Current Status, Problems and Prospects of Conservation of Meadow Steppes in the Nizhny Novgorod Region

The meadow steppe of the Nizhny Novgorod region is an endangered ecosystem, which is associated with a significant part of the biological diversity in the region. It covers now not more than 1.5% of the former area. At the same time, the steppes are inhabited by more than 100 wildlife species listed in the regional Red Book. Using GIS methods we have developed a technique that allowed us to identify about 14,000 potential steppe sites. In 2013-14, according to obtained data an inventory of steppes was carried out. About 50% of the potential sites identified with use of GIS methods were surveyed. Almost all the areas with a high probability of steppe ecosystems remained were examined. At least 90% of remained meadow steppes have been discovered. In order to monitor the steppe ecosystems, 29 most significant sites were re-examined in 2019. A total of 136 slopes of ravines and gullies with a total area of 9732 hectares were identified, where plant communities with the dominance of steppe species are represented. The land areas ranged from 1.4 ha to 454 ha, and the share of steppe associations ranged from 0.1% to 80%. Changes in the species composition and number of steppe plants in the region are characterized. About 15% of the area of the Nizhny Novgorod meadow steppes are protected as 8 natural monuments of regional significance, another 20% are on lands that are reserved by the regional government as the regional protected areas. It is planned to increase the share of the preserved steppe areas, which have legal protection, to 85% of their area. The trend of factors leading to degradation of steppe ecosystems and recognising as limiting for steppe wildlife species is analyzed. It is proposed to implement a program of restoration of pasture cattle breeding to solve the problem of the meadow steppe ecosystem conservation in the Nnizhny Novgorod region.