Planning for the future: Grasslands, herbivores, and nature-based solutions

Abstract

Global interest and investment in nature-based solutions (NbS) are rapidly increasing because of the potential of this approach to concurrently counter biodiversity loss, provide cost-effective measures for climate change adaptations, and maintain natural processes that underpin human health and wellbeing. Recognition is growing that grasslands in many regions will protect carbon stores more effectively than forests in the warmer, drier, more fire-prone conditions of the future while also serving as hotspots for biodiversity. Yet grasslands have received less attention for their NbS potential. Despite the wide-ranging goals of this approach, many investments in nature-based solutions also have focused narrowly on using plants to meet climate pledges, often without considering plant interactions with herbivores and the abiotic environment that jointly control ecosystem functioning and underpin the success of nature-based solutions. Here, we review the roles that large and small vertebrate and invertebrate herbivores play in the ability of the world's grasslands to provide nature-based solutions, with a focus on wild herbivore impacts on biodiversity and carbon storage. Synthesis. Planning for nature-based solutions with a holistic, ecologically informed view that includes the role of herbivores and their interaction with plants and the environment will allow NbS investments to more likely achieve successful, sustainable outcomes.