Primary Data

Project title

CAtastrophic Shifts in drylands: how CAn we prevent ecosystem DEgradation?

Award URL

http://www.cascade-project.eu/

Funding code

CASCADE

Start date

January 1, 2012

Expected Completion

2017-06-30

Description

The aims and objectives of CASCADE are to obtain a better understanding of sudden shifts in drylands that may lead to major losses in biodiversity and concomitant ecosystem services. By focusing on vulnerable drylands as our target ecosystems, we build further on existing knowledge regarding shifts in these ecosystems. CASCADE will improve our understanding of the biogeochemical mechanisms underlying sudden and catastrophic shifts, and of the key biotic and abiotic factors influencing these processes. Based on these analyses, CASCADE will develop ways to predict the proximity of the CASCADE‘s dryland ecosystems to thresholds in such a way that these predictions can be used by policymakers and land users for more sustainable management of drylands worldwide.

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