All those biome-specific papers I see that start out by claiming to be "the biggest" or "the most biodiverse" or "the most threatened" or some other thing of global importance, when we have yet to accurately define and map the #biomes on Earth, are getting beyond tedious.
That said, I have to add that #GrassyBiomes are grossly underappreciated compared to #Forests.
@hfalcke This sounded good until I read they plant trees. I really hope they are planting the correct trees in the right places, and are not misguided by false classification of savannas and other #TropicalGrassyBiomes as "degraded forests". Planting the wrong trees in the wrong place is a disaster for biodiversity in those places.
Open letter: There are more than just trees and forests to be conserved and restored.
https://nph.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/ppp3.10635
The 5th paragraph is an example of debunking a myth with another myth framed as "Truth". Besides the FAO's fatally flawed definition of #forest possibly protecting #GrassyBiomes from agric expansion, how can conversion to agric not be human-induced? #SavannasMatter
There are many misconceptions about EUDR deforestation monitoring and what is required for due diligence. In this blog, we break down three common myths and explain how companies can effectively use open-source data like that on GFW Pro for EUDR compliance.
Perpetuation of the myth that savannas are "barren" and forests are "fertile".
"This model shows two stable states, one being a fertile forest state and the other being a barren savanna state."
The webinar by Land & Carbon Lab on 18th July on mapping the world's trees should be interesting, especially for those doing #SavannaScience who know that tree height and cover are not sufficient metrics for defining forests. #SavannasMatter
https://www.landcarbonlab.org/news-updates/mapping-trees-unprecedented-detail-ai
Land & Carbon Lab and WRI have partnered with Meta to develop a groundbreaking AI foundation model that we’ve used to produce the world’s first global map of tree canopy height at a 1-meter resolution, allowing the detection of single trees at a global scale.
A great resource as long as it is not used to map global forests, or decide where to plant billions of trees in the name of forest restoration. Tree canopy height does not define forests.
@Snoro What exactly is a "savanna-like biome"? If it is degraded forest, then call it a forest biome in a degraded state. Calling it savanna-like perpetuates the misperception that savannas are degraded forests.
@CelloMomOnCars
Raising trees to restore #grasslands (i.e. #afforestation) makes no sense at all.
C4 vegetation covers 17.5% of global land surface. C4 natural grass cover decreased from 2001-2019 (due to elevated CO2) and C4 crop cover increased (because of maize expansion).
C4 photosynthesis accounts for ~19% of global photosynthesis (~3% from C4 crops and ~16% from C4 natural grasses).
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-45606-3
Planting trees in the name of #reforestation is BAD for #TropicalGrassyBiomes.
Due to fundamental anatomical and biochemical differences, C3 and C4 plant species tend to differ in their biogeography and response to climate change. Here, the authors use global observations and optimality theory to map patterns and temporal trends in C4 species distribution and the contribution of C4 plants to global photosynthesis.
Savannology