How do saxaul plants help people and animals in Mongolia’s semidesert regions?

In the semidesert regions of Mongolia, the saxaul plant serves as a vital resource for both local inhabitants and livestock.

For people, these xerophytic shrubs are a primary source of firewood. Additionally, because saxaul is effective at stabilizing desert soils, it plays a crucial role in environmental protection, helping to mitigate the effects of desertification.12

For animals, the vegetation in these arid zones—including saxaul—provides necessary sustenance for camels, goats, and sheep, which are able to graze on the sparse plant life found in the Gobi and other semidesert basins.1