foreststeppe

Foreststeppe is a temperate-zone mosaic biome that lies between broadleaf forests and grassland steppes. It combines stands of trees with open grassy areas, forming a transition zone where forest and prairie meet. Soils are often fertile black soils (chernozems) or other deep soils that support both tree growth and vigorous grasses. The structure varies from woodland patches to open savanna-like clearings, with a dense shrub layer in some areas. Fire, grazing, and climate interactions historically maintained the balance between trees and grasses, while human land use has altered this balance in various regions.

Geographically, the foreststeppe belt occurs in parts of southeastern Europe and adjacent regions, notably in the Pontic region of Ukraine and southern Russia, with extensions into western Kazakhstan. It forms a gradient: the forest edge supplies moisture and moderates temperature, while the interior steppe areas are drier and more pasture-like. Vegetation includes deciduous broadleaf trees such as oaks and lindens in the more mesic areas, with a largely grassy understory that supports grasses, forbs, and diverse herbs.

The foreststeppe supports high biodiversity and provides important ecosystem services, including soil protection, carbon storage, and agricultural productivity. It is vulnerable to conversion to intensive agriculture, overgrazing, fragmentation, and altered fire regimes. Conservation approaches emphasize maintaining the mosaic through fire management, sustainable grazing, protection of remnants, and restoration of degraded patches.