After several years’ work, François Mesléard’s book, “Eco-grazing and vegetation restoration in Mediterranean wetlands”, has just been published. It is the result of extensive research carried out at the Tour du Valat. The results should make it possible to improve eco-grazing for conservation in the Mediterranean basin.
Eco-grazing is a powerful means of vegetation management, commonly used in wetlands. By controlling the growth of numerous species and limiting the establishment and colonization of other vegetation, grazing modifies plant hierarchies and can contribute to maintaining or increasing biodiversity. It is therefore a tool that is commonly used in reserves and sites where biodiversity depends on the maintenance of herbaceous environments.
This new book, authored by François Mesléard and published by the Tour du Valat, delves into eco-grazing and attempts to respond to the following questions: How can extensive grazing be used to restore Mediterranean wetlands according to the specific features and constraints of a site and the objectives being pursued? What approaches should be adopted before implementing pastoral management?
This book encourages students, site managers and scientists to consider the various dimensions of eco-grazing in an attempt to complete, revise, and improve the application of this tool. The first part of the book part deals with the mechanisms of vegetation succession, and the restoration of plant communities. The second part focuses on project development, from the choice of whether to use grazing, and in what ways, to the necessary and useful monitoring to be put in place. The third part deals with the monitoring and pastoral management of several plants that are emblematic of Mediterranean wetlands in terms of their importance, interest, and the problems they are likely to pose.