Grazing is an essential natural process which maintains grasslands and prevents encroachment by shrubs and trees. Without grazing, grasslands can quickly become overgrown, losing their characteristic open structure and biodiversity. Low-intensity grazing by large herbivores such as cattle, horses, and bison helps to create dynamic mosaic landscapes that support a wide range of plant and animal species.
The low-intensity grazing should align with natural grazing principles. You can find out more about these in further reading.
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Vegetation consumption – Low-intensity grazing by diverse groups of herbivores helps to control the growth of dominant plant species, allowing a variety of grasses and wildflowers to thrive. This promotes plant diversity and provides habitats for insects, birds and other wildlife.
Soil health – The behavioural impact of grazing animals on the landscape through actions such as digging helps to aerate the soil, promoting water infiltration and reducing soil compaction. Their dung also adds nutrients to the soil, enhancing its fertility. They will also increase carbon sequestration in the soil.
Wildfire prevention – by reducing the amount of dry, combustible vegetation, grazing can lower the risk of intense, catastrophic wildfires breaking out. This is particularly important in regions prone to drought and high temperatures and set against the backdrop of climate change.
Maintaining and enhancing biodiversity – many species depend on large herbivores for their life cycles, such as parasites, scavengers and insects feeding on dung. The absence of large herbivores in the system can negatively impact biodiversity and lead to local extinctions.
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