Grassland ecosystems are deeply affected by human activities and need appropriate management to optimise trade-offs between ecosystem functions and services. Until now they have mainly been analysed as agro-ecosystems for animal production but this book looks beyond the role of grassland as a feeding ground, and evaluates other important processes such as carbon sequestration in soils, greenhouse gas regulation and biodiversity protection. This authoritative volume expertly highlights the need for an immediate balance between agriculture and ecological management for sustainability in the future.

Contributions by: Tony Parsons, Dennis Poppi, Sophie Prache, Andrew Illius, John McIvor, David Kemp, Sebastien Fontaine, Roland Bol, Stewart Ledgard, Nina Buchman, Andreas Luescher, Richard McDowell, Luc Abbadie, Phil Grime, Bertrand Dumont, Eric Garnier, Mike Humphreys, Xavier Leroux, Thibaud Decaens, Jean-Louis Peyraud, Greg Lambert, Craig Morris, Herman van Keulen, Alan Franzluebers, Anibal de Moraes, Robert Ferrier, Gerard Balent