This paper discusses the decrease of vegetation yield, species composition reduction in pasture of different zones, and different pasture types in Mongolia with relation to factors affecting these phenomena such as global warming and increased human and livestock impacts. It focuses on the Altai mountain regions of Mongolia.
Changes of species composition, canopy cover and average height were shown in the needlegrass-forb pasture of the steppe zone in Bayanuul, Bugat, Darwi, Tonkhil, Khukhmorit and Sharga soum of Gobi-Altai aimag, which have different rates of pasture overgrazing.
In severe grazed needlegrass-forb pasture, species composition has reduced by 1.5-2 times, average height has reduced 8 times and composition of not-preferable plants has increased by 2.0-2.5 times compared with un-grazed pasture of the same type.
