title: A multifaceted view on the impacts of shrub encroachment.
abstract: Shrub encroachment, a global phenomenon with management implications, is examined in two papers in the current issue ofApplied Vegetation Science. Barbosa da Silva et al. show that encroachment simplifies herbaceous community, and Pittarello et al. illustrate how pastoral practices can restore encroached grasslands. While detrimental effects of shrub encroachment on grassland vegetation are often reported, we argue for a more holistic view when assessing this land cover change.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Biología y Geología, Física y Química Inorgánica, Escuela Superior de Ciencias Experimentales y Tecnología, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Calle Tulipán s/n, 28933 Móstoles, Spain.
authors.forename: Fernando T
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Maestre
authors.affiliation: School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Eldridge
authors.affiliation: Institute of Plant Sciences, University of Bern, Altenbergrain 21, 3013 Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Santiago
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Soliveres