Air Pollution

Environment and Ecology

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Indian Economy - Understanding the basics of Indian economic system

Greenhouse gas emissions from man-managed grasslands similar to global croplands

Context: A recent study highlights the need to use sustainable management to preserve and enhance soil carbon storage of grasslands.

Key hghlights of the study

It shows that emissions of methane (CH4) and nitrous oxide (N2O) from grasslands increased by a factor of 2.5 since 1750 mainly due to increased emissions from livestock.
Over the decade 2010-2020, grasslands intensively managed by humans have become a net source of greenhouse gas emissions.
It has greenhouse gas emission levels similar to global croplands which represent a large source of greenhouse gases.
The findings highlight the need to use sustainable management to preserve and enhance soil carbon storage in grasslands.

What are Grasslands?

Grasslands are areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses, sedge, and rushes families.
They consist of monocotyledons, plants with narrow leaves growing from the base, and are comparatively resistant to intensive grazing.
They are temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrubland ecosystems and may be in hot or cold climates.
Grassland usage predates agriculture and has been of vital importance in raising livestock for human consumption in the past and today for milk and meat.
Some of the world's largest expanses of grassland are found in African savanna.

Examples of grasslands

Grassland Ecosystem

This vegetation type harbours a high diversity of plant species that mostly occurs at fine spatial scales.
Grassland species richness has strong and positive effects on primary production as a result of increasing niche complementarity with increasing diversity.
They are among the most vulnerable ecosystems in the world because their diversity is threatened by human activity.

Uses of Grassland

Agricultural uses: Livestock and forage production.
Non-agricultural uses: Natural reserves, parks, domestic lawns, road verges, air fields, dam-faces, reclaimed industrial wasteland, athletic venues, and school-playing fields.

Types of Grasslands

There are two main kinds of grasslands

Temperate grasslands: Eurasian steppes, North American prairies, and Argentine pampas.
Tropical grasslands: Hot savannahs of sub-Saharan Africa and Northern Australia.

Tropical Montane Grasslands (TMG)

TMG are high elevation grasslands forming only 2% of all grasslands in the world.
They are tropical, subtropical, and temperate.
Plants of these habitats display features such as rosette structures, waxy surfaces, and abundant pilosity.
They regulate the global carbon cycle and serve as a source of water to downstream communities.
In India, TMG have been classified as wastelands in forest management plans since they are unlikely to generate revenue, contrary to the timber found in forests.

Shola grasslands

Sholas are the local name for patches of stunted tropical montane forest found in valleys of higher montane regions of south India.
They are found in the states of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
35 percent of the plants, 42 percent of the fish, 48 percent of the reptiles, and 75 percent of the amphibians that live in these rain forests are endemic species.
Invasive Alien Species are the greatest threats to endemic flora and fauna.