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Which universities and institutions are focusing on research and education for the development of the steppes?

Magen Magne

Well, well, well, my friends! Are you ready to explore the vast and beautiful steppes? I surely am! But before we pack our bags and head out on an adventure, we need to do our research. And what better place to start than with education and research institutions that focus on the development of the steppes?

Let me tell you, there are plenty of universities and institutions around the globe that are dedicated to steppes research and education. Let's start with a big name – the University of Cambridge in the UK. This prestigious institution has a programme called "SteppeForward", which focuses on the biodiversity of the Eurasian grasslands. The programme is a collaboration between the Departments of Geography, Plant Sciences, Zoology, and Archaeology and Anthropology, so you know they're serious about it.

If you're looking for something closer to home, the University of Wyoming in the US also offers a programme for the study of the steppes. Their Biodiversity Institute provides an extensive collection of specimens, data, and resources on the Great Plains and Rocky Mountain regions, which feature grasslands similar to the steppes.

In Mongolia, the Institute of Geography and Geoecology at the Mongolian Academy of Sciences offers research and education opportunities on the country's vast steppes. The Mongolian steppe is one of the largest in the world, and this institution takes pride in their work to understand and preserve it.

But it's not just universities that are dedicated to steppes research and education. The International Centre for Livestock Research and Development (ICLVRD) in Kenya is also committed to improving the quality of life of people that depend on these grasslands for their livelihoods. Their research focuses on the impact of climate change and overgrazing on the sustainability of the steppes and the livelihoods of the pastoral communities that live there.

Last but not least, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) also conducts research on the steppes and advocates for their protection. In the Altai-Sayan ecoregion, which covers parts of Russia, Mongolia, China, and Kazakhstan, WWF has established a monitoring programme to track the health of the grasslands and the wildlife that call it home.

Phew! There you have it, my fellow adventurers. A world of opportunities for research and education on the steppes! So, let's grab our field notebooks, our binoculars, and some sunscreen, and let's explore this vast and beautiful landscape together.