Reversing a tree regeneration crisis in an endangered ecoregion

摘要: Global food demand is growing rapidly. Livestock grazing can provide a valuable source of protein, but conventional often unsustainable. We studied an 800,000-ha section threatened ecoregion in southeastern Australia. Conventional management the region involves continuous livestock with few rest periods and regular fertilizer application. By using remotely sensed data on tree cover extensive field regimes, soil chemistry, diameters, regeneration, we show that facing regeneration crisis. Under management, across region, millions hectares land currently supporting tens trees will be treeless within decades from now. This would have severe negative ramifications for biodiversity key ecosystem services, including water infiltration shade provision livestock. However, identified unexpected win–win solution commercial grazing. A relatively new practice fast-rotational grazing, characterized by prolonged between short, intensive events. The probability under was up to 4-fold higher than it did not differ significantly ungrazed areas. In addition, were more likely regenerate where nutrient levels low. These findings suggest crisis reversed applying low-input, New policy settings these practices could signal turning point ecological decline recovery.