South African grasslands and ploughing: Outlook for agricultural expansion in Africa

Abstract

Significance:
Grasslands were often viewed as successional vegetation, a precursor to a possible forest, and were thought to have low diversity.  However, a growing number of research projects have shown that these ecosystems boast high biodiversity and massive carbon storing  potential, and require at least a century to recover after agricultural ploughing which severely disrupts the environment and  consequently lowers plant diversity and carbon stocks. Conserving natural grasslands should be prioritised, as they provide us with  important ecosystem services beneficial to not only natural systems, but also the longevity of humans through food security and  buffering of the effects of climate change.