human livelihoods. Clearly, international agreements should recognize and endorse the fact that forests are not the only ecosystems in need of restoration, to make funding and government incentives available for the restoration of open ecosystems.…”

With Power Comes Responsibility – A Rangelands Perspective on Forest Landscape Restoration

“…Instead of promoting scientifically unfounded targets for increasing tree cover, the documents guiding landscape restoration need to include clear guidelines on where planting trees is appropriate and where it is not advisable. These resources also need to provide information on appropriate restoration strategies for the grassy biomes, such as clearing exotic vegetation, using savanna species for restoration and agroforestry, restoring grassland function through appropriate grazing management and burning, and avoiding or reversing bush encroachment (Buisson et al, 2019, Temperton et al, 2019Silveira et al, 2020).…”

Open Ecosystems: Ecology and Evolution Beyond the Forest Edge

“…For decades, Bond aspired to solve ecological problems (Leonard 2012), and this insatiable curiosity has shaped him into an internationally acclaimed plant ecologist. In his latest book, he challenges global misconceptions on the antiquity of natural open ecosystems, which have led to poorly conceived global policies to reforest them (Silveira et al 2020). Furthermore, the content of the book challenges long-held concepts in ecology, biogeography and paleoecology, but with remarkable scientific evidence and support across the global extent of open ecosystems.…”