Rangelands

Source-This post on Rangelands has been created based on the article “Rangelands are facing a ‘silent demise’, suffering losses as high as 50%” published in “Down to Earth” on 23 May 2024.

Why in News?

The Land Outlook report on rangelands and pastoralists reveals that up to 50 percent of the world’s rangelands are degraded, nearly double the previous estimates of 20-35 percent.

About Rangelands

1. It primarily consists of natural grasslands utilized by livestock and wild animals for grazing and foraging.

2. The vegetation found in rangelands includes tallgrass prairies, steppes (shortgrass prairies), desert shrublands, shrub woodlands, savannas, chaparrals, and tundras.

3. These “Wild Open Spaces” cover approximately half of the Earth’s land surface and half of western North America.

Reasons for Degradation

1. The degradation of rangelands is primarily driven by the conversion of pastures to cropland and other land use changes resulting from population growth and urban expansion.

2. Additional factors contributing to this problem include rapidly increasing demands for food, fiber, and fuel, excessive grazing, abandonment, and policies that incentivize overexploitation.

Significance of Rangelands

1. They serve multiple purposes, including livestock forage, wildlife habitat, water and mineral resources, wood products, wild land recreation, open space, and natural beauty. They play a vital economic role in many countries and are integral to cultural identities.

2. These lands are home to one quarter of the world’s languages and host numerous World Heritage Sites.

UPSC Syllabus: Environment