干旱区生态环境知识资源中心

1. Grasslands contribute to the livelihoods of over 800 million people including many poor smallholders where government focus will have the biggest impact on poverty and livelihoods, but development must be done within local communities with their full participation.

2. Rapid urbanization has increased demand for forages for peri-urban smallholder dairies. In temperate areas provision of reliable winter fodder or feed remains the biggest need.

3. Greater use can be made of forages under tree crops and agroforestry systems. The food potential of grassland plants in semi-arid areas is neglected.

4. Management of extensive grasslands must consider the public good as well as production; policies are needed to remunerate pastoralists who manage grasslands to safeguard watersheds and provide public goods and services.

5. In some areas such as Eastern Europe there is a move away from intensive systems to extensive grassland use combining grazing and wildlife management, which provides income while preserving biodiversity.