Drought and bush encroachment threaten dry rangeland sustainability in Northeastern Ethiopia
Climate change and the spread of invasive bush species significantly threaten global rangeland health. However, the effects of different land use intensities and timings on vegetation health are still poorly understood. This study evaluated the sustainability of vegetation health in grazing lands of...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Elsevier
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Global Ecology and Conservation |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2351989425000265 |
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| Summary: | Climate change and the spread of invasive bush species significantly threaten global rangeland health. However, the effects of different land use intensities and timings on vegetation health are still poorly understood. This study evaluated the sustainability of vegetation health in grazing lands of the Afar region of Ethiopia, using a community-based classification that includes three categories: dry season grazing land, wet season grazing land, and wildlife reserves. We assessed the combined impacts of drought and bush invasion on vegetation health, employing the standardized precipitation index (SPI), vegetation health index (VHI), and field measurements of invasive bush thickets, native herbaceous density, and the functional traits of Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC as indicators. Our results indicated that SPI and thicket explained 44 % and 16 % of the variance in VHI, respectively. Using structural equation modeling, we demonstrated both direct and indirect effects of the functional traits of Prosopis juliflora on the relationship between SPI, thicket, and VHI in dry rangeland ecosystems. Notably, VHI, as an indicator of vegetation health, decreased with increased bush encroachment and positively correlated with higher herbaceous density across the grazing lands. These findings highlight the complex interplay of physiographic, environmental, and botanical factors amid the challenges posed by invasive plant species and severe drought. They also underscore critical implications for managing and restoring dry rangeland ecosystems, emphasizing the importance of integrating sustainability into land-use practices. |
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| ISSN: | 2351-9894 |