“This is a well compiled, readable book with a wealth of information. … Having brought all these researchers from the numerous countries together in one volume, this can certainly be a major step towards a more consistent and integrated approach in the future. The presentation is very pleasant, with many coloured photos and maps, well-structured tables and diagrams.” (Jürgen Dengler, Bulletin of the European Dry Grassland Group, Issue 21, December, 2013)

“Part of the Springer Plant and Vegetation series, this volume covers one of the largest biomes in the world. … the book is part of a series on vegetation, and certainly the field botanist or environmental scientist concerned with these steppe eco-systems or interested in their conservation will find a wealth of rich material. … The bibliography thus represents an important and useful resource for regional studies on this biome.” (Sarah Robinson, Pastoralism, Vol. 3, 2013)

Steppes form one of the largest biomes on earth. Ecological changes came slowly, and nomadic pastoralism long predominated in the steppes. As from the mid-18^th century the rate of change increased, and drastic changes in steppe ecology, land use and livelihoods in the steppe came with the emergence, and again with the collapse, of communist states. Excessive ploughing and vast influx of people led to a strong decline in nomadic pastoralism in the Soviet Union and China and resulted in severely degraded steppe ecosystems. After the collapse of the Soviet Union huge tracts of ploughed land became fallow and steppe ecosystems regenerated. In Mongolia nomadic pastoralism persisted, but steppes degraded because of strong increases in livestock loads. Presently, new, restorative land management schemes are developed and applied. On top of all these changes in steppe land use come the effects of climate change, which are strong in the northern zone of the steppe region.

This book reviews the ecology of steppe ecosystems in the entire Eurasian area, discusses the effects of climatic changes and land use policies that are playing important roles in these steppes, and shows how the livelihoods of people in the steppe zone are affected. It provides, in English, an extensive and up-to-date overview of steppe status and steppe problems in all of Eurasia, based on the experience of many specialists, and it integrates extensive data sources that so far were only available in a spectrum of locally used languages.

Keith Harris is an assistant professor in the School of Interdisciplinary Arts, School of Film and the Department of African American Studies at Ohio University. He completed his studies at the TISCH School of the Arts Department of Cinema Studies at New York University. Dr. Harris’ primary research interests are in visual culture (media, film, television and video, especially) and gender and race and ethnical constructs of gender and race found in visual cultural production. Other secondary interests are Kantian ethics and aesthetics.