Landscape pathways and modeling in sustainable alpine grassland management

Landscape scale and ecosystem multifunctions can play vital roles in alpine grassland restoration. At present, a multiscale landscape and functional diversity are low-cost and are characterized by efficient restoration approaches. This chapter discusses (1) the effect of landscape scale and characteristics on grassland restoration; and (2) landscape complexity theory in grassland restoration. This chapter also focuses on the influence of landscape composition on grassland restoration in alpine grassland. A heterogeneous landscape can promote grassland restoration by providing more habitat types and species propagules. The configuration heterogeneity of landscape can promote the recovery of biodiversity in restored grasslands by reducing the mortality of species during migration. Landscape-level strategies should be considered in large-scale restoration to achieve biodiversity recovery. In the alpine grassland landscape, the steep slope topography and rivers play important roles in restoration and management of the grassland. However, due to the scale complexity at landscape level and the of area-heterogeneity trade-offs, the heterogeneity-diversity relationships are often very complex. Additionally, due to interspecific relationships and trophic cascade effects in food webs, the recovery of biodiversity is difficult. This highlights the importance of establishing clear aims before initiating a restoration project and considering the contextual dependencies of the aims.