Strategies for effective grassland restoration

Grassland restoration is crucial for ecosystem health. Frits van Oudtshoorn, a pasture consultant and agricultural/environmental trainer, spoke to Octavia Avesca Spandiel about effective methods, key challenges, and the role of native plants and proper grazing management in successful restoration projects.

Strategies for effective grassland restoration
High-density grazing is increasingly seen as a viable approach to prevent degradation and improve soil health.
Photo: Frits van Oudtshoorn
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Grassland restoration plays an important role in maintaining an ecological balance and promoting sustainable land use. As environmental challenges mount, understanding the goals, methods and obstacles of such restoration projects is crucial.

Frits van Oudtshoorn, pasture consultant and general manager of Africa Land-Use Training in Limpopo, shares his insights on various aspects of grassland restoration, as well as the primary goals, challenges and techniques involved in restoring degraded grasslands.

Defining grassland restoration

Understanding the primary goals of grassland restoration begins with defining what it entails. According to Van Oudtshoorn, restoration aims to assist an ecosystem that has been degraded or damaged in the past.

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“The ecosystem restores itself with our help,” he says.

He emphasises the objective is not to completely restore the ecosystem but to aid in its recovery (rehabilitation).

“Restoration tries to reinstate the whole ecosystem, including biodiversity, while rehabilitation aims to stabilise the ecosystem and get back its main functions,” he explains.

In essence, restoration seeks to reinstate the entire ecosystem to its original state before degradation, while rehabilitation focuses on stabilising essential functions such as water infiltration and nutrient cycling.

Varying needs of grassland ecosystems

Different grassland ecosystems have distinctive restoration needs. In South Africa, grasslands are classified as either ‘sourveld’ and ‘sweetveld’ based on rainfall and vegetation type.

“Sourveld, [which occurs in areas of] high rainfall, requires efforts to improve species composition and grazing capacity,” says Van Oudtshoorn.

These regions typically have a high differentiation between palatable and unpalatable grasses, making it crucial to restore the balance for optimal grazing quality. In contrast, sweetveld areas need strategies to cover bare areas and manage bush encroachment, he adds.

Sweetveld regions, characterised by lower rainfall, face challenges such as poor ground cover and encroachment by woody species. Effective restoration in these areas involves addressing these specific issues to ensure sustainable land use and ecological health.

Common challenges

Addressing the root causes of degradation is a significant challenge in grassland restoration. “Overgrazing and improper grazing management systems often need to be corrected before restoration can be successful,” says Van Oudtshoorn.

Overgrazing leads to soil degradation and loss of plant biodiversity, which means it’s imperative to implement sustainable grazing practices. Van Oudtshoorn also highlights the challenges posed by environmental impact assessments (EIAs) required for certain restoration activities.

“EIAs can be costly and time consuming, posing a challenge for large-scale restoration projects,” he explains.

Additionally, securing funding for these projects, especially in communal grazing areas, is a major hurdle. Programmes like the Department of Agriculture’s LandCare initiative provide some support, but more comprehensive funding solutions are needed.

Measuring success

The success of a grassland restoration project is measured by the reinstatement of ecological functions.

“Improving ground cover to prevent erosion and increasing grass biomass production are key indicators of success,” says Van Oudtshoorn.

These measures ensure the restoration of production potential and biodiversity, essential for sustainable farming and ecosystem health.

Van Oudtshoorn emphasises that success is not just about increasing plant biomass but also about enhancing the ecosystem’s stability and nutrient cycling.

“You want to reinstate the production potential of degraded land while also protecting the soil and biodiversity,” he adds.

Monitoring these indicators over time provides a clear picture of the project’s effectiveness and areas needing further intervention.

Importance of native species

“Reintroducing native species is crucial for successful grassland restoration. Using local species, especially grasses, is important because they provide the best cover and seed is usually commercially available,” says Van Oudtshoorn.

Native species are better adapted to local environmental conditions, ensuring higher survival rates and more effective restoration. Van Oudtshoorn stresses the importance of sourcing a high-diversity seed locally or commercially to ensure the reintroduction of species adapted to the specific area being restored.

“The starting point is to identify the local species in that area, not only in the degraded areas but also in good areas,” says Van Oudtshoorn.

This approach helps maintain the ecological balance and supports the recovery of the original plant diversity.

Impact of invasive species

Invasive species, both alien and indigenous, pose significant threats to grassland ecosystems.

“Alien invasive species like Lantana and indigenous encroacher species like sicklebush can reduce biodiversity and obstruct animal movement,” says Van Oudtshoorn.

These species outcompete native plants for resources, leading to a decline in plant diversity and ecosystem health.

Effective control includes chemical, mechanical and biological methods, each chosen based on the specific invasive species and the extent of the invasion.

“Chemical control is probably the method used most often, with various chemicals available on the market,” says Van Oudtshoorn.

Mechanical methods involve tools such as brush cutters and chainsaws, often used in combination with chemical treatments.

Biological control involves introducing natural enemies of the invasive species, which can be highly effective but requires careful management to avoid unintended ecological impacts.

Role of grazing animals

Grazing animals play a vital role in the health and management of grasslands.

“Grazing animals are part of the ecosystem, contributing to nutrient cycling and stimulating grass growth,” says Van Oudtshoorn.

However, he warns that improper grazing management can lead to degradation. Continuous grazing, where animals graze the same area year-round, can lead to overgrazing and soil degradation. Van Oudtshoorn advocates for rotational grazing, which mimics historical migrations and allows for periods of recovery.

“Rotational grazing was invented to simulate the old migrations that historically took place,” says Van Oudtshoorn. This method helps maintain plant diversity and soil health, promoting a balanced ecosystem.

Contribution of fire management

Controlled burns or prescribed fires are essential in managing grasslands, particularly in high-rainfall regions.

“Fire helps remove moribund material, improving the palatability of grazing,” says Van Oudtshoorn.

Moribund material refers to old, unpalatable grass that accumulates over seasons, reducing the quality of grazing land.

Controlled fires also help reduce woody species and maintain open grasslands. However, Van Oudtshoorn cautions that fire must be used carefully to avoid further degradation.

“Once you have encroachment, it’s very difficult to use fire to remove it,” says Van Oudtshoorn.

Fire management should be part of an integrated approach, combining it with other control methods for effective ecosystem management.

Effects of climate change

Climate change presents new challenges for grassland restoration. “High-density grazing is increasingly seen as a viable approach to prevent degradation and improve soil health,” says Van Oudtshoorn.

He says that climate change leads to more in-season dry spells and increased run-off,
making it crucial to maintain a protective ground cover.

“Healthy organic soils can retain more moisture and nutrients, stabilising the soil ecosystem and protecting microbes,” he says. These practices help build resilience against climate change, ensuring the long-term sustainability of grassland ecosystems.

Government policy and support

Government policy and support play crucial roles in the success of grassland restoration initiatives. Van Oudtshoorn acknowledges that South Africa has policies like the Conservation of Agricultural Resources Act, but enforcement is often lacking.

“We have fantastic policies, but the enforcement is where our main challenge lies,” he says.
Programmes like LandCare provide valuable support by offering financial assistance and technical guidance for erosion control and bush encroachment projects.

“LandCare helps with erosion structure designs and provides contractors on site,” says Van Oudtshoorn. However, he believes that more comprehensive enforcement and broader support programmes are needed to address the scale of degradation in South Africa.

Effective soil restoration techniques

Prevention is the most effective technique for soil restoration in degraded grasslands. Van Oudtshoorn advocates for conservation agriculture as a standard practice to prevent degradation.

“Conservation agriculture needs to be the norm instead of just a novel approach,” he says.
He also highlights the effectiveness of high-density grazing, which prevents overgrazing and promotes soil health.

“High-density grazing is the best technique to prevent and restore degraded grasslands,” says Van Oudtshoorn. This method involves intensive grazing over short periods, allowing land to recover and promoting robust plant growth.

Additionally, he mentions the use of restoration structures, such as soil erosion control measures, to protect bare areas and support plant regeneration.

“Restoration structures provide a suitable microclimate for plants or grasses to grow again,” he says. These techniques, combined with sustainable grazing practices, form a comprehensive approach to soil restoration and grassland management.

Restoration structures provide a suitable microclimate for plants or grasses to grow again.

As Van Oudtshoorn’s insights illustrate, the success of these projects hinges on understanding the unique needs of different ecosystems, addressing the root causes of degradation and employing sustainable restoration techniques.

Email Frits van Oudtshoorn at [email protected].