THEMATIC SLIDES GRASSLAND GRASSLAND Narok Kenya Peanut Basin

THEMATIC SLIDES

GRASSLAND

GRASSLAND • Narok, Kenya • Peanut Basin, Senegal • Revane, Senegal • Wyperfeld National Park, Australia • Upper Green River, United States Credit: World Biomes

GRASSLAND • One fifth of the Earth's land surface is grassland a biome found on every continent except Antarctica • Grassland biomes can be found in the middle latitudes, in the interiors of continents • Most of the world's natural grasslands have been converted to wheat or corn fields Sources: Earth Observatory;

Conversion of grasslands into agriculture Narok, Kenya • 1975: The agricultural expansion is just beginning • 2000: This image shows the degree to which farmlands have expanded

Farmlands abandoned for savannas Peanut Basin, Senegal Shows growing patchwork of savannas (greenish patches) • 1979: Image shows farmland before being abandoned • 1999: Hundreds of villages are scattered throughout the region to enjoy fallow and grazing lands

Impact of drought and over-grazing Revane, Senegal • 1965: Ancient valleys cutting through gravelly plateaus, with extensive bushland vegetation • 1999: The badland phenomenon spread extensively along the shallow valley slopes

Fire – a regular occurrence in Wyperfeld National Park, Australia • 1973: Vegetation in the Wyperfeld National Park is mostly a rich green in the image • 2000: The dark green areas are now mottled with light patches, areas where the ground is bare after a burn • 2004: Significant additional burned areas

Changing landscape of Upper Green River, United States The landscape in 1989 Over 3000 wells (black/white dots) Have been approved in the basin, and development is occurring at a rapid rate

GRASSLAND One Planet Many People: Atlas of Our Changing Environment Thank You! Free Downloads: www. na. unep. net Purchase: www. Earthprint. com