Grasslands add to our natural wealth and provide habitation to several birds

These grassland are located in cool temperate zone, laying between Tropic of cancer and the Artic Circle in the northern hemisphere and the tropic of Capricorn and the Antarctic circle in the southern hemisphere. These regions are less warm. A temperate climate would normally be expected in these regions due to their location between 23 ½ degrees 66 ½ degrees on either side of the equator. But this is not so because most of these grasslands are far away from the oceans. The rain bearing clouds which rise from the oceans very often do not reach them. This is reason why the regions are mildly hot in summer than the other places at the same latitude and are much colder in winter. This climate is called continental climate. Trees do not grow but we find grass which grows quickly when snow melts in the spring.

These grasslands are called by different names in different parts of the world. In South America, the grasslands are called the Pampas. In Australia they are known as the downs. In North America these are called Prairies. They stretch across from mid-Canada southwards to Midwest of United States of America. The South Africa grasslands are called the Velds. By far the largest areas of cool grasslands in the world are in the region formerly known as Soviet Union socialist republics. These stretch eastwards from the Ural Mountains and are called steppes or the Asiatic grasslands.

Protecting parks and grasslands

Grasslands add to our natural wealth and provide habitation to several birds, insects and animals. Grasslands functions as carbon skins by absorbing carbon dioxide. Various kinds of shrubs and herbs grow in these lands giving us different flowers and fruits.

Unfortunately, in the towns, we see greenery only in parks. Cities are turning into `concrete jungles’ due to the increasing number of skyscrapers built, to meet the ever-growing housing needs. Urbanization and industrialization are adding to the air pollution. Therefore, parks are a great necessity. They are the `lungs’ of our urban areas.

Parks not only beautiful the city or town but they offer a lot of other advantages.