Simultaneous Monitoring of Livestock Distribution and Desertification

In the arid and semi-arid regions of Northeast Asia, grassland degradation has become a major environmental and economic problem, so sustainable utilization of resources is crucial in terms of not only supporting the local and animal production but also thinking about the global environment. Especially in Mongolia and North China, grassland degradation has mainly been induced by artificial factors such as overgrazing by livestock, inadequate management of arable land and uncontrolled cutting of trees for fuel. In particular, overgrazing is one of the main causes of grassland degradation, and conservation and sustainable use of the grasslands can be achieved by proper grazing management to match carrying capacity estimates. How, though, can we achieve the ability to maintain valuable ecosystems and sustainable livestock farming at the same time? Satellite remote sensing and the Geographic Information System (GIS) are two of the most powerful tools to assist in grazing management. There is an increasing number of development analysis tools that can aid in collecting data on seasonal changes in grazing behavior over long-term periods. Quantitative assessment methods for monitoring spatial and temporal distributions of grazing animals at a regional scale are required in studies designed to determine the driving causes of desertification. This paper first reviews previous studies monitoring desertification through the use of remote sensing and tools for assessing livestock distribution, and then discusses current developments and future perspectives of remote sensing of grasslands in Northeast Asia.