The prairie is a unique type of earth ecosystem, which can be divided into various types such as tropical grasslands and temperate grasslands. Grassland is the most widely distributed vegetation type on earth.
The formation of grasslands is due to the thinness of soil or the scarcity of precipitation, which makes the growth of woody plants difficult, while herbaceous plants can thrive.
Natural grasslands appear in environments that are only favorable for a short season, whether it is in tropical or temperate regions. In tropical areas, the growing season usually occurs during the rainy season. In temperate grasslands, the growth season occurs during a short period of wet and cold winter, followed by a dry and hot summer.
According to data from the World Natural Research Institute, grasslands are mainly distributed in the middle of forests and deserts, covering a total area of 5.25 billion hectares. Grassland area accounts for 40.5% of the global land area (excluding Greenland and Antarctica).
However, the distribution of grasslands on all continents is not balanced, with Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Oceania accounting for a large proportion, while Europe has the smallest distribution.
Prairie is the second largest ecosystem of the land ecosystem after the forest ecosystem and is called "Earth Skin". The grassland is divided into two types: natural grassland and artificial grassland.
Natural grasslands refer to grasslands that are naturally growing, where naturally growing plant quantity and coverage account for more than 50% of the grassland. Artificial grasslands, on the other hand, refer to grasslands that are formed by artificial cultivation, where the biomass and coverage of naturally growing plants account for less than 50% of the grassland.
The prairie plays a vital role in animal husbandry production, as well as in protecting biological diversity, mitigating climate change, and promoting sustainable human development. The grassland ecosystem is one of the most important ecosystems on earth.
It not only provides humans with a large number of production factors such as food, livestock feed, cellulose, and drugs, but also offers beautiful natural landscapes and leisure tourism resources.
Prairie has many crucial ecological functions such as absorbing carbon dioxide, releasing oxygen, purifying the air, and conserving water and soil. It is also the habitat of many animals and plants, making it an important breeding ground with significant biodiversity protection significance.
However, the grassland ecosystem has been severely damaged and threatened in recent years due to various factors such as excessive grazing, excessive reclamation, large-scale mining, and climate change.
These issues have caused problems such as decreased coverage of grassland vegetation, increasing soil erosion, and decreased biodiversity, impacting both human society and the natural environment.
Protecting the grassland ecosystem is of great significance in achieving sustainable development of grasslands.
It is necessary to achieve a harmonious symbiosis between humans and nature by strengthening various channels such as grassland ecological protection, scientific management of grassland resources, and the development of ecological animal husbandry.
With proper measures in place, it is possible to ensure the long-term preservation and vitality of the prairie ecosystem for future generations.
