One of the most important factors maintaining grassland is the regular reduction
of aboveground biomass by grazing, mowing, cutting shrubs and trees, drought
or fire.
Many herbivores prefer to feed on leaves of trees, shrubs, herbs, or branches of
woody plants. Grassland often is the leftover of all grazing and trampling animals in
combination with effects of the abiotic environment. Many grasslands are dominated
by grasses but harbour a much richer diversity of herbs, with young woody plants
inside. Without regular reduction of biomass—except in the very dry or highly
dynamic regions—the succession tends to scrubland, woodland, and finally a more
or less dense forest. In many grassland regions planted trees can grow properly.
With this contribution we review environmental conditions, goods and services,
threats, opportunities and real perspectives for the survival of grassland with their
inhabitants.
We want to pronounce that anthropogenic influences in grassland ecosystems can
have positive effects on the biodiversity and survival of the biota. Moreover, most
Table 2 Extent and protected area of grasslands [selection and numbers according to Dziewulska
(1990), White et al. (2000), Henwood (2010), Sano et al. (2010), Rachkovskaya and Bragina 2012,
Smelansky and Tishkov (2012), European Environment Agency (2017), Bonanomi et al. (2019).
Not all habitat types which according to references are summarised under the term grassland are
included here (cf. left column)
Grassland region
Area of
pre-industrial
extent (km
2
)
Remaining area (%)
Area
protected
(%)
North America
Tallgrass Prairie
600,000–677,300 1–3
0.5
North America
Mixedgrass Prairie
628,000–835,700 36–40
1.5–2.6
North America
Shortgrass Prairie
181,790–190,900 40–48
8
South America; Northern Paramo,
Central Paramo and Puna, Pampas,
Campos, Patagonian steppe
2,325,700
>48
5.6
Brazil; Cerrado
2,000,000
20 favourable, 42 used
as pasture and for charcoal production
2.85
S Russia, Eurasian grazing lands,
steppe geographical zone including
forest steppe and semi-desert
2,300,000
20–30
0.11
West Asia; Kazakh steppe
(Kazakhstan)
1,214,653
36 (widespread moderately used as pasture)
1.3
East Asia; Mongolia, China, Amur
Basin (Russia)
4,308,760
58–60
30
Africa; Sub-Saharan grasslands and
savannas
14,860,590
73
?
Southeast Australia, and
New Zealand
142,430
25–26
2
Development and Future of Grassland Ecosystems: Do We Need a Paradigm Shift?
331
of aboveground biomass by grazing, mowing, cutting shrubs and trees, drought
or fire.
Many herbivores prefer to feed on leaves of trees, shrubs, herbs, or branches of
woody plants. Grassland often is the leftover of all grazing and trampling animals in
combination with effects of the abiotic environment. Many grasslands are dominated
by grasses but harbour a much richer diversity of herbs, with young woody plants
inside. Without regular reduction of biomass—except in the very dry or highly
dynamic regions—the succession tends to scrubland, woodland, and finally a more
or less dense forest. In many grassland regions planted trees can grow properly.
With this contribution we review environmental conditions, goods and services,
threats, opportunities and real perspectives for the survival of grassland with their
inhabitants.
We want to pronounce that anthropogenic influences in grassland ecosystems can
have positive effects on the biodiversity and survival of the biota. Moreover, most
Table 2 Extent and protected area of grasslands [selection and numbers according to Dziewulska
(1990), White et al. (2000), Henwood (2010), Sano et al. (2010), Rachkovskaya and Bragina 2012,
Smelansky and Tishkov (2012), European Environment Agency (2017), Bonanomi et al. (2019).
Not all habitat types which according to references are summarised under the term grassland are
included here (cf. left column)
Grassland region
Area of
pre-industrial
extent (km
2
)
Remaining area (%)
Area
protected
(%)
North America
Tallgrass Prairie
600,000–677,300 1–3
0.5
North America
Mixedgrass Prairie
628,000–835,700 36–40
1.5–2.6
North America
Shortgrass Prairie
181,790–190,900 40–48
8
South America; Northern Paramo,
Central Paramo and Puna, Pampas,
Campos, Patagonian steppe
2,325,700
>48
5.6
Brazil; Cerrado
2,000,000
20 favourable, 42 used
as pasture and for charcoal production
2.85
S Russia, Eurasian grazing lands,
steppe geographical zone including
forest steppe and semi-desert
2,300,000
20–30
0.11
West Asia; Kazakh steppe
(Kazakhstan)
1,214,653
36 (widespread moderately used as pasture)
1.3
East Asia; Mongolia, China, Amur
Basin (Russia)
4,308,760
58–60
30
Africa; Sub-Saharan grasslands and
savannas
14,860,590
73
?
Southeast Australia, and
New Zealand
142,430
25–26
2
Development and Future of Grassland Ecosystems: Do We Need a Paradigm Shift?
331