Environment

The United Nations (UN) has released a new report highlighting the alarming degradation of rangelands worldwide. Covering more than half of Earth's land surface, rangelands are crucial ecosystems that sustain billions of people by providing meat, dairy, fiber, and other staple foods. However, the report finds that up to 50 percent of these vital landscapes are now degraded, with previous assessments underestimating the extent of the problem. Poor land management practices, exacerbated by climate change, are identified as the primary drivers of rangeland degradation. These practices include land clearing, mining, overgrazing, soil nutrient depletion, erosion, and wildfires. Conflict and border issues in some regions further contribute to overgrazing, hindering livestock movement and exac...