Changes in Grasslands
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- Grasslands make up 40% of the land area. These typically exist between mountainous and desert climates. Only 10% of the world’s grasslands are protected, though.
- Only 1% of the original tallgrass prairie remains today, while over 50% of all temperate grasslands and 16% of tropical grasslands have been converted to agriculture or industrial purposes.
- Conversion of grasslands for economic activities such as ranching, Dairy Farms, Sheep rearing for wool, etc in North and South America, New Zealand, Australia, etc.
- Degradation of grasslands due to unscientific agricultural practices such as monocropping, chemical fertilizers, and overgrazing.
- The advent of invasive species has impacted local vegetation.
- Therefore, the fauna inhabiting these grasslands is also in decline such as African Cheetah being vulnerable under IUCN.
- Climate Change has also impacted grasslands as their relatively flat geography makes them more vulnerable to the effects of climate change and animals must travel great distances to adapt to temperature changes.
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