Assessment of the dynamics of pastures degradation in the northern part of Central Mongolia using NDVI

Currently, the restoration of pasture land, the protection of cattle breeding in Mongolia from risk and the economic stability of pastoralists depend on the rational use of steppe pastures and regulation of pasture load. Changes in steppe vegetation under the influence of grazing occur in several stages, depending on the amount of pasture use, its duration and load on pasture, on livestock species, and on environmental conditions. Therefore, it is timely to determine correctly the period of pasture use of steppe vegetation, to reveal patterns of changes and restoration of pastures. Based on the analysis of the vegetative index data NDVI for the period 2000-2010. Compiled maps of the distribution of NDVI and its relative variability for the Northern part of Central Mongolia. The example of the Northern part of Central Mongolia shows that the prevailing factor influencing the change in NDVI is the climatic factor. In 2000-2010, In the steppe zone of the Northern part of Central Mongolia, the vegetation cover varied depending on weather factors, but at the present time these changes also occur due to inappropriate human activity. A study of the distribution of the vegetation index for the Northern part of Central Mongolia and the areas under study with natural steppe vegetation showed the expediency of using NDVI to assess the dynamics of the vegetation cover in agricultural areas.