Grasslands: Essential Ecosystems Facing Serious Threats
Grasslands, covering over half of the Earth’s surface, are crucial for billions of people by providing food products and regulating the cycle of nutrients, water, and carbon. However, up to half of these ecosystems are already experiencing degradation, posing serious threats.
According to the UN, even previous estimates «significantly underestimate the actual loss of health and productivity of grasslands.» One of the reasons for this situation is poor land resource management, including land clearance, overgrazing, erosion, and salinization.
This degradation has serious consequences, including droughts and desertification, endangering human life and health, as well as leading to soil fertility decline. In many regions, conflicts and border issues only exacerbate these troubles.
In particular, the region of Central Asia and Mongolia is becoming one of the most affected, where a third of the population depends on livestock rearing. Here, grasslands make up a significant portion of the land, making degradation a particularly pressing issue.
