Ecological Grassland Restoration—A South African Perspective

The principal drivers of Grassland Biome conversion and degradation in South Africa include agricultural intensification, plantation forestry, urban expansion mining, together with invasive non-native plants insidious rural sprawl. This biome is poorly conserved dire need restoration, an ecologically centred practice gaining increasing traction given its wide application to people biodiversity this emerging culture renewal. pioneering proponent restoration the mining industry, primarily restore surface stability using vegetation cover. We noticed a historical progression from production-focussed pastures more diverse suites native species habitats landscape. paradigm shift towards proactive “biodiversity approach” necessitates assisted natural regeneration, mainly through revegetation grasses, plugs, sods and/or seeds, long-lived perennial forbs. discuss key management interventions such as ongoing control plants, merits fire grazing, deleterious impacts fertilisers. also highlight areas research requiring further investigation. has limitations best suited restoring ecological processes rather than attempting match original pristine state. advocate conserving intact grassland ecosystems strategy for protecting biodiversity, including small patches disproportionately high conservation value.