Preface to the Special Issue of

Rangelands are some of the most widely distributed ecosystems on Earth, covering ~20% of the land surface area. As an important part of terrestrial ecosystems, accurate rangeland classification plays a crucial role in carbon cycling, biodiversity conservation and forage production. The Comprehensive Sequential Classification System of Rangeland (CSCSR), a well accepted rangeland classification system, has attracted global attention and has undergone further development. This paper reviews the origin and development of the CSCSR and its application in the fields of climate change, rangeland and livestock production, even rangeland ecosystem services in detail.