World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought 2026

Rangelands

• Rangelands are expanses of land covered by grasses, grass-like plants, forbs (a type of flowering plant), shrubs and sometimes trees where livestock can graze. 

Types / Ecosystems Covered

• They cover nearly half of the Earth’s land surface and comprise drylands, grasslands, shrublands, savannahs, deserts, steppes, mountain areas and wetlands, among other ecosystems.
• They are not confined by political borders and are found across all continents.

Geographical Scale

• Rangelands are the world’s largest land-use category, covering nearly 54% of the Earth’s land surface. They contribute nearly 16% of global food production.  

Ecological Significance

• Regulation of Water: Rangelands help regulate water. In healthy rangelands, plants grow deep roots to access water and nutrients.These roots improve soil structure, porosity, water infiltration and soil biodiversity.
• Soil Protection: Plant roots hold down the soil and help stop erosion. Plant cover also moderates surface temperature and shields the soil from the direct impact of rain.
• Climate Mitigation: Rangelands help mitigate climate change by capturing up to 30% of the world’s carbon.
• Biodiversity Support: Rangelands support a rich variety of fauna and flora. They provide natural forage for animals that graze and browse, i.e. animals that feed on grasses, leaves and trees.
  • Examples: In some regions, rangelands are home to wild yaks and antelopes, while in others pronghorns and guanacos can be found.
• Plant Diversity: Their plant diversity can be remarkable. A recent study found that permanent grasslands in France contain up to 100 different plant species.
• Dynamic Ecosystems: Rangelands continually evolve with the seasonal movement of both people and animals.

Economic and Livelihood Significance

• Livelihood Support: Worldwide, nearly two billion people, including pastoralists, small-scale herders, ranchers and farmers, depend on healthy rangelands for homes and livelihoods.  
• Livestock Economy: Rangelands supply natural forage for grazing and browsing animals.
• Trade and Production: They connect communities through local and cross-border trade. Their impact on meat, dairy and fibre production is global.

Rangelands in India

• Extent
  • In India, rangelands cover about 1.21 million sq. km, stretching from the Thar Desert to the Himalayan meadows. Nearly 40% of India’s land surface is used for grazing.  
• Decline of Grasslands
  • India’s grassland area shrank from 18 million hectares to nearly 12 million hectares between 2005 and 2015. Less than 5% of grasslands are protected under India’s conservation network.