From forage to multifunctionality: shifting perceptions of rangeland ecosystem services in the journals of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa

Abstract

Rangelands offer various goods and ecosystem services (ES) besides providing forage for commercial livestock production. An analysis of research published in the journals of the Grassland Society of Southern Africa from 1966 to 2023 revealed a widening focus on different consumptive and non-consumptive ES. While livestock remains the primary focus, there is a growing interest in other provisional, regulatory, supporting, and cultural ES and uses of rangeland. The term ‘ecosystem services’ started to appear in articles from the early 2000s, marking a shift towards a richer discourse on the multifarious resources and services rangelands can provide to diverse users. A transition from ‘veld’ to ‘rangeland’ terminology occurred at the onset of the 21st century, though ‘veld’ remains mentioned. Recognition of communal and pastoral users of rangelands has expanded since the mid-1980s, alongside more frequent studies on conservation of biodiversity and commercial game production. Research has increasingly focused on understanding ecological processes supporting rangeland productivity and the provision of other ES, including carbon sequestration for climate regulation. Cultural and recreational values of rangelands have received little research attention. Overall, the journals’ corpus is evolving to reflect a broader perspective on valuing and managing multi-functional rangelands, which is in alignment with global research trends.