Study finds removing livestock from grasslands could compromise long-term soil carbon storage

Study finds removing livestock may reduce long-term soil carbon storage

University of Manchester research suggests removing livestock from grasslands could weaken soil carbon storage, challenging climate assumptions A University of Manchester study warns that removing livestock from grasslands may compromise long-term soil carbon storage. While researchers found that ungrazed land may increase surface carbon, they also discovered it can reduce more stable forms of carbon stored deep in the soil. This raises question…

Upland sheep grazing linked to more stable soil carbon, researchers say

Removing sheep and other livestock from upland grasslands could weaken long-term soil carbon storage, according to new research.

Study finds removing livestock from grasslands could compromise long-term soil carbon storage

Removing sheep and other livestock entirely from upland grasslands – a strategy often promoted as a way to boost carbon storage and tackle climate change – may actually reduce the most stable forms of soil carbon, according to new research.

Removing livestock from grasslands could compromise long-term soil carbon storage

2.02.2026 - Removing sheep and other livestock entirely from upland grasslands - a strategy often promoted as a way to boost carbon storage and tackle climate change - may actually reduce the most stable forms of soil carbon, according to new research.