Routledge Handbook of Grasslands

Description:

This comprehensive handbook represents a definitive state-of-the-art overview of grasslands from multiple, interdisciplinary and global perspectives.

Despite the real and intrinsic values that grasslands offer, they are globally subject to fragmentation, habitat and species loss, and they are increasingly threatened by climate change. From a human societal perspective, grasslands are central to much of our culture and represent areas where agriculture first arose. This handbook brings together an interdisciplinary team of global authors to present a much needed and vitally important overview of the new and ongoing debates around the values of and threats to grasslands. Reflecting the broad range of issues, debates and threats, this handbook is divided into five parts:

* Part I: Deep Roots, Dynamic Futures: Understanding the Science of Grasslands

* Part II: Living Complexity: Grassland Function, Biodiversity, and Renewal

* Part III: Working Landscapes: Innovation and Tradition in Grassland Stewardship

* Part IV: Social-Ecological Ties: Grassland Services, Justice, and Governance

* Part V: Landscapes of Meaning: Cultural and Creative Perspectives on Grasslands

Drawing on the experience of researchers, practitioners and managers, this handbook is the only grassland-oriented text to include social, economic, policy and cultural value dimensions of grasslands, as well as an up-to-date coverage of the agronomy and ecology of these environments. This handbook concludes with a forward-thinking chapter that discusses the future of grasslands, further directions, threats and innovations.

This handbook is essential reading for students and scholars of grassland ecology, management and conservation, as well as policy and management practitioners involved in grassland management and governance, and natural resources more broadly.