Plant diversity is the strongest predictor of resistance to grazing pressure in dryland ecosystems, according to a global-scale study by an international team led by KAUST. This finding provides a scientific basis for developing and implementing more sustainable rangeland management strategies.

This insight is critical for global drylands, which support about half of the world’s livestock production and sustain the livelihoods of more than one billion people. Despite their vital role, these ecosystems face intense pressures and are highly vulnerable to desertification.

“Current trends indicate a global increase in meat consumption and livestock production, and so the pressures on dryland rangelands will also increase,” says Lucio Biancari, who worked on the study under the supervision of Fernando T. Maestre. “We already know from previous studies that ecosystems don’t all respond to grazing in the same way. In some dryland areas, vegetation declines rapidly as grazing intensifies, while in others, ecosystems remain surprisingly resistant.”

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