Dynamics and Drivers of Grasslands in the Eurasian Steppe during 2000–2014

Yanzhen Zhang, Qian Wang, Zhaoqi Wang, Jianlong Li and Zengrang Xu
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Yanzhen Zhang: Department of Ecology, School of Life Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210046, China
Qian Wang: School of Environment and Planning, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252059, China
Zhaoqi Wang: State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
Jianlong Li: Department of Ecology, School of Life Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210046, China
Zengrang Xu: Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 11, 1-14

Abstract: The Eurasian steppe (EAS) is the largest contiguous grassland worldwide. Quantitative evaluations of the relative impacts of climate change and human activities on grasslands are significant for understanding grassland degradation mechanisms and controlling degraded grasslands. In this study, we analyzed the grassland productivity based on multiple forms of net primary productivity (NPP), including climate NPP (CNPP), actual NPP (ANPP), and human-caused NPP (HNPP) during 2000–2014. The results demonstrate that the average value of annual ANPP in the EAS was 47.36 gC/(m 2 ·year), with a weak decrease (−0.02 gC/(m 2 ·year)) during the study period. The area of grassland degradation account for 48.52% of the total grassland area in EAS, while the area of grassland recovery account for 51.48%. Restorative grassland was mainly distributed in Mongolia and China, while worse grassland was mainly distributed in the Kazakh steppe regions. Grassland degradation in China was mainly caused by climate change, whereas it was mainly caused by human activities in Mongolia. Grassland recovery in Kazakh steppe regions was mainly caused by human activities, but in Mongolia, it was mainly caused by climate change. Compared with temperature, precipitation played a more significant role on grassland productivity.

Keywords: Eurasian steppe; grassland dynamic; grassland degradation; major ecological projects; sustainable development of grassland (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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