Artemisia, the largest rangeland ecosystem in Iran

Artemisia spp. occupy millions of hectares of natural habitats in the country and is considered the largest rangeland ecosystem in Iran. The dependence of various plant and animal communities on these habitats confirms their high capacity, and comprehensive management in these habitats is of utmost importance. Planning in the field of rangeland ecosystem management requires basic information in these areas. According to the results, Artemisia species are distributed in about 34 million hectares of steppe and semi-steppe regions of Iran, covering about 21% of the country's land area. Artemisia sieberi and Artemisia aucheri are the most abundant Artemisia species in Iran. Unfortunately, in recent years, the drying up of Artemisia spp. has been observed in many parts of the country, mainly due to overgrazing and successive droughts. These habitats are very sensitive and fragile due to the harsh habitat conditions. Climate change, overgrazing, and land-use change are very important in determining the fate of these habitats. Artemisia lands classification with grazing management approach is an inappropriate and imposed view and has neglected the real potential of these habitats. However, the results of various studies conducted in these areas show that the average forage production in these ecosystems is very low and about 150 kg/ha. This valuation with the view of forage supply prevents the adoption of an appropriate strategy in the country's livestock system to supply the energy needed by livestock. Therefore, due to the fragility of these ecosystems and the services that these natural areas provide to the country, it is necessary to review their management to use the real potential in preserving biodiversity and protecting water and soil.