资源环境科技发展态势分析平台

Unsustainable grazing of animals exerts pressure on a range of environmental factors. This review assessed the impacts of grazing of small ruminants (sheep and goats) on hydrological processes (e.g., runoff occurrence, erosion) within European pasture lands. It also considered other effects of small ruminants grazing such as water pollution. Our research highlights the lack of evidence-based European literature on the implications of grazing by small ruminants on the hydrological processes. The available literature is limited to the Mediterranean belt (some areas of Spain and Greece), the British Isles, and the Austrian Alps. The reasons behind the lack of literature are discussed in detail, and the knowledge gaps dealing with small ruminants have been enumerated. However, there are several papers on the subject within Oceania-Pacifica and United States settings. Some of the reasons contributing to the limited literature on Europe are the possible underestimation of the significance of the problem, it being considered an unattractive research direction, and/or a lack of research funding. Thus, more research and funding are required to address the European knowledge gaps and limitations related to the impacts of grazing by small ruminants on the hydrological processes.

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