A spatial analysis approach to the global delineation of dryland areas of relevance to the CBD Programme of Work on Dry and Subhumid Lands
Prepared by Levke Sörensen at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre
Cambridge, UK January 2007
This report was prepared at the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC). The lead author is Levke Sörensen, scholar of the Carlo Schmid Programme of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Acknowledgements
This report benefited from major support from Peter Herkenrath, Lera Miles and Corinna Ravilious. UNEP-WCMC is also grateful for the contributions of and discussions with Jaime Webbe, Programme Officer, Dry and Subhumid Lands, at the CBD Secretariat.
Disclaimer
The contents of the map presented here do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of UNEP-WCMC or contributory organizations. The designations employed and the presentations do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNEP-WCMC or contributory organizations concerning the legal status of any country, territory or area or its authority, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
3
Table of contents
Acknowledgements...... 3
Disclaimer ...... 3
List of tables, annexes and maps ...... 5
Abbreviations and acronyms ...... 7
Executive Summary ...... 8
1. Introduction...... 9
1.1 Scope ...... 9
1.2 Aims and objectives ...... 12
2. Methods...... 13
2.1 Dataset choice and justification...... 13
2.3 Biomes containing drylands...... 15
2.3 Spatial data analysis ...... 17
3. Results ...... 20
4. Conclusions...... 34
References...... 36
Annexes 1-6……………………………………………………………………..I - XXVI
4
List of tables, annexes and maps
Table 1: Percentage of the biomes 7, 8, 10, 12 and 13 on the biogeographic realms Table 2: Percentage of biomes in hyperarid, arid, semiarid and dry subhumid zones Table 3: Percentage of the global terrestrial area, and of each biogeographic realm, defined as dryland using different dryland definitions
Annex 1: Classification of ecoregions within biome 7 – Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannahs and Shrublands Annex 2: Classification of ecoregions within biome 8 – Temperate Grasslands, Savannahs and Shrublands Annex 3: Classification of ecoregions within biome 10 – Montane Grasslands and Shrublands Annex 4: Classification of ecoregions within biome 12 – Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands and Scrub Annex 5: Percentage of ecoregions within biome 13 (Deserts & xeric Shrublands) in P/PET < 0.65 Annex 6: Explanations to Annex 1 - 5
Map 1: UNCCD delineation of drylands Map 2: Extent of dryland systems according to the World Atlas of Desertification Map 3: Biogeographic realms Map 4: Extent of biomes 7, 8, 10, 12 and 13 Map 5: Extent of biomes 7, 8, 10, 12 and 13 with P/PET ratio ≥ 0.65 Map 6: Global delineation of areas in relation to the CBD PoW on Dry and Subhumid Lands Map 7: Delineation of areas in relation to the CBD PoW on Dry and Subhumid Lands, Afrotropic I Map 8: Delineation of areas in relation to the CBD PoW on Dry and Subhumid Lands, Afrotropic II Map 9: Delineation of areas in relation to the CBD PoW on Dry and Subhumid Lands, Australasia Map 10: Delineation of areas in relation to the CBD PoW on Dry and Subhumid Lands, Indo-Malay
5
Map 11: Delineation of areas in relation to the CBD PoW on Dry and Subhumid Lands, Nearctic Map 12: Delineation of areas in relation to the CBD PoW on Dry and Subhumid Lands, Neotropic Map 13: Delineation of areas in relation to the CBD PoW on Dry and Subhumid Lands, Palearctic I Map 14: Delineation of areas in relation to the CBD PoW on Dry and Subhumid Lands, Palearctic II
6
Abbreviations and acronyms
AA Australasia AHTEG Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group AT Afrotropic CBD Convention on Biological Diversity COP Conference of the Parties CRU/UEA Climatic Research Unit/University of East Anglia ESRI Environmental Systems Research Institute FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations FRA Forest Resources Assessment GIS Geographic Information System GRID Global Resource Information Database IFFN International Forest Fire News IM Indo-Malay JWP Joint Work Programme LADA Land Degradation Assessment in Drylands NA Nearctic NT Neotropic OC Oceania PA Palearctic PoW Programme of Work P/PET Ratio of mean annual precipitation (P) to mean annual potential evapotranspiration (PET) SBSTTA Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice UNCCD United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification UNEP United Nations Environment Programme UNEP-WCMC UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre WRI World Resources Institute WWF World Wildlife Fund/World Wide Fund for Nature
7 Executive Summary
Executive Summary
The world’s drylands are affected by desertification and biodiversity loss, two closely related pressures. In 2003, the Secretariats of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) therefore agreed a Joint Work Programme (JWP), focusing on the biological diversity of dry and sub-humid lands. This Programme is based, both in content and extent, on the thematic Programme of Work (PoW) on Dry and Sub-humid Lands of the CBD.
A basic challenge for the implementation of the JWP is the divergence in definition of drylands between the Conventions. While the UNCCD has a spatially explicit definition of dryland boundaries, the CBD definition is both broader and less precise. The UNCCD bioclimatic definition covers 34.9 percent of the world’s terrestrial area, whilst the CBD bioclimatic definition covers a 41.5 percent. The CBD definition also includes additional areas on the basis of their vegetation cover.
In order to identify areas of interest under the JWP, a global mapping effort is indispensable. This study uses a GIS spatial analysis at a global scale to provisionally delineate the areas that the CBD PoW, and hence also the JWP, encompasses. Maps of the WWF terrestrial ecoregions (WWF-US 2004) and of aridity zones (CRU/UEA; UNEP- GRID 1991) were used to identify areas included within the CBD definition. Using criteria based on the CBD definition, the ecoregion descriptions were evaluated to classify areas extending beyond the CBD bioclimatic definition as ‘presumed included’, or ‘presumed excluded’, or ‘to review’. 44.6 percent of the area concerned was classed as ‘to review’ as a result of uncertainty on the existence of dryland features. 1.3 percent was classified as ‘presumed excluded’, as dryland features are largely absent.
Depending on the precise dryland criteria used, the CBD PoW could cover 41.5 to 52.3 percent of the world’s terrestrial area, that is between 6.6 and 17.4 percent more than the UNCCD definition. The delineation of dryland areas, and hence their extent, has major implications for the scope of the PoW and the JWP.
This study reveals the need for an agreed global map of dryland areas, highlights some issues in delineating dryland boundaries, and offers a provisional map for discussion.
8 Introduction
1. Introduction
1.1 Scope
Realizing the relationship between desertification and biodiversity loss, and between sustainable livelihoods and the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity (Mulongoy and Zeidler 2003), the fifth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 2000 adopted a Programme of Work on Dry and Sub-humid Lands in order to fill knowledge gaps and promote conservation (Decision V/23). The shared goals of the CBD and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) mean that joint implementation of and collaboration between the two conventions can yield multiple benefits (Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005). The Secretariats of the CBD and the UNCCD agreed on a Joint Work Programme (JWP) in 2003 (UNEP/CBD/COP/7/INF/28). The JWP follows the rationale and structure of the CBD Programme of Work (PoW) and highlights areas of possible collaboration and joint action. In this context, a definition of the global dryland extent is indispensable in order to define the scope of activities within the JWP. As is detailed below, the two conventions define drylands differently. As the JWP is based on the CBD PoW, the dryland definition from this document is most relevant to the JWP.
1.1.1 UNCCD definition of drylands The UNCCD defines drylands according to an aridity index, calculated as the ratio of mean annual precipitation (P) to mean annual potential evapotranspiration (PET). The world is divided into six aridity zones: hyperarid, arid, semiarid, dry subhumid, humid and cold climates (Middleton and Thomas 1992). UNCCD covers only arid, semi-arid and dry subhumid areas (other than polar and sub-polar regions). The P/PET ratio within these zones ranges from 0.05 to 0.65 (UNCCD 1994, Article 1). Together, the UNCCD dryland zones cover approximately 34.9 percent of the Earth’s terrestrial surface (Map 1).
9 Introduction
Map 1: UNCCD delineation of drylands
Map 2: Extent of dryland systems according to the World Atlas of Desertification
10 Introduction
1.1.2 CBD definition of drylands The CBD definition of ‘drylands’ used within its Programme of Work on Dry and Sub- humid Lands (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/5/9) differs from the UNCCD definition described above in two ways: i. It also includes hyperarid zones (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/5/9), which represent approximately 6.6 percent of the Earth’s land surface. In including these desert regions in the dryland definition, the CBD follows the World Atlas of Desertification (Map 2; see Middleton and Thomas 1992). All areas with P/PET ratio less than 0.65 are therefore included; this encompasses 41.5 % of the world’s terrestrial area. ii. Major vegetation types are used to define dryland areas in addition to those defined based on the bioclimatic criterion (P/PET ratio) (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/5/9). Hence, the CBD PoW does not only apply to the biological diversity of drylands senso stricto, but also includes Mediterranean, grassland and savannah ecosystems (Decision V/23). These ecosystem types are present in some areas with P/PET ratio ≥ 0.65, including humid and cold areas.
The CBD Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) and the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group (AHTEG) on Dry and Subhumid Lands have provided a generic description of Mediterranean, grassland and savannah ecosystems (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/4/7):
Mediterranean ecosystems are loosely defined because no single climatic or bioclimatic definition has yet been established. They generally include areas with cool, wet winters and warm or hot dry summers. They encompass a wide range of habitat types (forest, woodland, grassland) and are typified by a low, woody, fire-adapted sclerophyllous shrubland.
Savannah ecosystems are dominated at the ground layer by grasses and grass-like plants. They form a continuum from treeless plains through open woodlands to closed- canopy woodlands with a grassy understorey.
Grassland ecosystems are loosely defined as areas dominated by grasses (Graminaceae) or grass-like plants with few woody plants. Periodic drought, highly seasonal rainfall, fire and grazing by large herbivores are typical characteristics of natural grassland and savannah ecosystems.
11 Introduction
Apart from this generic description, the SBSTTA and AHTEG documents reviewed for this study do not provide a detailed delineation of the areas covered by the PoW. Some authors do mention specific geographic regions within these ecosystem types (LADA, WRI 2004; UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA11/4/Add.1), but so far, no global mapping effort has delineated their boundaries on behalf of the PoW. However, clearly defined boundaries and georeferenced data are required in order to assess the status of dryland biodiversity, e.g. through spatial analysis.
1.2 Aims and objectives
The JWP of the two conventions is modelled on the CBD PoW on Dry and Subhumid Lands; however, neither the JWP nor the CBD PoW precisely defines the spatial scope. Future activities regarding biological diversity in drylands that contain a spatial analysis component require an agreed, explicit delineation of the areas included.
Therefore, this study aims to provisionally delineate the areas that the CBD PoW (hence the JWP) encompasses. Its objective is to assess and emphasize the need for a distinct delineation as a basis for further scientific research and policy analysis. The analysis offers an approach to mapping drylands and a provisional map, rather than a definitive delineation.
Further, we aim to identify the impact of alternative interpretations of the definition of dryland area on the scope of the PoW.
12 Methods
2. Methods
This study has provisionally defined and mapped the areas covered by the PoW.
2.1 Dataset choice and justification
The following two datasets capture important aspects of the CBD dryland definition: First, the aridity zones dataset (CRU/UEA; UNEP-GRID 1991) delineates the areas commonly defined as drylands: hyperarid, arid, semiarid and dry subhumid zones (P/PET < 0.65) (Map 2). Second, the WWF terrestrial ecoregions dataset (WWF-US 2004) has been chosen as an appropriate tool to identify additional areas relevant to the PoW that fall outside this strict definition. This dataset contains the spatial boundaries of 867 terrestrial ecoregions. WWF defines ecoregions as ‘relatively large units of land containing a distinct assemblage of natural communities and species, with boundaries that approximate the original extent of natural communities prior to major land-use’. The terrestrial ecoregions are nested within 14 biomes or ‘major habitat types’ (Olson et al. 2001). The dataset also classifies the terrestrial surface into eight biogeographic realms: Antarctic, Australasia, Afrotropic, Indo-Malay, Nearctic, Neotropic, Oceania and Palearctic (Map 3). A realm is defined as ‘a continent or sub-continent-sized area with unifying features of geography and fauna/flora/vegetation’ (Udvardy 1975).
The terrestrial ecoregions dataset was selected for several reasons: (i) unlike present land cover maps, the ecoregions map indicates the original extent of natural communities prior to major land-use change, thus the potential natural vegetation. (ii) WWF provides detailed information about every ecoregion, which facilitates the inclusion and exclusion of areas within the scope of the CBD PoW. Most land cover and potential natural vegetation maps do not include a comparable set of associated information. (iii) The ecoregions map is more detailed in scale than the biome map.
13 Methods
Map 3: Biogeographic realms relevant to the analysis
The biomes represented in the WWF terrestrial ecoregion dataset and the ecosystem types used within the CBD PoW are roughly comparable. For instance, their definitions are both based on biogeographic and biophysical features (e.g. vegetation type). Hence, the first step in the analysis consisted of the identification of useful data within the ecoregions map, by selecting only ecoregions with relevant biomes.
The four biomes representing Mediterranean, grassland and savannah ecosystem types are included in this initial selection, as these ecosystems are explicit components of the PoW: - Biome 7 – Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannahs and shrublands - Biome 8 – Temperate grasslands, savannahs and shrublands - Biome 10 – Montane grasslands and shrublands - Biome 12 – Mediterranean forest, woodlands and scrub
Biome 13, deserts and xeric shrublands, has also been included. This biome is not restricted to hyperarid areas, but does occur in all aridity zones, even in humid and cold zones.
14 Methods
Flooded grasslands and savannahs (biome 9) have been excluded because they contain mainly wetland areas, which cannot be considered as part of the PoW. Furthermore, many seasonally flooded areas are intermediary between grassland and inland water ecosystems (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/4/7).
2.3 Biomes containing drylands
Biome 7 – Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannahs and shrublands This biome does not receive enough rainfall to support extensive tree cover. Grasses dominate the species composition. Scattered trees may be common. Large wild herbivores and domestic livestock shape the habitat by grazing (WWF 2006). Almost 70 percent of this biome is located in the Afrotropical biogeographic realm, nearly 20 percent in the Neotropic realm and 10.5 percent in Australasia (Table 1, Map 4).
Biome 8 – Temperate grasslands, savannahs and shrublands This biome is known as prairie in North America, pampas in South America, veld in Southern Africa and steppe in Asia. It differs in annual temperature regime from biome 7 and is generally devoid of trees. However, some regions are characterized by interspersed trees or riparian or gallery forests. As for biome 7, large grazing mammals naturally occur here (WWF 2006). Over 46 percent of the biome’s extent can be found in the Palearctic and nearly 31 percent in the Nearctic realm. 16 percent appear in the Neotropic realm and 6 percent in Australasia. Very little is found in the Afrotropic realm (Table 1, Map 4).
Biome 10 – Montane grasslands and shrublands This biome includes montane and alpine grasslands and shrublands, e.g. the puna and páramo in South America, subalpine heathlands in New Guinea and East Africa and steppes of the Tibetan plateaus (WWF 2006). Nearly two-thirds is located in the Palearctic realm, 17 percent of the biome’s extent is found in both the Afrotropic and Neotropic realms (Table 1, Map 4).
Biome 12 – Mediterranean forest, woodlands and scrub Only five regions in the world, spread across five different realms, experience Mediterranean conditions: the Mediterranean basin, south-central and southwestern Australia, the fynbos of southern Africa, the Chilean matorral and the Mediterranean ecoregions of California. Mediterranean species are adapted to tolerate long, hot
15 Methods summers with little precipitation. Most plants found in this biome are fire-adapted, including species dependent on fire for their persistence (WWF 2006). The Mediterranean Basin, in the Palearctic realm, represents approximately 64 percent of the biome’s global extent. Another 25 percent is found in Australasia (Table 1, Map 4).
Table 1: Percentage of biomes 17, 8, 10, 12 and 13 in each biogeographic realm
Biome Realm percentage 7: Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannahs and shrublands AA 10.96 AT 69.04 IM 0.17 NA 0.38 NT 19.69 OC 0.02 8: Temperate grasslands, savannahs and shrublands AA 6.23 AT 0.25 NA 30.68 NT 16.18 PA 46.65 10: Montane Grasslands and Shrublands AA 1.30 AT 16.58 IM 0.08 NT 16.78 PA 65.26 12: Mediterranean forests, woodlands and scrub AA 25.02 AT 2.98 NA 3.76 NT 4.62 PA 63.63 13: Deserts and xeric shrublands AA 12.79 AT 8.60 IM 3.89 NA 8.30 NT 4.21 PA 62.20
16 Methods
Map 4: Extent of biomes 7, 8, 10, 12 and 13
2.3 Spatial data analysis
All calculations were executed in world cylindrical equal area projection using ArcGIS v.9.
First, the WWF terrestrial ecoregions and aridity zone datasets were overlaid in order to identify the parts of the selected biomes for which P/PET ≥ 0.65. These areas were to be considered for potential inclusion in the PoW, in addition to the zones for which P/PET < 0.65 (Map 5). The remainder of the analysis was undertaken at the ecoregional level. 300 ecoregions are nested within the five selected biomes. The percentage of each ecoregion situated within the four ‘standard’ dryland zones was calculated.
Different sources were consulted in order to gather information about these 300 ecoregions. A general profile of every ecoregion is provided by WWF on the National Geographic website (http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial. html). In addition, WWF provides scientific reports on the ecoregions on its website (http://www.worldlife.org/science/ecoregions.cfm) and, for certain realms, in scientific publications. Where the WWF descriptions of the ecoregions did not contain all the required information, additional literature was consulted (see Annex 6).
17 Methods
These sources were used to filter the ecoregions concerned, using the following predefined criteria on the absence or presence of dryland features:
Annual precipitation The precipitation values have only orientation character, as they do not provide details about the (inter)annual variability and the potential evaporation. A threshold was therefore not set. Annual precipitation values can nevertheless be useful: for instance, a high value in this category does not automatically justify a classification of the ecoregion concerned as ‘presumed excluded’. Ecoregions within the P/PET ratio < 0.65 also shows high values (see Annex 1 - 5 for further details).
Duration/existence of the dry season, occurrence of drought SBSTTA mentions explicitly water stress, at least during part of the year, as a defining characteristic for areas that are included in the CBD PoW (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/5/9). For instance, periodic drought is a typical characteristic of natural grassland and savannah ecosystems (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/4/7; White et al. 2000) and it is therefore crucial for the classification of the filtered ecoregions.
Fire Fire occurs naturally in many drylands (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/5/9). Grassland and savannah ecosystems are maintained, inter alia, by fire (White et al. 2000) and Mediterranean ecosystems show adaptations to fire (see above).
Main vegetation types
Vegetation types The WWF descriptions of the ecoregions provide information about the vegetation types found here. For this study, they have been grouped as follows: − Grassland, meadow, steppe, prairie − Savannah − Shrubland, scrubs − Woodland, forest − Heathland, moorland
Wetlands Whilst wetlands in drylands can be of conservation interest, a prevalence of wetlands indicates that the ecoregion is not relevant to the PoW.
18 Methods
To enable an objective comparison and characterization of the ecoregions in each selected biome, information on the above characteristics was tabulated. Comments have been included where the basic information is insufficient for classification (see Annexes 1 - 4). Numerals and symbols have been used to indicate the absence or presence of dryland features within an ecoregion (see Annex 6).
The areas of an ecoregion within hyperarid, arid, semiarid and dry subhumid zones are always assumed relevant to the CBD PoW (‘included by definition’). Therefore, the classification applies only to cold or humid zones within an ecoregion.
However, even those ecoregions which fall completely or nearly completely within the zone with P/PET ratio < 0.65 have been included in this exercise to serve as a reference and orientation for the classification process. After screening every ecoregion, the characteristics of ecoregions within the same biome were compared among each other and with the reference ecoregions. As a consequence, it was finally decided whether the areas of an ecoregion with the P/PET ratio ≥ 0.65: - Would probably be included within the CBD PoW, as dryland features are generally present (‘presumed included’ on the maps, and ‘1’ in the inclusion column of the tables) - Would probably be excluded from the CBD PoW, as dryland features are largely absent (‘presumed excluded’ on the maps, and ‘0’ in the inclusion column of the tables) - can neither be classified as ‘presumed included’ nor as ‘presumed excluded’, as relatively few dryland features are present (‘to review’ on the maps, and ‘?’ in the inclusion column of the tables). The ecoregions concerned need to be reviewed in order to eliminate uncertainty in the overall classification.
19 Results
3. Results
As Table 2 and Map 5 illustrate, a considerable area of the selected biomes has a P/PET ratio ≥ 0.65. Approximately 40 percent of the world’s Mediterranean, savannah and grassland ecosystem types (biomes 7, 8, 10 and 12) are located outside the four aridity zones commonly defined as drylands. As expected, deserts and xeric shrublands are almost completely located within these four zones. Montane grasslands and shrublands show the least overlap: only 27.7 percent of their extent lies within the four zones. This biome can mainly be found in cold climates.
Table 2: Percentage of biomes in hyperarid, arid, semiarid and dry subhumid zones
Percentage of Biome biome within P/PET < 0.65
7: Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannahs and schrublands 54.16
8: Temperate grasslands, savannahs and shrublands 81.79
10: Montane Grasslands and Shrublands 27.7.
12: Mediterranean forests, woodlands and scrub 78.34
13: Deserts and xeric shrublands 98.15
Biomes 7, 8, 10, 12, 13 75.88
Biomes 7, 8, 10, 12 59.82
The maps 6 – 14 visualize the results of the delineation approach. Map 6 illustrates the results on a global scale without labelling each analysed ecoregions, whilst maps 7 – 14 provide a more detailed visualization for each realm. Areas that have been classified as ‘presumed excluded’ or ‘to review’ are labelled with the ecoregion name. For clarity, areas falling within the categories ‘included by definition’ and ‘presumed included’ have not been labelled. When necessary, the ecoregion boundaries are included to illustrate the proportion of the ecoregion with P/PET ratio ≥ 0.65. Humid zones and cold climates are shown in yellow.
20 Results
21 Results
Map 6: Global delineation of areas in relation to the CBD PoW on Dry and Subhumid Lands
22 Results
Biome 7 – Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannahs and shrublands
Nearly 46 percent of the world’s tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannahs and shrublands have P/PET ≥ 0.65. Most of the ecoregions included could be classified as ‘presumed included’ or ‘presumed excluded’ by comparing their characteristics with those of the reference ecoregions. Most were categorized as relevant to the PoW (‘presumed included’).
Two large ecoregions, the ‘Western Gulf coastal grasslands’ in the Nearctic (Map 11) and the ‘Beni savannah’ in the Neotropic realm (Map 12) are presumed excluded from the PoW because of their noticeable wetland character. The marshes of the ‘Llanos’ ecoregion in the Neotropic realm (Map 12) were classified in the same way for identical reason (see Annex 1 for further details).
Some ecoregions could not be explicitly classified. In the Afrotropic realm, these ecoregions are transition zones or ecotones between rainforest and savannah habitats (Map 5). These transitional habitats have some characteristics in common with the ‘true dryland’ ecoregions (presence of some dryland features as dry season, drought or fire), but the presence of rain forest makes classification difficult (see Annex 1 for further details).
In the Neotropic realm, the large ecoregions ‘Humid Chaco’ and ‘Uruguayan savannah’ could not be categorized. The latter experiences droughts resulting from very irregular rainfall, but has no annual dry season. Rainfall usually occurs throughout the year and the ecoregion descriptions do not mention natural fires (Dinerstein, E. et al. 1995; Mutch 2001). The classification of the ‘Humid Chaco’ is uncertain because it contains wetlands and flooded savannahs, but is recognised as transitional between arid Chaco and tropical humid forest (Dinerstein, E. et al. 1995).
The ‘Terai-Duar savannah and grasslands’ ecoregion within the Indo-Malay realm at the base of the Himalayas experiences annual monsoon floods and therefore could not be categorized as relevant to the PoW (Wikramanayake, E. et al. 2002).
23 Results
Biome 8 – Temperate grasslands, savannahs and shrublands
This biome is well represented in the four aridity zones commonly defined as drylands. Only approximately 18 percent of its extent lies in humid zones or cold climates (Table 2, Map 4). Areas of six of the biome’s 43 ecoregions could not be categorized for several reasons:
The ‘Central forest-grasslands transition’ in the Nearctic realm separates deciduous forests in the east from prairies in the west (Map 11). The ecoregion presents clear dryland features, like drought and natural fire, but the ecotonal character of the region makes a distinct classification difficult.
In the Neotropic realm, parts of two ecoregions could not be classified (Map 12). The ‘Humid Pampas’ are dominated by grasslands, but the rainfall throughout the year, numerous wetlands and lack of natural fire question any classification as dryland. The ‘Argentine Espinal’ does also not show sufficient dryland features to enable a clear classification (see Annex 2 for further details).
In the case of the ‘Sayan Intermontane Steppe’ in the Palearctic realm (Map 13), the literature consulted did not contain sufficient information.
Biome 10 – Montane grasslands and shrublands
The categorization of the ecoregions within this major habitat type was the most challenging. Nearly 70 percent of the ecoregions within this biome (35 out of 51) could neither be classified as ‘presumed excluded’ nor as ‘presumed included’. Only 6 out of 51 ecoregions within two realms (Palearctic and Neotropic) are entirely located in one of the four arid zones (P/PET < 0.65). Therefore, the ‘reference pool’ is very restricted.
In Australasia, for instance, the ecoregion ‘Australian Alps Montane grasslands’ has the dryland feature ‘natural fire’, but on the other hand has high precipitation levels. Drought occurs during the winter months, because snow falls rather than rain.
16 out of the 35 unclassifiable ecoregions are found in the Palearctic realm (Maps 13, 14). These ecoregions are almost completely situated in cold climates and high mountains/alpine zones (to a high extent Himalaya and Tibetan Plateau). In general, these cold regions include polar and tundra areas, certain high mountains and plateaus (Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity 2001). The CBD PoW explicitly
24 Results does not apply to polar and tundra regions but it does not state whether high mountains and plateaus are included (UNEP/CBD/COP/5/23, Decision V/23). According to the first Global Biodiversity Outlook (Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity 2001), cold regions differ ecologically from other non-humid areas. They have temperatures below freezing for a period long enough to restrict or prevent plant growth. They can be described as ‘dry’ in the sense that liquid water is unavailable for a significant part of the year (Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity 2001). This is reflected in the ecoregions’ characteristics. Their precipitation scheme is mainly characterized by snowfall, so that drought is a common phenomenon (combined with low precipitation on the Tibetan Plateau), and snow cover (see Annex 3 for further details). The following question arises in this context: Are ‘cold dry’ areas covered by the PoW?
Biome 12 – Mediterranean forests, woodlands and scrub
The CBD PoW explicitly covers all Mediterranean areas (UNEP/CBD/COP/5/23, Decision V/23). Nevertheless, all ecoregions within this biome were filtered according to the predefined criteria. The analysis shows that the characteristics of the areas with a P/PET ratio ≥ 0.65 do meet or resemble those of the reference ecoregions which are entirely located within the four aridity zones commonly defined as drylands (see Annex 4 for further details).
Biome 13 – Deserts and xeric shrubs
This biome includes 96 ecoregions. Some ecoregions within this biome extend beyond the P/PET ratio < 0.65 and lie in cold or humid zones (Map 5). For instance, 26.4 percent of the ‘Deccan thorn scrub forests’ in the Indo-Malay realm (Map 10) and one third of the ‘Central Mexican matorral’ in the Neotropic realm (Map 11) are located within the humid zone (see Annex 5 for further details). The cold climate deserts and xeric shrubs are located in the Palearctic realm (Map 3, Map 5).
These areas, which represent 1.9 % of the biome’s extent (Table 2), are obviously relevant to the CBD PoW and to the JWP between the two conventions. Hence, they should be taken into consideration and were therefore classified as ‘presumed included’, as dryland features are present throughout each ecoregion.
25 Results
Map 7: Delineation of areas in relation to the CBD PoW on Dry and Subhumid Lands, Afrotropic I
26 Results
Map 8: Delineation of areas in relation to the CBD PoW on Dry and Subhumid Lands, Afrotropic II
27 Results
Map 9: Delineation of areas in relation to the CBD PoW on Dry and Subhumid Lands, Australasia
28 Results
Map 10: Delineation of areas in relation to the CBD PoW on Dry and Subhumid Lands, Indo-Malay
29 Results
Map 11: Delineation of areas in relation to the CBD PoW on Dry and Subhumid Lands, Nearctic
30 Results
Map 12: Delineation of areas in relation to the CBD PoW on Dry and Subhumid Lands, Neotropic
31 Results
Map 13: Delineation of areas in relation to the CBD PoW on Dry and Subhumid Lands, Palearctic I
32 Results
Map 14: Delineation of areas in relation to the CBD PoW on Dry and Subhumid Lands, Palearctic II
33 Conclusions
4. Conclusions
The classification of dryland areas, and hence their extent, has major implications for the scope of the CBD PoW on Dry and Subhumid Lands. 41.5 percent of the global terrestrial area is included in the PoW by definition, being situated in hyperarid, arid, semiarid or dry subhumid zones. Depending on the definition of drylands, the PoW could encompass up to 52.3 percent of the global land surface (see table below). While the UNCCD defines 34.9 percent of the global terrestrial area as drylands, the CBD PoW would include additional 6.6 to 17.4 percent.
The difference in extent with the UNCCD drylands definition is even more prominent for some individual biogeographic realms, especially the Afrotropic, the Neotropic and the Palearctic realms (Maps 7, 8, 12, 13 and 14):
The PoW covers 53.5 percent of the Palearctic by definition, approximately 17 percent more than under the UNCCD definition. This is mostly due to the inclusion of the hyperarid Sahara desert. Another 7 percent of the realm would be added if all the areas earmarked ‘presumed included’ and ‘to review’ (Maps 13, 14) were covered by the PoW. This 7 percent covers a large area, because the Palearctic realm is by far the most extensive realm (Map 3), covering nearly 36 percent of the world’s terrestrial area.
For the Neotropic and the Afrotropic realms, there is only a minor difference between the UNCCD dryland extent and the area included by definition under the CBD PoW (1.3 and 3.4 percent respectively), as there are few hyperarid zones here (Map 2). As Table 3 and maps 7, 8, and 12 illustrate, the categories ‘presumed included’ and ‘to review’ occupy a large amount of each realm: 30.2 percent of the Afrotropic and 20.8 percent of the Neotropic. The inclusion of these areas under the CBD PoW would have major effects on its scope.
The coverage of the UNCCD drylands and the PoW potential dryland areas in the Australasian, Indo-Malay and Nearctic realm differs to a small extent only.
The Oceanic realm was not considered within this calculation because only very small dryland areas are involved (Annex 1).
34 Conclusions
Table 3: Percentage of the global terrestrial area, and of each biogeographic realm, defined as dryland using different dryland definitions % of global % of % of % of % of % of % of Dryland extent terrestrial Australasia Afrotropic Indo-Malay Nearctic Neotropic Palearctic area
UNCCD definition: 34,88 73,29 49,50 27,25 31,92 27,95 36,94 P/PET 0.05 - 0.65
included by CBD PoW definition: 41,52 73,29 52,87 27,39 32,06 29,24 53,50 P/PET < 0.65
P/PET < 0.65 + 'presumed 47,39 78,19 70,41 28,45 34,12 43,73 55,49 included'
P/PET < 0.65 + 'presumed 52,25 79,48 83,03 28,84 35,68 50,03 60,61 included' + 'to review'
35 References
References
Bailey, R.G. (1995): Description of the Ecoregions of the United States. 2d ed. Miscellaneous Publication 1391. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. Washington, DC. 108 p.
Burgess, N. et al. (2004): Terrestrial Ecoregions of Africa and Madagascar: A Conservation Assessment. Island Press, Washington, DC. 499 p.
Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2007): The World Factbook. Country Profile of Guinea. Washington, DC. https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/gv.html#Geo Accessed 12 January 2007
Davis, S.D. et al. (eds.) (1997): Centres of Plant Diversity: A Guide and Strategy for Their Conservation. Volume 3: The Americas. IUCN Publications Unit, Cambridge, England. South America, Peruvian Puna, Peru. http://www.nmnh.si.edu/botany/projects/cpd/sa/sa33.htm Accessed 12 January 2007
Dinerstein, E. et al. (1995): A Conservation Assessment of the Terrestrial Ecoregions of Latin America and the Caribbean. World Bank, Washington, DC. 129 p.
ESRI (1993): Digital Chart of the World (DCW). Redlands, California, USA.
Gill, A.M. et al. (1999): Australia's Biodiversity - Responses to Fire. Plants, Birds and Invertebrates. Biodiversity Technical Paper, No. 1. Australian Government. Department of the Environment and Heritage. http://www.deh.gov.au/biodiversity/publications/technical/fire/fab-fireregimes.html Accessed 12 January 2007
Hong Jiang et al. (1995): The Ordos Plateau of China. In: Kasperson, J.X. et al. (eds.) (1995): Regions at risk: comparisons of threatened environments. United Nations University Press, Tokyo, New York, Paris. Chapter 9. http://www.unu.edu/unupress/unupbooks/uu14re/uu14re11.htm Accessed 12 January 2007
LADA, WRI (2004): LADA Pilot Study: Application of an Ecosystem Approach to Degradation Assessment of Drylands in Argentina. 49 p.
Middleton, N.J., Thomas, D.S. (eds.) (1992): World Atlas of Desertification. Arnold, London.
Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (2005): Ecosystem and Human Well-being: Desertification Synthesis. World Resources Institute, Washington, DC. 26 pp.
Mc Nab, W.H., Avers, P.E (1994): Ecological Subregions of the United States. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. Washington, DC. http://www.fs.fed.us/land/pubs/ecoregions/toc.html Accessed 12 January 2007
36 References
Mutch, R.W. (2001): South America Region fire assessment. Introduction and briefs on Uruguay and Venezuela. In: FRA Global Forest Fire Assessment 1990-2000. Forest Resources Assessment Programme, Working Paper 55, pp. 454-456. FAO, Rome, 495 p. http://www.fire.uni-freiburg.de/programmes/un/fao/Wp55_eng.pdf Accessed 12 January 2007
Monasterio, M., Molinillo, M. (2003): Venezuela. In: Hofstede, R. Et al. (eds.): Los Páramos del mundo. Proyecto Atlas Mundial de los Páramos. Global Peatland Initiative / NC-IUCN / EcoCiencia. Quito. pp. 205-236. Los Páramos en Venezuela: http://www.condesan.org/Ppa/Vzla.htm Accessed 12 January 2007
Mulongoy, J.K., Zeidler, J. (2003): Dry and Sub-Humid Lands Programme of Work of the Convention on Biological Diversity: Connecting the CBD and the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. In: RECIEL, Vol. 12 No. 2, pp. 164-175.
Olson, D.M. et al. (2001): Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World: A New Map of Life on Earth. In: BioScience, Vol. 51 No. 11, pp. 933-938. Washington, DC.
Penalba, O.C., Robledo, F.A. (2005): Frequency of precipitation in the humid pampa of Argentina. University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. At the15th Conference on Applied Climatology, 23 June 2005. American Meteorological Society, Boston. Session 7: Applied Climatology in Agriculture and Natural Resources. http://ams.confex.com/ams/pdfpapers/91034.pdf Accessed 12 January 2007
Ricketts, T.H. et al. (1999): Terrestrial Ecoregions of North America: A Conservation Assessment. Island Press, Washington, DC. 485 p.
Rivas, J.A. et al. (2002): The llanos. pp: 265-273. In Mittermeier, R.A. (ed.) Wildernesses. CEMEX, Mexico. http://pages.prodigy.net/anaconda/llanos.htm Accessed 12 January 2007
Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (2001): Global Biodiversity Outlook. Montreal.
Shulman, D. (1996): Wildfires in Mongolia. United States Forest Service. Kernville, California, USA. In: IFFN No. 15 - September 1996, p. 30-35. http://www.fire.uni-freiburg.de/iffn/country/mn/mn_2.htm Accessed 12 January 2007
Udvardy M.D.F. (1975): A classification of the biogeographical provinces of the world. International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. IUCN Occasional Paper no.18. Morges, Switzerland. 50 p.
UNCCD (1994): United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in those countries experiencing serious drought and/or desertification. Paris.
UNEP/CBD/COP/5/23, Decision V/23 (2000): Consideration of options for conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity in dryland, Mediterranean, arid, semiarid, grassland and savannah ecosystems. (Annex 1 – Programme of Work on Dry and Sub-humid Lands). Nairobi, Kenya.
37 References
UNEP/CBD/COP/7/INF/28 (2004): Joint Work Programme (JWP) between the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Secretariat of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification on the biological diversity of dry and sub-humid lands. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/4/7 (1999): Assessment of the status and trends and options for conservation and sustainable use of terrestrial biological diversity: dryland, Mediterranean, arid, semiarid, grassland and savannah ecosystems. Montreal, Canada.
UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/5/9 (1999): Biological Diversity of Dryland, Mediterranean, Arid, Semiarid, Grassland and Savannah Ecosystems: Options for the Development of a Programme of Work. Montreal, Canada.
UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA11/4/Add.1 (2005): Status and trends of, and threats to, dry and sub-humid lands biological diversity. Montreal, Canada.
UNEP/GRID (1991): Global digital datasets for land degradation studies: A GIS approach. Prepared by Deichmann, U., Eklundh, L. GRID Case Study Series No. 4. UNEP/GEMS and GRID. Nairobi, Kenya. 103 pages. Both the source climate data and advice on the production of all climate surfaces were obtained from the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia (CRU/UEA), U.K.
White, R.P. et al. (2002): An Ecosystem Approach to Drylands: Building Support for New Development Policies. World Resources Institute. Information Policy Brief No. 1, Washington, DC. 14 pp. http://pdf.wri.org/drylands_ecosystem_approach.pdf Accessed 16 September 2006
Wikramanayake, E. et al. (2002): Terrestrial Ecoregions of the Indo-Pacific: A Conservation Assessment. Island Press, Washington, DC. 644 p.
WWF-US (2001a): Conservation Science. Australasia. Ecoregions document in process of peer review. http://www.worldwildlife.org/science/ecoregions/australasia.cfm Accessed 12 January 2007
WWF-US (2001b): Conservation Science. Afrotropic. Ecoregions document in process of peer review. http://www.worldwildlife.org/science/ecoregions/afrotropic.cfm Accessed 12 January 2007
WWF-US (2001c): Conservation Science. Indo-Malay. Ecoregions document in process of peer review. http://www.worldwildlife.org/science/ecoregions/indo_malayan.cfm Accessed 12 January 2007
WWF-US (2001d): Conservation Science. Nearctic. Ecoregions document in process of peer review. http://www.worldwildlife.org/science/ecoregions/nearctic.cfm Accessed 12 January 2007
38 References
WWF-US (2001e): Conservation Science. Neotropic. Ecoregions document in process of peer review. http://www.worldwildlife.org/science/ecoregions/neotropic.cfm Accessed 12 January 2007
WWF-US (2001f): Conservation Science. Oceania. Ecoregions document in process of peer review. http://www.worldwildlife.org/science/ecoregions/oceania.cfm Accessed 12 January 2007
WWF-US (2001g): Conservation Science. Palearctic. Ecoregions document in process of peer review. http://www.worldwildlife.org/science/ecoregions/palearctic.cfm Accessed 12 January 2007
WWF-US (2001h): WildWorld Ecoregion Profiles. Australasia. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial_aa.html Accessed 12 January 2007
WWF-US (2001i): WildWorld Ecoregion Profiles. Afrotropic. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial_at.html Accessed 12 January 2007
WWF-US (2001j): WildWorld Ecoregion Profiles. Indo-Malay. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial_im.html Accessed 12 January 2007
WWF-US (2001k): WildWorld Ecoregion Profiles. Nearctic. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial_na.html Accessed 12 January 2007
WWF-US (2001l): WildWorld Ecoregion Profiles. Neotropic. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial_nt.html Accessed 12 January 2007
WWF-US (2001m): WildWorld Ecoregion Profiles. Oceania. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial_oc.html Accessed 12 January 2007
WWF-US (2001n): WildWorld Ecoregion Profiles. Palearctic. http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial_pa.html Accessed 12 January 2007
WWF-US (2004): Terrestrial Ecoregions of the World Database, Version 2.0. Washington, DC.
WWF (2006): Selection of terrestrial ecoregions. http://www.panda.org/about_wwf/where_we_work/ecoregions/about/habitat_type s/selecting_terrestrial_ecoregions/index.cfm Accessed 5 January 2007
39 Annex 1: Classification of ecoregions within biome 7 – Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannahs and Shrublands I Eco_code Ecoregion_name 0,65 < P/PET in % Precipitation mm/a season_months dry fire vegetation main type grassland_meadow _ steppe_prairie savanna shrubland_scrubs woodland_forest heathland_moorlan d wetland Inclusion Comments AA0701 Arnhem Land tropical 35,92 1200-1800 7 m nearly 1, 2 eucalyptus 1, [2]1 111!1eucalyptus forest intermixed with patches of savanna (gradient S rain-free; + a forest rainforest; annual wet season floods to N) drought AA0702 Brigalow tropical savanna 82,34 500-750 drought fire Acacia 1111crops, livestock grazing; pockets of dry rainforest + a woodlands/s crubs AA0703 Cape York tropical savanna 16,22 800-2400 6 m; drought 1, 2 eucalyptus 1 11116 % rainforest: ~ 20 % of the national extent of (gradient S + a woodland rainforest occurs on the Cape York Peninsula, to N) concentrated on the east coast; livestock grazing
AA0704 Carpentaria tropical savanna 93,54 500-750 drought 1 1111patches of monsoon rain forest;cattle livestock + a grazing AA0705 Einasleigh upland savanna 50,48 730-1000 seasonally fire a 11 1rainforest patches; livestock grazing dry
AA0706 Kimberly tropical savanna 98,95 600-1400 6 m 1 111/rainforest patches; livestock grazing + a AA0707 Mitchell grass downs 100,00 350-750 long dry 1 grasslands 1 1 1 / livestock grazing season, + a drought AA0708 Trans Fly savanna and 10,47 ? dry season 1 grasslands 1 1 1 1 comparable to Northern Australia grasslands o AA0709 Victoria Plains tropical 100,00 600-1200 7 m 1 11[1]/rainforest patches; overgrazing savanna + a AT0701 Angolan Miombo woodlands 5,14 800-1400 several 1, 2 savannas, 1, 2 1 1 [1] 1 b, n months dry woodlands season, drought
Annex 1: Classification of ecoregions within biome 7 – Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannahs and Shrublands II Eco_code Ecoregion_name < 0,65 % in P/PET Precipitation mm/a season_months dry fire main vegetation type grassland_meadow _ steppe_prairie savanna shrubland_scrubs woodland_forest heathland_moorlan d wetland Inclusion Comments AT0702 Angolan Mopane woodlands 82,64 400-600 drought 1 1 1 1 1 1 b, n AT0703 Ascension scrub and 0,00 709 0 0 1 1 0 grasslands (93 km2) n AT0704 Central Zambezian Miombo 3,13 1000-1200 7 m drought 1,2 savannas, 11 1 11agriculture woodlands b, n woodlands AT0705 East Sudanian savanna b, n 65,02 600-1000 5 m 1,2 1 1 1 agriculture
AT0706 Eastern Miombo woodlands 5,28 800-1200 6 m drought 1,2 1 1 agriculture, overgrazing b, n AT0707 Guinean forest-savanna 29,75 1000-1200 dry, 1 savanna 1 1 1 1 ? transitional habitat, ecotone; predominantly mosaic n tropical; 6 savanna habitat with forest patches that run m c along rivers and streams AT0708 Itigi-Sumbu thicket n 45,09 500 and 7 m 1 1 1 1400
AT0709 Kalahari Acacia-Baikiaea 99,42 300-600 4 m; 1,2 1 1 / livestock grazing woodlands o drought (every 7 y) AT0710 Mandara Plateau mosaic n 100,00 800-1000 6 m 1,2 1 1 / crops, livestock grazing
AT0711 Northern Acacia-Commiphora 67,80 200-600 drought 1 1 1 1 1 1 overgrazing, desertification! bushlands and thickets n
AT0712 Northern Congolian forest- 11,33 1200-1600 dry season 1,2 1, 2 1 1 ? transition zone between rain forests and savanna mosaic n grasslands; abrupt habitat discontinuity between extensive Congolian rain forests and Sudanian/Sahelian grasslands; lowland rain forest in southern part (drier, semi-evergreen type), dry forest in northern parts
Annex 1: Classification of ecoregions within biome 7 – Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannahs and Shrublands III Eco_code Ecoregion_name % inP/PET < 0,65 Precipitationmm/a season_months dry fire vegetation main type grassland_meadow _ steppe_prairie savanna shrubland_scrubs woodland_forest heathland_moorlan d wetland Inclusion Comments AT0713 Sahelian Acacia savanna n 99,84 200-600 6-8 m 1,2 1 1 /
AT0714 Serengeti volcanic 1,25 550-1050 7 m, drought 1,2 1 1 livestock grazing grasslands n AT0715 Somali Acacia-Commiphora 97,26 100-600 drought ? woodlands, 1111livestock grazing bushlands and thickets n scrubs
AT0716 Southern Acacia- 16,37 600-800 3 m 1,2 1 1 1 1 agriculture, livestock grazing Commiphora bushlands and thickets n AT0717 Southern Africa bushveld n 82,06 350-750 dry season 1 1 1 livestock grazing
AT0718 Southern Congolian forest- 0,00 ? 1,2 1,2 1 1 1 ? agriculture; mix of lowland rain forest, dry forest, savanna mosaic n and secondary grassland AT0719 Southern Miombo woodlands 36,20 600-800 7 m, drought 1 woodlands 1 1 1 1 1 overlivestock grazing b, n AT0720 St. Helena scrub and 0,00 152 drought ? 2 2 [1] natural vegetation: gumtree forest; overgrazing woodlands (130 km2) n AT0721 Victoria Basin forest-savanna 0,73 ? ? ? 2 1 [1] 1! ? species from west African forest ecosystems mosaic n converge with those from east African forest- savanna mosaics; forest habitats replaced by savanna, farmland, pasture
AT0722 West Sudanian savanna n 90,67 600-1000 dry season 1 savanna 1 1 1 crops, livestock grazing several m
Annex 1: Classification of ecoregions within biome 7 – Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannahs and Shrublands IV Eco_code Ecoregion_name < 0,65 P/PET % in mm/a Precipitation season_months dry fire main vegetation type grassland_meadow _ steppe_prairie savanna shrubland_scrubs woodland_forest heathland_moorlan d wetland Inclusion Comments AT0723 Western Congolian forest- 3,02 ? ? ? 1 1 1 ? dry and moist forest savanna mosaic n AT0724 Western Zambezian 19,08 800-1000 6 m 1, 2 1 1 1 1 livestock grazing grasslands n AT0725 Zambezian and Mopane 67,67 450-710 6 m 1 1 1 1 livestock grazing woodlands b, n AT0726 Zambezian Baikiaea 79,54 400-600 6 m 1 dry forest 2 1 1 1 woodlands n (800) IM0701 Terai-Duar savanna and 37,47 dry season 1 1 1 1 1 ? river: flooding, annual monsoon floods; agriculture grasslands o NA0701 Western Gulf coastal 38,80 300 ? 1, 2 1 1! 0 agriculture, grazing. Louisiana Coast Prairies and grasslands q Marshes (232 E), Eastern Gulf Prairies and Marshes (231F), Central Gulf Prairies and Marshes (255D): 620 to 1,400 mm, water table high in many areas, resulting in poor natural drainage and an abundance of wetlands. Palustrine systems are abundant and have seasonally high water levels. Along the coast, fluvial deposition and shore zone processes are active in developing and maintaining beaches, swamps, and mud flats. Poorly drained areas along the coast support freshwater and saltwater marsh vegetation of sedges, rushes, saltgrass, and cordgrass. Vegetation: Prairie grasslands dominate areas inland from the coast and consist of little bluestem, indiangrass, switchgrass, and big bluestem. (Occasional areas of live oak are present). An abundance of palustrine systems are present, having seasonally high water level. Fire and ocean tides have probably been the principal historical disturbance. Climatic influences include occasional hurricanes. d
Annex 1: Classification of ecoregions within biome 7 – Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannahs and Shrublands V Eco_code Ecoregion_name %in P/PET < 0,65 mm/a Precipitation season_months dry fire main vegetation type grassland_meadow _ steppe_prairie savanna shrubland_scrubs woodland_forest heathland_moorlan d wetland Inclusion Comments NT0701 Arid Chaco e, p ? 350-650 dry season 1 1 1 1 1 1 overgrazing; desertification!; boundaries; 68°, 66°; 28°, 33°; NT0210 in WWF terrestrial ecoregions database NT0702 Beni savanna p 1,26 1300-2000 dry season 1, 2 1 1 1! 0 6 m humid season: flooding covering 50-60 % of the area for 4-10 m; analogues: Pantanal, Everglades; grazing; patches of humid forest NT0703 Campos Rupestres montane 25,65 ? 3-4 m 1, 2 1 1 1 cerrado patches; altitude 700-2000 m; livestock savanna p grazing NT0704 Cerrado p 7,64 1250-2000 5-6 m, 1 cerrado 1111 11mosaic of habitat types: wet and dry forests, drought vegetation grasslands and savannas, marshes and (savanna- wetlands, gallery forests and shrublands; like), 95 % agriculture, livestock grazing NT0705 Clipperton Island shrub and 0,00 0 grasslands (29 km2) p NT0706 Córdoba montane savanna p 0,00 500-900 ? ? 1 1
NT0707 Guyanan savanna p 0,00 2000-3000 4 m, 1,2 savanna 1 1 1 1 1 The susceptibility to fire and its lasting effects are droughts not typical of a humid tropical forest environment; these can only be explained by very particular conditions of ecological instability: reduced ability of the ecosystem to withstand external impacts (fire, extreme droughts), unfavorable internal factors (oligotrophic and hydric stress).The main consequence of this instability has been originated the gradual (ancient and recent) degradation of remaining forest, and its substitution by savannas
NT0708 Humid Chaco p 14,24 750-1300 ? ? 1 1 1 1 ? flooded savannas, bogs, marshes; transition zone: arid chaco and tropical humid forest; livestock grazing Annex 1: Classification of ecoregions within biome 7 – Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands, Savannahs and Shrublands VI Eco_code Ecoregion_name 0,65 < P/PET % in Precipitationmm/a season_months dry fire type vegetation main grassland_meadow_ steppe_prairie savanna shrubland_scrubs woodland_forest heathland_moorland wetland Inclusion Comments NT0709 Llanos p 56,10 800-2500 3-5 m, 1,2 savanna 1 1 1 seasonally flooded lowland savannas; Colombia (gradient drought. lowland and Apure draining (slope in NE) to the from NE to Seasonality Orinoco River; flooded savannas mainly in SW) less marked Venezuela (35 % of Llanos in Venezuela are towards S: seasonally flooded); most flooded area is the middle part (Apure in Venezuela); grazing; dry season erased polygon: marshes in Apura 2 m f
NT0210 Chaco p, classified as Biome 7 in GIS; boundaries: 65°, 56°; 17°, 31°
NT0710 Uruguayan savanna p 0,00 1000-1300 drought 2 g grasslands 1 1 1 1 ? rainfall distributed throughout the year, characterized by great variations between years. There is no marked rainy season. Great irregularity of rainfall: droughts and floods. sub humid climate: potential evapotranspiration in summer is greater than precipitation, which causes water deficiencies in the soil. The annual potential evaporation is 1,200 mm in the N and 1,000 mm in the S and is maximum in the months of 12 and 01 and minimum in 06; overgrazing; agriculture r
OC0701 Hawaii tropical high 0,00 ? ? 1 1 1 ? 1848 km2; alpine deserts; overgrazing shrublands q OC0702 Hawaii tropical low shrublands 0,00 ? ? 1 1 1 ? 1518 km2 q OC0703 Northwestern Hawaii scrub q 0,00 700-1100 ? 1 ? 15 km2
Annex 2: Classification of ecoregions within biome 8 – Temperate Grasslands, Savannahs and Shrublands VII Eco_code Ecoregion_name % in P/PET < 0,65 Precipitationmm/a season_months dry fire main vegetation type grassland_meadow_ steppe_prairie savanna shrubland_scrubs woodland_forest heathland_moorland wetland Inclusion Comments AA0801 Canterbury-Otago tussock 0,00 to 500 tendency 2 grassland 1,2 1 1 1 ? grasslands towards drought AA0802 Eastern Australia mulga 100,00 450-650 1 woodland,sh 1111/ shrublands rublands
AA0803 Southeast Australia 93,38 300-500 1 1 1 1 temperate savanna
AT0801 Al Hajar Al Gharbi montane 100,00 300-350 1/ woodlands n (2000m) AT0802 Amsterdam and Saint-Paul 0,00 1114 1 1 0 69 km2 Islands temperate grasslands n AT0803 Tristan Da Cunha-Gough 0,00 1676 and 1 1 1 0 167 km2 Islands shrub and grasslands 3397 n NA0801 California Central Valley 87,24 2 grassland 1 1 1 1 1 agriculture, livestock grazing grasslands q NA0802 Canadian Aspen forests and 96,23 375-700 1 1 1 1 1 transitional ecoregion: extensive boreal- parklands b, q grassland transition; ; erased polygon: Lake Winnipego NA0803 Central and Southern mixed 80,48 drought 1 grassland 1 1 1 ecotone grasslands b, q NA0804 Central forest-grasslands 21,59 600-1040 drought 1 1 1 1 1 1 ? ecotone; separates Eastern Deciduous transition q Forests from the tallgrass and mixed grass prairies; one of the most converted of U.S. ecoregions (corn, soybeans)
Annex 2: Classification of ecoregions within biome 8 – Temperate Grasslands, Savannahs and Shrublands VIII Eco_code Ecoregion_name < 0,65 % in P/PET Precipitation mm/a season_months dry fire main vegetation type grassland_meadow_ steppe_prairie savanna shrubland_scrubs woodland_forest heathland_moorland wetland Inclusion Comments NA0805 Central tall grasslands b, q 9,69 1000 drought 1 grassland 1 1 most converted ecoregion (fertile soils: corn, soybeans), cornbelt NA0806 Edwards Plateau savanna b,q 100,00 drought 1 1, 2 1 2 / corn, soybean; fire suppression
NA0807 Flint Hills tall grasslands b,q 0,44 drought 1 grassland 1 1 livestock grazing, crops
NA0808 Montana Valley and Foothill 99,62 425 drought 1 grassland 1 [1] / livestock grazing, crops grasslands b NA0809 Nebraska Sand Hills mixed 99,51 drought 1 grassland 1 1 / livestock grazing grasslands b NA0810 Northern mixed grasslands b, 97,50 325-450 drought 1 grassland 1 1 1 1 ecotone, agriculture q NA0811 Northern short grasslands b, 100,00 drought 1 grassland 1 1 / livestock grazing, wheat q NA0812 Northern tall grasslands b,q 89,10 450-700 drought 1 grassland 1 1 1 1 agriculture
NA0813 Palouse grasslands b, q 91,27 drought 1 grassland 1 1 wheat; erased polygon: lake Winnipego
NA0814 Texas blackland prairies b,q 70,90 drought 1 grassland 1 1 1
NA0815 Western short grasslands b, q 100,00 drought [1] grassland 1 2 / livestock grazing, crops
NT0801 Argentine Espinal p 48,38 high N: summer ? deciduous 1 1 1 1 1! ? considered as impoverished southern average rain shrubland- continuation of chaco region; agriculture precip. forest NT0802 Argentine Monte p 99,99 80-250 ? ? scrublands 1 1 1 1 / overgrazing, agriculture, fuelwood; desertification!
NT0803 Humid Pampas p 6,72 NE: 1600 rain 2 grassland 1 1 1! ? many lagoons with fresh and salt water; mm, SW: throughout overgrazing, agriculture 700 mm h the year
Annex 2: Classification of ecoregions within biome 8 – Temperate Grasslands, Savannahs and Shrublands IX Eco_code Ecoregion_name < 0,65 % in P/PET mm/a Precipitation dry season_months fire main vegetation type grassland_meadow_ steppe_prairie savanna shrubland_scrubs woodland_forest heathland_moorland wetland Inclusion Comments NT0804 Patagonian grasslands p 0,00 200-300 drought 1 grass- 1 1 1 1! no records in WWF terrestrial ecoregions cold and steppe, database under NT0804, but included in humid intersperse NT0805; livestock grazing, desertification! d with shrubs NT0805 Patagonian steppe p 90,56 to 200 drought 1 cold desert 1 1 1 overgrazing, desertification! scrub steppe NT0806 Semi-arid Pampas p 0,00 700 dry season ? grassland 1 1 1 no records in ecoregions database under NT0806, but included in NT0802, NT0801; agriculture, livestock grazing PA0801 Alai-Western Tian Shan 100,00 300-600 ? ? steppe 1 1 1 / crops, livestock grazing; desertification! steppe b PA0802 Altai steppe and semi-desert 96,08 drought 1 steppe, 1 1 1 1 livestock grazing; erased polygon: Lake b shrubs Ozero Zaysan
PA0803 Central Anatolian steppe b 100,00 300-500 drought ? salt steppe 1 1! / salt steppes and lakes as principal formations; agriculture
PA0804 Daurian forest steppe b 70,20 150 drought 1,2 1 1 1 1 1 livestock grazing
PA0805 Eastern Anatolian montane 78,36 400-600 0 0 steppe 1 1 1 1 agriculture, overgrazing; erased polygon: steppe b Lake Van Gölü PA0806 Emin Valley steppe b 100,00 100-400 drought 1 1 1 /
PA0807 Faroe Islands boreal 0,00 ? ? ? 1 0 1400 km2 grasslands
Annex 2: Classification of ecoregions within biome 8 – Temperate Grasslands, Savannahs and Shrublands X Eco_code Ecoregion_name < 0,65 % in P/PET Precipitation mm/a season_months dry fire main vegetation type grassland_meadow_ steppe_prairie savanna shrubland_scrubs woodland_forest heathland_moorland wetland Inclusion Comments PA0808 Gissaro-Alai open woodlands 83,89 500-2000 ? ? 1 1 1 foothill semideserts, alpine meadows, b (gradient E combined with characteristic mountain to W) forests; agriculture, livestock grazing PA0809 Kazakh forest steppe b 97,71 300-400 periodical 1,2 1 1! 1 agriculture, livestock grazing; erased droughts polygon: Lake Ozero Chany
PA0810 Kazakh steppe b 100,00 250-300 drought 1 steppe 1 1 1 / agriculture, livestock grazing
PA0811 Kazakh upland b 100,00 150-390 ? ? 1 1 1 1 / unusual overlap in the range of boreal, steppe and desert fauna; agriculture, livestock grazing PA0812 Middle East steppe b 100,00 <250 drought ? open shrub 1 1 1 1 / combination of arid steppe and riverine steppe habitat; agriculture, livestock grazing
PA0813 Mongolian-Manchurian 90,79 150-400 drought ? grassland 1 1 1 1 1 overgrazing grassland b PA0814 Pontic steppe b 95,17 250-500 drought 1 grasslands 1 1 1 1! 1 erased polygons: 3 lakes
PA0815 Sayan Intermontane steppe 0,00 low ? ? 1 1 ? lakes; surrounded by mountain forest; large precipitation depression; agriculture, livestock grazing ; frost; snowfall limited PA0816 Selenge-Orkhon forest 10,38 400-500 dry climate 1,2 i dry steppe 1 1 ? transitional zone: taiga and steppe; steppe b vegetation coniferous forest on the cooler, moist (88%) northern slopes; agriculture PA0817 South Siberian forest steppe 97,94 ? drought ? 1 1 1 1 agriculture, overgrazing; erased polygon: lake
PA0818 Tian Shan foothill arid steppe 89,38 ? ? ? 1 1 1 1 1 overgrazing
Annex 3: Classification of ecoregions within biome 10 – Montane Grasslands and Shrublands XI Eco_code Ecoregion_name < 0,65 P/PET % in mm/a Precipitation season_months dry fire type vegetation main grassland_meadow_ steppe_prairie savanna shrubland_scrubs woodland_forest heathland_moorland wetland Inclusion Comments AA1001 Australian Alps montane 0,00 to 3800 winter 1 1 111?Rainfall decreases at lower elevations and in grasslands drought: east (rain concentrated in summer) snow cover AA1002 Central Range sub-alpine 0,00 ? ? ? 1 1 1 1 1 ? tropical evergreen forest; snow and ice fields grasslands o AA1003 South Island montane 0,00 ? ? ? 1 1 1 1 ? snow and ice fields grasslands
AT1001 Angolan montane forest- 0,00 1200-1600 Rainfall in 2 open 1,2 1 1 1 ? grassland mosaic n summer, grassland precip. from with trees mists most and shrubs of the year
AT1002 Angolan scarp savanna and 52,30 400-800 escarpment: 1 11103 vegetation zones. (1): north of Cuanza River, woodlands n (coast), rain; mist: (gra mosaic of tall, tropical gallery forest and tall 1600 year-round ssla grassland, interdigitated by mangrove and swamp (escarpment moisture nds communities (2): discontinuous series of semi- s in E) in N deciduous humid forest patches along the higher slopes of the escarpment. (3): south of Cuanza River: arid to semi-arid undifferentiated woodlands and wooded grasslands on the Coastal Belt and lower slopes of the escarpment; excluding eastern part: humid forest
AT1003 Drakensberg alti-montane 0,00 1000; high ?1 1 11?livestock grazing, agriculture grasslands and woodlands n winter snowfall
Annex 3: Classification of ecoregions within biome 10 – Montane Grasslands and Shrublands XII Eco_code Ecoregion_name < 0,65 P/PET % in mm/a Precipitation season_months dry fire type vegetation main grassland_meadow_ steppe_prairie savanna shrubland_scrubs woodland_forest heathland_moorland wetland Inclusion Comments AT1004 Drakensberg montane 24,46 450-1100 Cold and 1,2 grassland 1 1 1 ? Afromontane forest previously widespread, now grasslands, woodlands and (1900); little wet only small patches; overgrazing, agriculture forests n snow, conditions; severe frost drought: Lesotho Plateau, rain shadow
AT1005 East African montane 0,00 ? ? 2 ? mountain-top: alpine areas; livestock grazing moorlands n AT1006 Eastern Zimbabwe montane 0,00 741-2997; 3 m 1 grassland 1 1 1 ? complex mosaic of different vegetation types: forest-grassland mosaic n rainy and relict moist evergreen forest (previously more foggy widespread); dry montane forest (more climate widespread), sclerophyllous forest, miombo woodlands, tree savanna
AT1007 Ethiopian montane 14,98 1600 (2500) ? ? [1], 2 1 1 ? natural vegetation: mixture of closed forest in grasslands and woodlands n areas with higher rainfall; grassland, bushland, and thicket in other lower rainfall areas; livestock grazing, crops
AT1008 Ethiopian montane 0,00 1000-2500 2-10 m 21[1]1?livestock grazing, agriculture moorlands n (SW, N); frosts AT1009 Highveld grasslands n 18,89 400-900; 1; summer 11 1altitude 1400-1800 m; agriculture, livestock frosts rain grazing
AT1010 Jos Plateau forest-grassland 0,60 1500-2000 1 1 1 1 1 ? savanna woodland as climax ecotone; S and W mosaic n escarpments: relict patches of rain forest; agriculture
Annex 3: Classification of ecoregions within biome 10 – Montane Grasslands and Shrublands XIII Eco_code Ecoregion_name % in P/PET < 0,65 Precipitation mm/a season_monthsdry fire main vegetation type grassland_meadow_ steppe_prairie savanna shrubland_scrubs woodland_forest heathland_moorland wetland Inclusion Comments AT1011 Madagascar ericoid thickets n 0,00 to 2500 ? [1:lig 11 ? livestock grazing htnin g],2
AT1012 Maputaland-Pondoland 13,00 450-800 6 m (25 % 0 bushland, -1 1 1 ? lines watercourses that drain into the Indian bushland and thickets n of thicket Ocean; replacing forest in areas protected from precipitation fire, but where rainfall is relatively low; ); frostfree overgrazing, agriculture AT1013 Ruwenzori-Virunga montane 0,00 ? 0 0 1 1 1 1 1! ? glaciers, snow fields; These unusual moorlands moorlands n are rare in the world, found only in east and central Africa, New Guinea, and the northern Andes (where they are called páramo)
AT1014 South Malawi montane forest- 0,00 1626-2859 6 m (to 19 1111?lowland rainforest; agriculture; grassland mosaic n % of precip.)
AT1015 Southern Rift montane forest- 0,00 1500 4 m 1 grassland 1 1 1 1 ? agriculture grassland mosaic n IM1001 Kinabalu montane alpine 0,00 ? ? ? 1 1 1 ? agriculture meadows o NT1001 Central Andean dry puna 58,45 < 400 7-8 m 1 j, 2 11[1]11altitude > 3500 m; livestock grazing b, e, p NT1002 Central Andean puna b, e, p 47,17 400-800 j; 5 m j; 1 j, 2 grasslands 1 1 [1] 1 1 Connecting wet puna in N and W with dry puna snow droughts, in S; altitude 3200-6600 m; livestock grazing capped frosts peaks
Annex 3: Classification of ecoregions within biome 10 – Montane Grasslands and Shrublands XIV Eco_code Ecoregion_name < 0,65 % in P/PET mm/a Precipitation season_months dry fire vegetation main type grassland_meadow _ steppe_prairie savanna shrubland_scrubs woodland_forest heathland_moorlan d wetland Inclusion Comments NT1003 Central Andean wet puna n 22,33 800-1500; 1-2 m j; 1 j, 2 11 1?wet montane grasslands; altitude > 3500 m; snow, hail; frosts livestock grazing snow capped peaks j NT1004 Cordillera Central páramo n 37,59 600-1000 ?1, 211 11wet montane, wet scrublands; dry paramo; (1400); cold shrubby alpine grassland; altitude 3200-4500 m; and wet overgrazing
NT1005 Cordillera de Merida páramo n 1,76 700-1500; ?; severe 1?, 2 1 1 1 dry paramo; alpine and open bunchgrass snow fields fluctuations communities; altitude > 3000m; livestock grazing k in humidity NT1006 Northern Andean páramo n 4,96 ? ? 1?, 2 1 1 1 diversity of vegetation types, all sharing páramo vegetation; high alpine grasslands, bunchgrass, bogs, and open meadows;dry paramo; livestock grazing, farming
NT1007 Santa Marta páramo n 100,00 1250; 1800 ?? 11 1!/humid paramo; during rainy season, depressions NW; snow become acid bogs; altitude 3300-5000 m; on peaks; livestock grazing, agriculture fog, mist
NT1008 Southern Andean steppe 14,88 200-600; 1? 11 11extreme dry conditions; eastern limit is the b, e, n frost, snow, transition to the lower altitude and warmer hail Argentine Monte desert; altitude 1500-6000 m NT1009 Zacatonal n ? temperate ?2 11[1]0no records in WWF terrestrial ecoregions subhumid database under NT1010; livestock grazing, agriculture; 306 km2
NT1010 High Monte b, e, n 77,01 1
Annex 3: Classification of ecoregions within biome 10 – Montane Grasslands and Shrublands XV Eco_code Ecoregion_name 0,65 < P/PET % in mm/a Precipitation season_months dry fire type vegetation main grassland_meadow_ steppe_prairie savanna shrubland_scrubs woodland_forest heathland_moorland wetland Inclusion Comments PA1001 Altai alpine meadow and 30,13 250-500 0 0 1 1 1 ? represents a complete sequence of altitudinal tundra b vegetation zones in central Siberia including steppe, forest-steppe, mixed forest, sub-alpine vegetation and alpine vegetation; alpine meadows and tundra; livestock grazing
PA1002 Central Tibetan Plateau 6,07 200-400 cold, dry steppe 1 1 ? no forest: plateau above the 10° isotherm; alpine steppe b and windy altitude 3500-6000 m climate PA1003 Eastern Himalayan alpine 0,00 300-3500; 5 ?? 11 ?altitude 4000-5500 m shrub and meadows o m SW- monsoon PA1004 Ghorat-Hazarajat alpine 100,00 ? drought ? 1 [1] / lower areas: flooded with snowmelt in spring; meadow livestock grazing
PA1005 Hindu Kush alpine meadow 42,43 precipitation ?? 111?altitude 3000-4000 m : snow
PA1006 Karakoram-West Tibetan 0,96 200-900 ? ? grasslands 1 1 1 ? glaciers; overgrazing Plateau alpine steppe b, o (90% snow)
PA1007 Khangai Mountains alpine 0,00 > 400; ice ? 1 1 1 1 ? meadow vegetation: short bushes, thickets, meadow tundra with lichen and moss; plant species characteristic of Siberian taiga forest and Mongolian steppe; altitude 2350-2800 m; overgrazing
PA1008 Kopet Dag woodlands and 100,00 300 1 1 1 / mountainous shrub-like Mediterranean xeric forest steppe woodlands; overgrazing
PA1009 Kuhrud-Kohbanan Mountains 100,00 100 1 ? forest 11/overgrazing forest steppe steppe
Annex 3: Classification of ecoregions within biome 10 – Montane Grasslands and Shrublands XVI Eco_code Ecoregion_name 0,65 < P/PET % in Precipitation mm/a season_months dry fire type vegetation main grassland_meadow_ steppe_prairie savanna shrubland_scrubs woodland_forest heathland_moorland wetland Inclusion Comments PA1010 Mediterranean High Atlas 55,63 hot, dry 11?, 21 1 1northern slopes altitude >3600 m: snow cover >7 juniper steppe n winds; months; overgrazing snow; rain in winter PA1011 North Tibetan Plateau-Kunlun 10,31 20-50: snow very short 01[1]?alpine vegetation: meadow, steppe, cold desert, Mountains alpine desert b or non- sub-nival cushion plant communities; no forest: existent plateau above 10° isotherm; altitude 3500-6000 growing m; livestock grazing season, severe drought; 9- 10 m minus temperature s
PA1012 Northwestern Himalayan 13,62 little arid to semi- ?11?overgrazing alpine shrub and meadows o precipitation arid : winter, spring; snow
PA1013 Ordos Plateau steppe 98,32 160-400 l drought ? 1 1 1 / sandy dunes with desert plants; grazing, agriculture
PA1014 Pamir alpine desert and 14,76 40-150; drought ? 1 ? grasslands and semi-deserts; no forest: plateau tundra snow, rain above 10° isotherm; strong phytogeographic affinity to the adjoining Tibetan Plateau; overgrazing, desertification!
PA1015 Qilian Mountains subalpine 4,12 ? 1 ? 1 1 ? northeastern corner of Tibet-Qinghai Plateau; meadows glaciated peaks; livestock grazing
Annex 3: Classification of ecoregions within biome 10 – Montane Grasslands and Shrublands XVII Eco_code Ecoregion_name % in < 0,65 P/PET mm/aPrecipitation season_monthsdry fire main vegetation type grassland_meadow_ steppe_prairie savanna shrubland_scrubs woodland_forest heathland_moorland wetland Inclusion Comments PA1016 Sayan Alpine meadows and 2,74 thick ?? 1 ?moss-lichen tundra; overgrazing tundra snowcover PA1017 Southeast Tibet shrub and 15,19 >500 summer ?11?cold desert, sub-nival cushion; eastern part of the meadows b drought Tibet-Qinghai Plateau; no forest: plateau above 10° isotherm; habitat similar to the alpine regions of the Eastern Himalaya; altitude 3500-6000 m; livestock grazing
PA1018 Sulaiman Range alpine 100,00 <225; Rainfall in ?111/altitude 1600-3500 m; overgrazing meadows o snow, rain every month
PA1019 Tian Shan montane steppe 53,50 100-800; drought ?11?intercept moist arctic air from NW, especially and meadows snow stress at during winter; overgrazing lower altitudes PA1020 Tibetan Plateau alpine shrub 9,76 400-500 ? ? 1 [1] ? transition zone: wet sedge meadows of eastern and meadows b Tibet merge with semi-arid steppes and cold deserts of western part of the Tibetan Plateau; altitude 4000-4500 m; no trees plateau above the 10° isotherm; livestock grazing
PA1021 Western Himalayan alpine 0,00 1500-1900; 00 11 ?25 % bare rock and ice;altitude 3000-5000 m; shrub and meadows o snow livestock grazing
PA1022 Yarlung Tsangpo arid steppe 0,00 200-500 ? ? 1 1 [1] ? Tibetan Plateau; no forest: plateau above the b 10° isotherm; altitude 3500-6000 m
Annex 4: Classification of ecoregions within biome 12 – Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands and Scrub XVIII Eco_code Ecoregion_name < 0,65 in P/PET % mm/a Precipitation season_months dry fire vegetation main type grassland_meadow _ steppe_prairie savanna shrubland_scrubs woodland_forest heathland_moorlan d wetland Inclusion Comments AA1201 Coolgardie woodlands 100,00 ? 2 a 11 / AA1202 Esperance mallee 99,96 summer 1 shrublands 1 / drought AA1203 Eyre and York mallee 99,28 350-600 summer 1111/ drought AA1204 Jarrah-Karri forest and 26,65 to 1400 marked 2 evergreen 1111evergreen forests can be very moist in winter, shrublands (coast) summer forest but lack the abundant epiphytes, liverworts, drought ferns, and mosses that characterize rainforest, probably due to the dry summer season AA1205 Swan Coastal Plain Scrub 60,43 summer 11111variety of vegetation, from coastal dunes and and Woodlands drought sandplains to woodlands AA1206 Mount Lofty woodlands 95,32 400-900 summer 1111 drought AA1207 Murray-Darling woodlands 99,78 250-400 summer 1 woodlands 1 1 / and mallee drought AA1208 Naracoorte woodlands 49,39 400 (north) most rain 2 a sclerophyll 1111!1Low topography coupled with high rainfall to 850 falling in forest, results in many areas being waterlogged part (south) winter woodland of the year. An extensive series of freshwater lagoons lies behind the coastal foredunes along the southern part of the coastline; excluding south?
AA1209 Southwest Australia savanna 99,81 summer 2 a 11 1 1 drought AA1210 Southwest Australia 58,91 635-1300 pronounced 2 a forest 1 1 woodlands summer drought AT1201 Albany thickets n 98,83 250-550 summer 1 shrublands 1 / drought
Annex 4: Classification of ecoregions within biome 12 – Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands and Scrub XIX Eco_code Ecoregion_name < 0,65 % in P/PET mm/a Precipitation season_months dry fire main vegetation type grassland_meadow _ steppe_prairie savanna shrubland_scrubs woodland_forest heathland_moorlan d wetland Inclusion Comments AT1202 Lowland fynbos and 72,98 250-2000 summer 1 shrubs 1 1 renosterveld n drought AT1203 Montane fynbos and 82,07 300-2000 ? 1 shrubs 1 1 renosterveld n (3000) NA1201 California coastal sage and 95,05 150-500 summer 1,2 shrubland, 11111 chaparral q drought (2- oak 4 m) woodland NA1202 California interior chaparral 61,47 250-1280 summer 1 oak 1 111 11 and woodlands q (1790) m drought (2- savannas, 4 m) chaparral NA1203 California montane chaparral 99,83 310-1020 m summer 1 1 1 1 / mosaic of shrubland, woodland, and woodlands q drought (2- forest, alpine habitats 4 m) NT1201 Chilean matorral p 72,50 summer 2 scrubs 1 1 1 drought
PA1201 Aegean and Western Turkey 56,96 600-1350 summer ? Maquis 11 1 sclerophyllous and mixed drought (evergreen forests shrubs and pine) PA1202 Anatolian conifer and 66,15 400-600 summer ? pine forest, 11 1 deciduous mixed forests drought pine and oak woodlands and PA1203 Canary Islands dry 70,43 100-650 ? 2 1 1 1 1 woodlands and forests
Annex 4: Classification of ecoregions within biome 12 – Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands and Scrub XX Eco_code Ecoregion_name < 0,65 in P/PET % mm/a Precipitation season_months dry fire vegetation main type grassland_meadow _ steppe_prairie savanna shrubland_scrubs woodland_forest heathland_moorlan d wetland Inclusion Comments PA1204 Corsican montane broadleaf 19,15 short 2 forest 1 1 1 and mixed forests summer drought PA1205 Crete Mediterranean forests 79,90 300-1400 drought forest 2 1 1 1
PA1206 Cyprus Mediterranean forests 99,46 300-1100 summer 2 forest 2 1 1 / drought
PA1207 Eastern Mediterranean 95,55 400-1250 summer 21111 conifer-sclerophyllous- drought broadleaf forests PA1208 Iberian conifer forests 100,00 1100 (1500) ? 2 forest 1 /
PA1209 Iberian sclerophyllous and 87,55 300-850 summer 21111 semi-deciduous forests drought
PA1210 Illyrian deciduous forests 0,00 1500-2000 summer ? forest 1 1 1 (3000) drought
PA1211 Italian sclerophyllous and 7,00 to 1800 summer 2 forest 2 1 1 semi-deciduous forests drought
PA1212 Mediterranean acacia- 99,80 100-500 ? ? 1 1 / argania dry woodlands and succulent thickets PA1213 Mediterranean dry woodlands 92,11 100-300 summer ?1111 and steppe drought
PA1214 Mediterranean woodlands 83,20 350-800 summer ? forest 1 1 1 and forests drought
Annex 4: Classification of ecoregions within biome 12 – Mediterranean Forests, Woodlands and Scrub XXI Eco_code Ecoregion_name 0,65 < in P/PET % mm/a Precipitation season_months dry fire vegetation main type grassland_meadow _ steppe_prairie savanna shrubland_scrubs woodland_forest heathland_moorlan d wetland Inclusion Comments PA1215 Northeastern Spain and 24,62 350-800 summer 2 forest 1 1 1 Southern France drought Mediterranean forests PA1216 Northwest Iberian montane 23,72 500-1000 summer 2 forest 2 1 1 forests drought PA1217 Pindus Mountains mixed 25,57 1200-2000 summer ? forest 1 1 forests drought (shorter than lowland) PA1218 South Appenine mixed 27,28 to 2200 summer 2 forest 1 1 1 montane forests drought (shorter than lowland) PA1219 Southeastern Iberian shrubs 90,30 200-250 summer ?111 and woodlands drought
PA1220 Southern Anatolian montane 75,89 800-2000 summer ? forest 1 1 conifer and deciduous forests drought
PA1221 Southwest Iberian 65,12 450-900 summer 2 forest 1 1 1 1 Mediterranean sclerophyllous drought and mixed forests
PA1222 Tyrrhenian-Adriatic 70,62 400-1200 summer 2 forest 1 1 1 1 sclerophyllous and mixed drought forests
Annex 5: Percentage of ecoregions within biome 13 (Deserts & xeric Shrublands) in P/PET < 0.65 XXII
Eco_code Ecoregion_name % in P/PET < 0,65
AA1301 Carnarvon xeric shrublands 99,40
AA1302 Central Ranges xeric scrub 100,00
AA1303 Gibson desert 100,00
AA1304 Great Sandy-Tanami desert 100,00
AA1305 Great Victoria desert 100,00
AA1306 Nullarbor Plains xeric shrublands 100,00
AA1307 Pilbara shrublands 99,69
AA1308 Simpson desert 98,30
AA1309 Tirari-Sturt stony desert 96,63
AA1310 Western Australian Mulga shrublands 100,00
AT1301 Aldabra Island xeric scrub n 0,00
AT1302 Arabian Peninsula coastal fog desert n 94,82
AT1303 East Saharan montane xeric woodlands n 100,00
AT1304 Eritrean coastal desert n 99,40
AT1305 Ethiopian xeric grasslands and shrublands n 99,36
AT1306 Gulf of Oman desert and semi-desertn 97,31
AT1307 Hobyo grasslands and shrublands n 93,80
AT1308 Ile Europa and Bassas da India xeric scrub n 0,00
AT1309 Kalahari xeric savanna n 100,00
AT1310 Kaokoveld desert n 95,61
AT1311 Madagascar spiny thickets n 89,21
AT1312 Madagascar succulent woodlands n 92,22
AT1313 Masai xeric grasslands and shrublands n 97,61
AT1314 Nama Karoo n 99,22
AT1315 Namib desert n 99,98
AT1316 Namibian savanna woodlands n 95,12
AT1318 Socotra Island xeric shrublands n 87,78
AT1319 Somali montane xeric woodlands n 99,44
AT1320 Southwestern Arabian foothills savanna n 99,94
AT1321 Southwestern Arabian montane woodlands n 100,00
AT1322 Succulent Karoo n 99,67
IM1301 Deccan thorn scrub forests o 73,62
IM1302 Indus Valley desert 100,00
IM1303 Northwestern thorn scrub forests 99,69
IM1304 Thar desert 100,00
Annex 5: Percentage of ecoregions within biome 13 (Deserts & xeric Shrublands) in P/PET < 0.65 XXIII
Eco_code Ecoregion_name % in P/PET < 0,65
NA1301 Baja California desert q 98,78
NA1302 Central Mexican matorral q 65,95
NA1303 Chihuahuan desert q 100,00
NA1304 Colorado Plateau shrublands q 99,00
NA1305 Great Basin shrub steppe (erased polygon: lake) q 96,97
NA1306 Gulf of California xeric scrub q 96,71
NA1307 Meseta Central matorral q 97,50
NA1308 Mojave desert q 100,00
NA1309 Snake-Columbia shrub steppe q 96,94
NA1310 Sonoran desert q 99,22
NA1311 Tamaulipan matorral q 100,00
NA1312 Tamaulipan mezquital q 100,00
NA1313 Wyoming Basin shrub steppe q 98,38
NT1301 Araya and Paria xeric scrub p 71,82
NT1303 Atacama desert p 98,91
NT1304 Caatinga p 95,91
NT1305 Caribbean shrublands p 0,00
NT1306 Cuban cactus scrub p 34,62
NT1307 Galápagos Islands xeric scrub p 88,04
NT1308 Guajira-Barranquilla xeric scrub p 98,93
NT1309 La Costa xeric shrublands p 99,99
NT1311 Malpelo Island xeric scrub p 0,00
NT1312 Motagua Valley thornscrub p 0,00
NT1313 Paraguana xeric scrub p 99,97
NT1314 San Lucan xeric scrub q 98,91
NT1315 Sechura desert p 85,34
NT1316 Tehuacán Valley matorral q 0,00
NT1318 St. Peter and St. Paul rocks p 0,00
PA1301 Afghan Mountains semi-desert 87,83
PA1302 Alashan Plateau semi-desert 99,32
PA1303 Arabian Desert and East Sahero-Arabian xeric shrublands 99,99
PA1304 Atlantic coastal desert n 99,86
PA1305 Azerbaijan shrub desert and steppe 71,31
PA1306 Badghyz and Karabil semi-desert 100,00
PA1307 Baluchistan xeric woodlands 99,95
Annex 5: Percentage of ecoregions within biome 13 (Deserts & xeric Shrublands) in P/PET < 0.65 XXIV
Eco_code Ecoregion_name % in P/PET < 0,65
PA1308 Caspian lowland desert 93,72
PA1309 Central Afghan Mountains xeric woodlands 100,00
PA1310 Central Asian northern desert 96,26
PA1311 Central Asian riparian woodlands 95,48
PA1312 Central Asian southern desert 99,73
PA1313 Central Persian desert basins 99,64
PA1314 Eastern Gobi desert steppe 100,00
PA1315 Gobi Lakes Valley desert steppe 77,85
PA1316 Great Lakes Basin desert steppe 69,90
PA1317 Junggar Basin semi-desert (erased polygon: lake) 98,67
PA1318 Kazakh semi-desert 98,71
PA1319 Kopet Dag semi-desert 100,00
PA1320 Mesopotamian shrub desert 100,00
PA1321 North Saharan steppe and woodlands n 100,00
PA1322 Paropamisus xeric woodlands 94,18
PA1323 Persian Gulf desert and semi-desert 97,32
PA1324 Qaidam Basin semi-desert 62,68
PA1325 Red Sea Nubo-Sindian tropical desert and semi-desert 99,92
PA1326 Registan-North Pakistan sandy desert 100,00
PA1327 Sahara desert (erased polygon: lake) n 99,82
PA1328 South Iran Nubo-Sindian desert and semi-desert 98,92
PA1329 South Saharan steppe and woodlands n 100,00
PA1330 Taklimakan desert 98,97
PA1331 Tibesti-Jebel Uweinat montane xeric woodlands n 100,00
PA1332 West Saharan montane xeric woodlands n 100,00
PA1333 Red Sea coastal desert n 99,75
Annex 6: Explanations to Annexes 1 - 5 XXV
Symbols within the tables 0 In general: Dryland feature does not occur within the ecoregion Inclusion column: areas with the P/PET ratio ≥ 0.65 are ‘presumed excluded’ from the CBD PoW on Dry and Subhumid Lands 1 In general: Dryland feature/vegetation type occurs naturally within the concerned ecoregion Inclusion column: areas with the P/PET ratio ≥ 0.65 are ‘presumed included’ in the CBD PoW on Dry and Subhumid Lands 2 Anthropogenic dryland feature/vegetation type occurs within the concerned ecoregion [ ] Dryland feature/vegetation type occurs naturally within the concerned ecoregion, but to a restricted extent / Ecoregion is entirely situated in zones with the ratio P/PET < 0.65. Hence, no parts need to be defined as ‘presumed excluded’ or ‘presumed ‘included’ ? In general: The consulted sources did not contain information about dryland features within the concerned ecoregions. Inclusion column: areas with the P/PET ratio ≥ 0.65 need to be reviewed. They do not show enough dryland features for an inclusion in the CBD PoW. These ecoregions are highlighted in light yellow.
Abbreviations within the tables m months N North E East S South W West precip. precipitation
Annex 6: Explanations to Annexes 1 - 5 XXVI
Characters within the tables A Gill, A. M. et al. (1999) b area mentioned in: UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA11/4/Add.1 (2005) c Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2007) d Mc Nab, W.H., Avers, P.E (1994) e area mentioned in: LADA, WRI (2004) f Rivas, J. A. et al. (2002) g Mutch, R.W. (2001) h Penalba, O.C., Robledo, F.A. (2005) i Shulman, D. (1996) j Davis, S.D. et al. (eds.) (1997) k Monasterio, M., Molinillo, M. (2003) l Hong Jiang et al. (1995) m Bailey, R. G. (1995) n Burgess, N. et al. (2004) o Wikramanayake, E. et al. (2002) p Dinerstein, E. et al. (1995) q Ricketts, T.H. et al. (1999)