Semi-desert Grasslands

Semi-desert grasslands are characterized by a mixing of grasslands with more desert associated species, primarily because these areas are somewhat too dry for true grasslands to prosper.

Generally these areas in our region are a bunch grass dominated, but sparse grassland with numerous interspersed trees (often velvet mesquite), a few shrubs and other cacti, sometimes including the saguaro. Some areas have been converted from pure grassland to this type (as well as to pure shrubland) due to elongated periods of grazing and especially the associated topsoil and moisture loss.

A great example of semi-desert grasslands is in the Buenos Aries Wildlife Refuge southwest of Tucson. It is slowly being restored from historical grazing damage.