Grasslands represent a major ecosystem in Alberta, and play a key role in supporting livestock grazing on both private and public land. Despite this, the current revenue streams provided by grasslands are limited to forage production and associated livestock, with no ability to generate income from alternative ecosystem services. In this overview I review the critical role of grasslands in providing the ecosystem service of carbon (C) storage, as well as the potential beneficial role of livestock grazing in enhancing C stocks. Various mechanisms are discussed for why, where and how grazing may enhance grassland C, including changes in plant diversity, species composition, and root:shoot C dynamics. Finally, I review the potential role of specialized grazing systems, including adaptive, multi-paddock rotational grazing, in altering grassland function, including forage production, water infiltration, soil microbial properties, and ultimately soil C storage. Collectively, this information helps lay an empirical foundation for how grasslands, including those subject to livestock grazing, may enhance the important ecosystem service of C storage.
Related Resources
Comparison of Pre-fire and Post-fire Space Use Reveals Varied Responses by Woodland Caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in the Boreal Shield
Resource Date:
October
2020
Boreal Caribou Can Coexist with Natural but Not Industrial Disturbances
Resource Date:
August
2020
Quantification of Lichen Cover and Biomass Using Field Data, Airborne Laser Scanning and High Spatial Resolution Optical Data - A Case Study from a Canadian Boreal Pine Forest
Resource Date:
June
2020
Organization
The Biophysical Climate Mitigation Potential of Boreal Peatlands During the Growing Season
Resource Date:
October
2020
Organization
Was this helpful?
|