Reflections on the integration of grassland resources investigation and monitoring into the natural resources survey and monitoring system

Based on the development history, content index system, talent building, foundational research, and laws and regulations of grassland investigation and monitoring in China, this paper points out the problems faced by grassland investigation and monitoring, including a lack of basic data, inadequate monitoring index system, low levels of foundational research, weak monitoring and imperfect laws and regulations. According to the “General Planning for System Construction of Natural Resources investigation and Monitoring”, issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources, this paper appeals to the optimization of the standards of grassland investigation and monitoring system at the national level in combination with natural resource science and considering the actual situation. As a result of technological advances, like “sky-air-land” integrated observation, Internet + , and big data, the tridimensional monitoring capacities should be gradually elevated along with the production of a base plate, a set of data, and a platform required for the daily management of natural resources. In addition, it is proposed that China’s grassland investigation and monitoring needs to effectively improve the understanding of grassland resources and ecological monitoring, accelerate the construction of professional teams for grassland resource and ecological monitoring, integrate innovative technologies to steadily promote grassland resource investigation and monitoring, and strengthen integrated research and data sharing services. This study should serve as a reference for the development of grassland resource investigation and monitoring.