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Grassland Degradation, Restoration, and Sustainable Management of Global Alpine Areas
- 1st Edition - November 30, 2024
- Editors: Zhanhuan Shang, A Allan Degen, Shikui Dong, Huakun Zhou, Yushou Ma
- Language: English
- Paperback ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 2 1 8 8 2 - 8
- eBook ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 4 4 3 - 2 1 8 8 1 - 1
Grassland Degradation, Restoration and Sustainable Management of Global Alpine Area involves the stripping and regeneration of the grassland’s mattic epipedon. The stripping of the… Read more
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Request a sales quoteGrassland Degradation, Restoration and Sustainable Management of Global Alpine Area involves the stripping and regeneration of the grassland’s mattic epipedon. The stripping of the mattic epipedon is a unique phenomenon on the global alpine area, which has left many unanswered questions. Is stripping degradation an inherent, inevitable feature of the alpine grassland ecosystem? Is it an avoidable occurrence? Why is ecological restoration of stripped degraded grassland extremely difficult? Does restoration rely on reconstructing the grassland’s mattic epipedon? Or can it be done in another way? How can sustainable ecological restoration be achieved?
Frontline researchers in global alpine area have used observational evidence from field studies to respond to these questions and to present a comprehensive picture of the problems and drivers of grassland degradation. The climate-environment interaction mechanism of grassland degradation is revealed by the holistic approach in this book. Ecological restoration is discussed through social and economic participation, and past and present restoration actions are analyzed from the perspective of traditional culture and ecological ethics. The future sustainable management of grassland under climate change and social and economic development trend is also covered. This book will alert people to the dangers of degradation and to the difficulties encountered in ecological restoration.
Frontline researchers in global alpine area have used observational evidence from field studies to respond to these questions and to present a comprehensive picture of the problems and drivers of grassland degradation. The climate-environment interaction mechanism of grassland degradation is revealed by the holistic approach in this book. Ecological restoration is discussed through social and economic participation, and past and present restoration actions are analyzed from the perspective of traditional culture and ecological ethics. The future sustainable management of grassland under climate change and social and economic development trend is also covered. This book will alert people to the dangers of degradation and to the difficulties encountered in ecological restoration.
- Thoroughly presents the processes of grassland degradation from the novel viewpoint of the stripping of mattic epipedon
- Features the most recent studies to provide new research evidence for long-term grassland restoration efforts on the global alpine area
- Contains in-depth analysis of the processes, mechanisms, and drivers of grassland degradation.
- Discusses the restoration of degraded grasslands using restoration theory and technologies
Academics and university students, and people involved in land and environmental issues, developmental studies, ecology, environmental studies, geography, environmental history, and ecological ethics, Readers can use this book as reference material in teaching and scientific research, as well as a basis for policy making processes, Policy makers, ecological engineers, and people involved in pasture management and livestock industry
- Title of Book
- Cover image
- Title page
- Table of Contents
- Copyright
- List of contributors
- Preface
- Part 1: Introduction
- Chapter 1. An overview of grassland resources of alpine areas on the Earth
- Abstract
- 1.1 Introduction
- 1.2 “Dust-Bowlification” of degraded alpine grassland
- 1.3 Sustainable management of alpine grassland
- 1.4 Summary
- References
- Chapter 2. History of alpine grassland studies and management
- Abstract
- 2.1 Introduction
- 2.2 History and development of global research on alpine grassland in the past 100 years
- 2.3 Ecosystem functions and ecological services of alpine grassland
- 2.4 Management practices on alpine grasslands from historical studies
- 2.5 Summary and future research
- References
- Part 2: Grassland degradation
- Chapter 3. Alpine meadow degradation: status, reasons, and trends
- Abstract
- 3.1 Introduction
- 3.2 Level of degradation, area, distribution, and influence
- 3.3 Degradation change in past 50 years and the future trend to 2060
- 3.4 Causes and driving forces of degradation
- 3.5 Summary
- References
- Chapter 4. Alpine steppe degradation: status, causes, and trends
- Abstract
- 4.1 Introduction
- 4.2 The overall situation, distribution and impact of degradation of the alpine steppe
- 4.3 Degradation trend of alpine steppe and future scenarios
- 4.4 Conclusions
- References
- Chapter 5. Alpine desert grassland degradation: status, reasons, trends, and restoration
- Abstract
- 5.1 Introduction
- 5.2 Desertification of grassland ecosystems
- 5.3 Risk, distribution, and impact of desertification
- 5.4 Driving forces of desertification
- 5.5 Future trends of desert grassland degradation under climate change
- 5.6 Combat desertification in the alpine desert grassland
- 5.7 Conclusions
- References
- Chapter 6. Grazing and alpine grassland degradation
- Abstract
- 6.1 Introduction
- 6.2 Changes of grassland vegetation under grazing
- 6.3 Changes of grassland soil under grazing
- 6.4 Indicators and modeling of grassland degradation due to grazing
- 6.5 Summary
- References
- Chapter 7. Climate change and degradation of alpine grasslands
- Abstract
- 7.1 Climate change and grassland stability
- 7.2 Effect of temperature on grassland stability in alpine areas
- 7.3 Effects of precipitation in alpine areas on grassland stability
- 7.4 Conclusions
- References
- Chapter 8. Soil changes during grassland degradation
- Abstract
- 8.1 Introduction
- 8.2 Soil texture and erosion
- 8.3 Changes of soil nutrients during grassland degradation
- 8.4 Soil change modeling for grassland degradation and a soil change index system
- References
- Chapter 9. Biodiversity and ecological function changes with grassland degradation
- Abstract
- 9.1 Introduction
- 9.2 Changes in the composition, structure, and functional groups of plants
- 9.3 Changes in the composition, structure, and functional groups of animals
- 9.4 Changes in the composition, structure, and functional groups of microorganisms
- 9.5 Ecosystem functions and multifunctionality
- 9.6 Effect of grassland degradation on ecosystem functions
- 9.7 Biodiversity–ecosystem function relationship along grassland degradation
- 9.8 Relationships of ecosystem functions along grassland degradation
- 9.9 Summary
- References
- Part 3: Grassland restoration
- Chapter 10. Restoration of degraded alpine grasslands: problems, techniques, and sustainable approaches
- Abstract
- 10.1 Introduction
- 10.2 Restoration history of degraded alpine meadows
- 10.3 Main technical approaches and effects in restoration of degraded alpine meadows
- 10.4 Sustainable restoration
- 10.5 Summary and perspective
- References
- Chapter 11. Local seed resources and development for grassland restoration engineering
- Abstract
- 11.1 Introduction
- 11.2 Current status of native plant seed resources
- 11.3 Restriction factors of grass seed industry
- 11.4 Development strategies of grass seed industry
- References
- Chapter 12. Growth-promoting microorganisms for alpine grassland restoration
- Abstract
- 12.1 Introduction
- 12.2 Bacterial species, application technologies, and restoring degraded alpine grassland
- 12.3 The development of growth-promoting bacteria
- 12.4 Main problems in applying growth-promoting bacteria in degraded grassland
- References
- Chapter 13. Control of rodents, caterpillars, and toxic plants in alpine grassland
- Abstract
- 13.1 Introduction
- 13.2 Rodents in alpine grassland
- 13.3 Caterpillars in alpine grassland
- 13.4 Toxic plants in alpine grassland
- References
- Chapter 14. Biochar utilization for alpine grassland restoration
- Abstract
- 14.1 Introduction
- 14.2 Definition and physicochemical properties of biochar
- 14.3 Biochar preparation methods
- 14.4 Characteristics of yak dung biochar
- 14.5 Application of biochar in alpine grassland
- 14.6 Effect of biochar on degraded alpine grassland
- 14.7 Biochar: supplement for livestock
- 14.8 Future research
- References
- Chapter 15. Water utilization techniques for alpine grassland restoration and management
- Abstract
- 15.1 Introduction
- 15.2 Water conservation in grassland restoration
- 15.3 Utilization and sustainable development of grassland water resources
- References
- Chapter 16. Active restoration of degraded alpine grassland
- Abstract
- 16.1 Introduction
- 16.2 Technical methods and standards of active restoration of degraded grassland
- 16.3 The application effects and existing problems of active restoration
- 16.4 The future developmental trends of active restoration
- References
- Part 4: Grassland sustainable management
- Chapter 17. The impact of management and livestock grazing on the grasslands of the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau
- Abstract
- 17.1 Introduction
- 17.2 Government actions to curtail grassland degradation
- 17.3 Grazing systems
- 17.4 Different grazing regimes
- 17.5 The impact of grazing on the grassland
- 17.6 Conclusions
- References
- Chapter 18. Social economy and intuitional development for grassland management
- Abstract
- 18.1 Introduction
- 18.2 Global policies and measures for grassland protection and management in alpine regions
- 18.3 Effects of grassland grazing strategies on grassland restoration
- 18.4 Restoration strategies for sustainable grassland protection under societal influence
- References
- Chapter 19. Local and traditional knowledge and application in grassland restoration
- Abstract
- 19.1 Introduction
- 19.2 Theoretical basis
- 19.3 Application of local and traditional knowledge in grassland restoration
- 19.4 The role of local and traditional knowledge in biodiversity conservation
- 19.5 Integrating local and traditional knowledge to grassland restoration
- 19.6 Conclusions
- References
- Chapter 20. Artificial intelligence and its application in grassland monitoring and restoration
- Abstract
- 20.1 Introduction
- 20.2 Application of artificial intelligence in grassland degradation identification
- 20.3 Application of artificial intelligence techniques in grassland restoration
- 20.4 Application of artificial intelligence techniques in grassland restoration monitoring
- 20.5 Application of artificial intelligence for ecological restoration in alpine regions
- 20.6 Insights and replicability of successful use cases
- 20.7 Conclusions
- References
- Chapter 21. Mitigation strategies for climate change to promote restoration of alpine grassland
- Abstract
- 21.1 Introduction
- 21.2 The impact of climate change on alpine grassland
- 21.3 The prediction of grassland restoration processes under climate change
- 21.4 Optimized restoration techniques and practices to mitigate climate change
- References
- Chapter 22. Systematic coupling and modeling in sustainable grassland management
- Abstract
- 22.1 Introduction
- 22.2 Historical and current status of grassland system coupling
- 22.3 Issues affecting grassland protection and restoration through system coupling
- 22.4 Grassland coupling for protection and recovery problem-solving
- 22.5 Coupling grassland productivity with protection and restoration
- 22.6 Summary
- References
- Chapter 23. Landscape pathways and modeling in sustainable alpine grassland management
- Abstract
- 23.1 The vegetation scale landscape design and application in grassland restoration
- 23.2 Landscape complexity theory in grassland restoration
- References
- Chapter 24. Ecophilosophy and the ethics of alpine grassland sustainability
- Abstract
- 24.1 Introduction
- 24.2 Philosophy of ecology
- 24.3 Conservation and ethics
- 24.4 Sustainable management: resilience, adaptive management, and ecosystem stewardship
- 24.5 Conclusion
- References
- Index
- No. of pages: 800
- Language: English
- Edition: 1
- Published: November 30, 2024
- Imprint: Elsevier
- Paperback ISBN: 9780443218828
- eBook ISBN: 9780443218811
ZS
Zhanhuan Shang
Zhanhuan Shang is a full Professor in the College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, China. He has studied grassland ecosystem of alpine area for more than 15 years and has published more 200 papers and books. His detailed CV is available at the end of the document
Affiliations and expertise
Professor, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, ChinaAD
A Allan Degen
A. Allan Degen is an emeritus professor at Ben-Gurion University, Beer Sheva, Israel from 2014. He does research on livestock production under harsh conditions and has co-operated in projects in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Nepal, Ethiopia, Afghanistan, Kenya, South Africa and China. He has authored or co-authored 16 books or chapters and over 300 publications in peer-reviewed journals.
Affiliations and expertise
Emeritus professor, Ben-Gurion University, Beer Sheva, IsraelSD
Shikui Dong
Shikui Dong is a full Professor in the School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forest University. He has more than 20 years of experience in studying grassland science and ecology of the alpine area, and has published more than 300 papers and books.
Affiliations and expertise
Professor, School of Grassland Science, Beijing Forest University, ChinaHZ
Huakun Zhou
Huakun Zhou is a full Professor in the Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, CAS. He has more than 20 years of experience in studying the ecology of alpine grassland on the alpine area, and has published more than 200 papers and books.
Affiliations and expertise
Professor, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, CAS, Vining, ChinaYM
Yushou Ma
Yushou Ma is a full Professor in Qinghai University. He has more than 30 years of experience in studying grassland science in the alpine area and has published more 200 papers and books.
Affiliations and expertise
Professor, Grassland Science, Qinghai University, ChinaRead Grassland Degradation, Restoration, and Sustainable Management of Global Alpine Areas on ScienceDirect