Woody encroachment is increasingly transforming dryland grasslands in the Argentine Dry Chaco, with native grass cover giving way to shrub and tree dominance. In a recent publication, Dr. María Soledad Andrade-Díaz and colleagues examine how grazing, fire, and aridity interact to drive these changes, combining quantitative modelling with local knowledge from campesino communities.

The study highlights that while aridity reduces grass cover, fire remains a key but context-dependent management tool. Its effectiveness varies with governance, land-use practices, and livestock pressure. In particular, high goat densities and restrictive land management conditions can accelerate woody encroachment, while traditional ecological knowledge emphasizes the importance of adaptive fire use despite increasing constraints.

Full article: Drivers of woody encroachment in Dry Chaco grasslands: grazing, fire, aridity and the value of local knowledge