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Questions:In many arid and semi-arid regions of the world, livestock husbandry is the main land use and grazing is one of the main challenges for biodiversity conservation. This also applies to the Caatinga, a unique seasonally dry tropical forest in northeastern Brazil. It is considered one of the most threatened ecosystems of Brazil.To protect semi-arid regions from biodiversity loss, degradation, and desertification, sustainable management practices are urgently needed. However, the effect of different grazing intensities on plant diversity is not yet fully understood. In this study, we examined the effect of different grazing intensities on plant species composition, alpha and beta diversity.Location: Vicinity of the Itaparica Reservoir, northeastern Brazil. Methods:We assessed the effects of different grazing intensities (high, intermediate, no/low) on species composition, alpha and beta diversity of the tree and shrub, and the herb layer in a Caatinga area. Plant diversity of the tree and shrub layer was assessed on 45 study plots (each 20 m × 20 m), while the diversity of herbs was studied on a subset of 36 plots (four subplots, each 2 m × 2 m). Results:In total, we recorded 140 plant taxa including morphospecies. Grazing at high intensities significantly reduced almost all measures of alpha and beta diversity (tree and shrub layer) compared to areas with no or low grazing. In contrast, species composition was not significantly related to grazing but instead to altitude, which serves as an indicator of reduced anthropogenic impact such as slash-and-burn agriculture or tree harvesting. Conclusion:Overall, the study results show that the current livestock management has negative effects on plant diversity in Caatinga ecosystems. These results have been incorporated into guidelines provided to regional stakeholders including recommendations for adapted land-management practices that protect and foster the biodiversity of dry forests while sustaining local livelihoods. K E Y W O R D S biodiversity, Brazil, Caatinga, goats, grazing, intermediate disturbance hypothesis, land management, land use, livestock husbandry, seasonally dry tropical forest, semi-arid | 349 Additional supporting information may be found online in the Supporting Information section at the end of the article. Appendix S1. Vegetation plot data. Plant species, their growth form and frequency in a caatinga area in northeastern Brazil. Appendix S2. Plant species, their growth form and frequency in a caatinga area in northeastern Brazil. Appendix S3. p Values of generalised linear models (GLMs) with diversity indices as response variables. Appendix S4. Beta diversity for the herb layer at three grazing intensities (no/low, intermediate, high). Appendix S5. p Values of generalised linear models (GLMs) with Bray-Curtis dissimilarity index as response variables. Appendix S6. Plant diversity of caatinga systems in the tree and shrub layer with inclusion parameters and site description. Appendix S7. Plant diversity of caatinga systems in the herb lay...

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Land management needs to cope with persistent environmental and societal changes. This requires functional governance systems. The purpose of this research is to develop a good governance framework for the implementation of sustainable land management. Good governance theory is extensive, although its operationalization remains difficult. We derived a set of good governance attributes from the literature: (i) the functionality of the regulatory framework, (ii) the legitimacy and accountability of the actors, (iii) the fairness and transparency of the decision-making processes, and (iv) quality control and adaptiveness. These constitute a framework which, supported by guiding questions, facilitates the evaluation of governance attributes to assess sustainable land management practices. We applied the scheme to a case study in Northeast Brazil regarding sustainable land management where biological pest control is considered to be a biodiversity-related ecosystem service. Since its adoption often falls short of expectations, we scrutinized its governance system. First, experts answered our guiding questions, and second, we involved local stakeholders in the discussion of good governance attributes through the participatory approach of constellation analysis. Trust in agricultural consultants and issues of the practical application of pest control turned out to be crucial. The workshop participants requested a model farm to build more trust and experience. There was considerable demand for policy at the national planning level to formulate and monitor the content of the agricultural advisory program. Our conceptualized framework of good governance questions provides systematization for planning and steering the implementation of sustainable land management practices.