XVI International Botanical Congess
Steppes are widely distributed in mountains of Kazakstan and form there clearly expressed steppe belt. Steppe vegetation is observed by fragments throughout whole vertical profile includ-ing alpine belt. Having such wide ecological amplitude, steppe vegetation of mountains in Kazak-satn is distinguished by high floristic and coenotic biodiversity. Modern state of vegetation cover in different types of mountain steppe ecosystems is dif-ferent because of the different use. Mountain steppes can be arranged by decreasing extent of vegetation transformation in a following order: bunch-grass steppes, desert steppes, rich forb-grass steppes, cryophytic steppes, shrub steppes. Extent of vegetation transformation presupposes priority of conservation of mountain steppes against the background of modern land use.