The Steppe Biome in Russia: Ecosystem Services, Conservation Status, and Actual Challenges

Abstract

Russian steppe should be recognized as an endangered biome which dramatically declined and degraded during the last two centuries. We summarize the major economical and conservational values of the Russian part of the steppe biome relating it with the main elements of the biodiversity pattern of the biome. The principal factor actually driving the biome dynamics is land use, foremost agriculture. Recently almost all surviving steppes in Russia were used as pastures for cattle, sheep, and horse breeding while specific land-use patterns are characteristic for each main subdivision of the biome. The conservation status of the steppe ecosystems is strongly insufficient. The steppe is the least protected biome according to all indicators: the least coverage of protected areas, the least biome fraction in national PAs, the least average area of PA, etc. For main subdivisions of the steppe biome we estimate the proportion of the area under protection nationally. It comprises 3–10% and for the total biome and all levels of conservation is not exceeding 5%. Thus the major part of the biome is still unprotected and faces many actual threats and new challenges caused by land use changes, the main ones being conversion (and re-conversion) into cropland, overgrazing and pasture abandonment, wild fires, mining and fossil hydrocarbons extraction, over-exploitation and poaching, and afforestation. Almost all threat intensities and specifics vary following market signals. For example, turning secondary steppes into cropland was significantly intensified due to the global biofuel boom and grain crisis.