Grasslands are extremely important habitats to preserve. These habitats are home to a lot of biodiversity and play a vital role in storing carbon.1&2 However, grasslands are highly endangered ecosystems.2 This is from grasslands being overtaken for agricultural use and irresponsible human practices on the land.1 We’ve lost over 50 million acres of grasslands.3
What’s causing the loss of grasslands?
Several factors come into play. A lot of it stems from agricultural development, which has ramped up since 2008.2 Other factors include:
Monocropping practices – which strip nutrients from the soil
Livestock – they can trample and eat grasses
Invasive species – this can ruin the biodiversity and balance of the ecosystem1
What solutions are there?
Some solutions to preserving grasslands include:
Restoring wetlands – this can help protect grasslands
Crop rotation – this allows nutrients to replenish themselves in the soil
Reducing erosion – something like planting trees can keep the grasslands safe1
Barriers – this can control where livestock have the freedom to graze so plants can recover
Prescribed burns – this helps with the quality and quantity of plants, it also gets rid of invasive species4
There aren’t many intact, native grasslands left. Most have been affected by human action and development. However, some things can be done to restore and protect them – and all the wildlife within them. This can help with climate change and increasing biodiversity.2
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Sources:
- https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/grassland-threats?loggedin=true
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264837717310372
- https://www.trcp.org/2021/09/08/11-leading-conservation-groups-call-congress-take-action-grasslands-sagebrush/
- https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/nrcs142p2_006488.pdf