A study published in the Journal of Ecology reveals that biodiversity enhances the resistance of grasslands to extreme drought but that dominant species play a key role in recovery. The research, conducted over 11 years across 150 grassland plots with varying land-use intensities, found that species-rich or functionally diverse communities, associated with low land-use intensity, better buffer extreme droughts. In contrast, species-poor or fast-growing communities, linked to high land-use intensity, showed higher recovery after moderate-to-extreme droughts. The study highlights the importance of both functional and taxonomic diversity in maintaining grassland stability under extreme climatic conditions. It suggests that landscapes with a mix of extensively and intensively managed grasslands can enhance overall stability, as functionally rich communities preserve biomass during droughts, while species-poor communities restore it after droughts. The findings emphasize the need to consider biodiversity facets when assessing grassland stability under extreme droughts and varying land-use intensities. The study also underscores the role of functional traits in mediating ecosystem responses to drought, with functional diversity playing a key role in resistance, while dominant species influence recovery. The results indicate that promoting landscapes with diverse land-use intensities can improve grassland stability, with slow-growing communities maintaining biomass during droughts and fast-growing communities recovering quickly after droughts. The study provides insights into how biodiversity and ecosystem functions respond to extreme climatic events, highlighting the importance of functional and taxonomic diversity in maintaining grassland stability.A study published in the Journal of Ecology reveals that biodiversity enhances the resistance of grasslands to extreme drought but that dominant species play a key role in recovery. The research, conducted over 11 years across 150 grassland plots with varying land-use intensities, found that species-rich or functionally diverse communities, associated with low land-use intensity, better buffer extreme droughts. In contrast, species-poor or fast-growing communities, linked to high land-use intensity, showed higher recovery after moderate-to-extreme droughts. The study highlights the importance of both functional and taxonomic diversity in maintaining grassland stability under extreme climatic conditions. It suggests that landscapes with a mix of extensively and intensively managed grasslands can enhance overall stability, as functionally rich communities preserve biomass during droughts, while species-poor communities restore it after droughts. The findings emphasize the need to consider biodiversity facets when assessing grassland stability under extreme droughts and varying land-use intensities. The study also underscores the role of functional traits in mediating ecosystem responses to drought, with functional diversity playing a key role in resistance, while dominant species influence recovery. The results indicate that promoting landscapes with diverse land-use intensities can improve grassland stability, with slow-growing communities maintaining biomass during droughts and fast-growing communities recovering quickly after droughts. The study provides insights into how biodiversity and ecosystem functions respond to extreme climatic events, highlighting the importance of functional and taxonomic diversity in maintaining grassland stability.