page_title: Patagonian grasslands
section_title: Status
hierarchical_section_title: Patagonian grasslands / Status
context_page_description: The Patagonian grasslands is an ecoregion in the south of Chile, Argentina and the Falkland Islands. The grasslands are home to diverse fauna, including several rare or endemic species of birds. There are few protected areas. The grasslands are threatened by overgrazing by sheep, which supply high-quality merino wool. Efforts are being made to develop sustainable grazing practices to avoid desertification.
context_section_description: The World Wildlife Fund gives the ecoregion a status of "Vulnerable".
  Few people live in the ecoregion.
  However, grazing livestock and introduced animals have destroyed the natural grassland, particularly tussock grass.
  Where the sparse vegetation has been damaged the soil is exposed to erosion.
  Overgrazing by merino sheep is turning the grassland into a desert.
  In the past Guanacos were the only large grazing animal, and imposed little stress on the semi-arid grasslands.
  Commercial sheep farming, which began at the end of the 19th century, has had a drastic impact.
  Palatable grasses have been progressively eliminated, replaced by unpalatable woody plants.
  The natural tussock grass is an important resource for endemic birds.
  Three birds species at risk are the critically endangered hooded grebe (Podiceps gallardoi), the rare ruddy-headed goose (Chloephaga rubidiceps) and the near threatened striated caracara (Phalcoboenus australis), which has suffered from over-hunting.
caption: Grassland in the Falkland Islands
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