Northwest of Ulaan Baatar, Mongolia Photograph by Tomokazu Okada   Central Asia: Northern central Mongolia, stretching slightly into southern Russia Temperate Grasslands, Savannas, and Shrublands   87,900 square miles (227,600 square kilometers) -- about twice the size of Louisiana Vulnerable

· Grass, Hills, and Forests
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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Grass, Hills, and Forests

Emerald green hills alternate between taiga (open coniferous forests) and grasslands in this ecoregion, which lies in the lower land areas skirting the Yablonovyy Range in Russia and the Khangay Mountains that rise from its center in Mongolia. This unique ecoregion supports large populations of birds, mammals, and vegetation.

Special Features

Here, rolling hills and mountains form the boundary between the taiga forests to the north and the Central Asian grasslands to the south. Because this is a transitional zone, steppe vegetation and taiga vegetation are scattered throughout the ecoregion. On cooler northern slopes, mostly elm and larch trees grow. On the southern side, where the sun shines hottest, the environment more closely resembles steppe, with sparse grasses and shrubs.

	The great bustard is a large bird that inhabits grasslands from Portugal to Manchuria. It is an easy-going species that takes frequent dust baths but never washes with water. A male bustard is non-territorial and will mate with several females in a single area.

Wild Side

Przewalski’s horse, the last living ancestor of domestic horses, once roamed this ecoregion freely before becoming nearly extinct in the wild. Small captive-reared herds of these wild horses have recently been reintroduced to the area. They share the land with roe deer and elk, while avoiding predators such as wolves. Northern three-toed woodpeckers tap away at dead trees, while great bustards, large prairie birds, roam the grasslands searching for sumptuous young shoots and insects.

Cause for Concern

Rapid population growth, urbanization, and the spread of agriculture all threaten this ecoregion.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.