Grassland degradation threatens ecosystem services in North China.
The balance between grassland forage and livestock in North China affects the ecosystem. From 2000 to 2015, grassland area decreased by 16,000 km2, but some areas saw vegetation restoration. Forage supply increased, but so did livestock pressure. Most regions are overloaded with livestock, except for some areas in Inner Mongolia and Tibet. Strategies are proposed to balance conservation and animal husbandry in different regions.