The article discusses topical issues of conservation of an important component of natural ecosystems – steppe vegetation. The current state of the vegetation cover of the steppe phytocenoses of eastern Stavropol region in the conditions of anthropogenic impact on them is assessed. It was revealed that, depending on the intensity of herbage clearing during the grazing period, the steppe communities of the studied territory are represented by five stages of degradation – from insignificantly degraded, preserved virgin species, to very severely degraded with foci of desertification. The ways of solving this problem are proposed – restoration of zonal steppe vegetation and its biological diversity against the background of optimization of pasture management.

Lapenko N.G., Starostina M.A.