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 exacerbating degradation.
The report highlights the Central Asia and Mongolia region as one of the most affected areas, where a significant portion of the population relies on livestock herding and rangelands cover 60 percent of the land. Mongolia’s environment minister emphasizes the importance of preserving rangelands, citing the cultural, environmental, and economic values they hold.
In North America, ancient grasslands, prairies, and deserts are also facing biodiversity loss due to degradation. However, many of these regions lack sufficient data for effective management.
To address rangeland degradation, the report calls for climate mitigation efforts and cross-border cooperation to implement sustainable land management practices. It advocates for incorporating indigenous and local knowledge into management plans and transitioning away from damaging practices like monocultural farming.
According to Joao Campari from the World Wildlife Fund, preserving rangelands is essential for meeting global biodiversity, climate, and food security goals. The report underscores the urgent need to protect and sustainably manage these critical ecosystems to ensure the well-being of both people and the planet.
The full UNCCD Global Land Outlook Thematic Report on Rangelands and Pastoralists is available for further reference.
Reference: https://www.sciencealert.com/arid-deserts-are-devouring-earths-rangelands-threatening-billions