Socioeconomic responses to managing woody plant encroachment

The encroachment of woody plants into grasslands and open savanna has been a major global ecological phenomenon over the past century, which results in substantial biophysical effects, particularly reductions in forage productivity.While much has known about the ecological consequences of woody encroachment, relatively little is known about how encroachment effects the attitude, livelihoods and welfare of pastoralists, that determines management actions and efforts devolved.This editorial describes a framework of factors influencing decisions relating to the management of woody encroachment and use a case study in Inner Mongolian shrub-encroached grassland by surveying on social issues related to animal production, profitability and general wellbeing on grasslands coupled with assessment of changes in plant and soils with varying levels of encroachment.Our editorial highlights the necessity of assessing social aspects before making the decision of managing the encroachment of woody plants. Challenges in understanding the impact of shrub encroachment