Grassland Restoration Grassland restoration is becoming increasingly popular as invasive species continue to threaten the stability of local grassland ecosystems. This essay will analyze two different methods of grassland restoration. The fire-grazing and shrub-grazing models will be highlighted with examples taken from the literature. These models will then be used to devise a new restoration strategy for restoring grasslands that have been overrun by shrubs, particularly Acacia Karoo. The restoration strategy used in this study focused on the relationship between fire and grazing. The study proposes the application of the fire-grazing model as a way to increase heterogeneity within the landscape and restore the system to represent a grassland ecosystem. Fuhlendord and Engle (2004) highlighted in their article that although grazing alone can be sustainable on most grasslands, recent studies have shown that the creation of grazing focal points can cause degradation of the entire ecosystem (Fuhlendorf & Engle, 2004). The fire grazing model applies discrete fires to areas which are then followed by animal grazing. This process creates a shifting mosaic in the landscape while maintaining the productivity of grasslands and livestock. The model indicates that fire and grazing are interconnected with unique positive and negative feedback effects that promote or inhibit particular processes (Fuhlendorf & Engle, 2004). The model states that recently burned areas have a positive relationship with the probability of selection by grazing animals and a negative relationship with the probability of fire. Areas that have not been exposed to fire have inverse relationships to recent... middle of paper... removal method requires regular inventing shrub removal every 4-5 years. The restoration method is highly dependent on the area to be restored and the history associated with it. For the Acacia Karoo, the logging method should be employed to ensure invasion mitigation. Works Cited Barbaro, L., Dutoit, T., & Cozic, P. (2001). A six-year experimental biodiversity restoration through logging and grazing in the limestone grasslands of the French Pre-Alps. Biodiversity and Conservation, 10(1), 119-135. Csurhes, S., Weber, J., & Zhou, Y. (2011). Karoo Thorn. Queensland Government, Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation. Queensland Government.Fuhlendorf, S. D., & Engle, D. M. (2004). Application of fire-grazing interaction to restore a mobile mosaic on a tall grass prairie. Journal of Applied Ecology, 41(1), 604-614.