Mountain Grassland Management

Dear Colleagues,

Mountain grasslands are important components of the global landscape, contributing to both ecological diversity and the livelihoods of local communities, and they play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem services. Certain mountain ranges harbor unique and endemic species that have evolved to thrive in the challenging conditions of high altitudes.

Grassland-related livestock farming in mountainous areas is often an integral part of the local economy and culture, providing essential resources for the communities that inhabit these regions.

However, climate change, invasive animal and plant species, wrong grazing loads, and other human activities can lead to the degradation of these fragile ecosystems and to associated pastoral activities.

As with many ecosystems, it is essential to strike a balance between human activities, including livestock management, and conservation efforts to ensure the long-term health of these unique environments.

This Special Issue of Plants will highlight advanced results in mountain grasslands research regarding their role in the maintenance and improvement of ecosystem services and human well-being. In particular, the manuscripts should address one or more of the following (not exhaustively) listed topics, and be relevant to the field of plant science: (i) grassland ecosystem health, (ii) vegetation dynamics, (iii) challenges and threats, (iii) innovative grazing models and management strategies, (iv) wildlife management, (v) livelihood diversification, (vi) socio-economic dynamics, (vii) stakeholder engagement, (viii) traditional knowledge, (ix) policy and legislation, and (x) future outlook.

Papers concerning research using digital technologies and artificial intelligence algorithms are particularly encouraged.

For each of the listed topics, a reasoned, updated review is also welcome.

Dr. Riccardo Primi
Prof. Dr. Bruno Ronchi
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• montane ecosystems
• high-altitude vegetation
• mountain biodiversity
• grazing management
• ecosystem services
• livestock management
• climate resilience
• invasive species
• stakeholder engagement
• policy frameworks

Title: Management and historical effects driving vegetation patterns in Campos de Cima da Serra grasslands
Authors: Luciana S. Menezes; Graziela H. Minervini-Silva; Fabio P. Torchelsen; Lidiane Boavista; Michele H. Nervo; André L. P. Dresseno; Christiane Koch; Gerhard E. Overbeck
Affiliation: Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Abstract: Grassland landscapes, influenced by disturbances like grazing and burning, are vital for biodiversity and ecosystem functions. However, human activities, particularly agriculture, have altered these ecosystems, causing habitat degradation and species loss. This study examines how different management practices impact grassland vegetation dynamics in southern Brazil's Campos region. Sampling in Tainhas State Park, Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), covered various grassland types: weakly grazed, moderately grazed, recently burned, and agriculturally degraded. Using field surveys and statistical analyses, we evaluated species richness, composition, and vegetation structure. Distinct patterns emerged among management types. Weakly grazed and recently burned areas had higher species richness than degraded ones, linked to vegetation height and dominance. Unique species assemblages were associated with specific management regimes, emphasizing historical and contemporary disturbances' role in shaping grassland communities. These findings stress the need for adaptive management to conserve grassland biodiversity amid ongoing land use changes. Understanding interactions between management practices and vegetation dynamics informs targeted conservation efforts, promoting resilience and sustainability in the Campos region's grassland ecosystems and beyond.