Stavropol Krai has marked the start of activities dedicated to the International Year of Rangelands and Pastoralism, officially proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly.
The topic was discussed during a meeting of an expert group on participation in the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), held under the auspices of the Administration of the President of the Russian Federation. The meeting brought together representatives of Stavropol Krai, including scientists from the North Caucasus Federal Scientific Agrarian Center.
Rangelands cover approximately 40–50 per cent of the Earth’s land surface. According to experts, nearly half of these areas have already been degraded as a result of climate change and unsustainable land use. Ecosystems are under increasing pressure from droughts, floods, soil degradation and growing competition for land resources. Against this backdrop, the United Nations emphasizes the need to raise global awareness of the importance of protecting and restoring rangeland ecosystems. The primary goal is ecosystem restoration.
Participants noted that land degradation and desertification are also pressing challenges for Stavropol Krai, particularly in its eastern territories. For several years, the North Caucasus Federal Scientific Agrarian Center has been implementing research and applied projects aimed at combating land degradation and desertification.
Looking ahead, pilot projects will be developed to improve rangeland conditions, reduce soil deflation, and restore ecosystems, with the aim of scaling up successful practices in areas vulnerable to desertification. The meeting stressed that only through investments in soil health and biodiversity conservation can global food security be ensured, without undermining the natural systems on which life depends.
Thriving rangelands are not only a source of food, but a foundation for a living planet and a stable, sustainable future.
📌 Source: North Caucasus Federal Scientific Agrarian Center
