Rangeland Ecology & Management

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Reducing Woody Encroachment in Grasslands: A Guide for Understanding Risk and Vulnerability
Author
Twidwell, Dirac
Fogarty, Dillon T.
Weir, Weir, John R.
Publisher
Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service
Publication Year
2021
Body

Woody encroachment has emerged as a global threat to grassland biomes and the people, plants and animals that depend on them.1, 2, 3, 4 Woody encroachment is defined as an increase in density, cover and biomass of woody plants in grassy ecosystems.5 Managing for woody encroachment has followed a command-and-control philosophy whereby control measures are only put into place after woody encroachment has occurred and caused substantial levels of resource degradation. Rangelands cannot be sustained by this approach.6, 7

Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Technical Report
Additional Information
E-1054
Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service
Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources
Oklahoma State University
Keywords
woody encroachment
woody plant
threat
degradation
grassland
vulnerability