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Plant diversity to cope with increased drought risk in grasslands

Author

Listed:
  • Alou, Nicolas
  • Schaub, Sergei
  • Suter, Matthias
  • Lüscher, Andreas
  • Finger, Robert

Abstract

Grasslands are essential for global milk and meat production. Climate change and growing frequency of extreme weather events are expected to increase variability in production. This study explores how plant diversity can act as natural insurance against drought risks in grasslands using theoretical model and simulation. Examining sown diversity from a portfolio perspective, we identify mechanisms underlying its insurance value, including the statistical averaging effects and community asynchrony. Our findings demonstrate that, within productive grasslands, modest plant diversity can mitigate a substantial portion (37 %) of the risk, offering a sustainable climate adaptation strategy in production-oriented ecosystems.

Suggested Citation

  • Alou, Nicolas & Schaub, Sergei & Suter, Matthias & Lüscher, Andreas & Finger, Robert, 2026. "Plant diversity to cope with increased drought risk in grasslands," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:ecolec:v:241:y:2026:i:c:s0921800925003350
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2025.108852
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • Q15 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Land Ownership and Tenure; Land Reform; Land Use; Irrigation; Agriculture and Environment
    • Q51 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Valuation of Environmental Effects
    • Q57 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Ecological Economics

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