Types of Ecosystems

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Grasslands are comprised of vast expanses of grass and grass like plants. There are few trees in grasslands because the climate is to dry or the soil to poor. Grasslands are called different names in different parts of the world: - ‘steppes’ in Asia; ‘prairies’ in North America; ‘pampas’, ‘llanos’ and ‘cerrados’ in South America; ‘savannas’ and ‘velds’ in Africa; and ‘rangelands’ in Australia. Grasses are very special plants that can keep on growing no matter how much they are devoured by the animals because their growing points are situated low down near the soil. Most of the world's natural grasslands, including vast areas of the Russian steppes and American prairies, have been converted to wheat or corn fields, however and the East African savannas are facing similar threats.

United Nations Environment Programme