Planting grasslands can store billions of tons of carbon and support native wildlife.
Planting trees is one nature-based solution to combat climate change and absorb and store greenhouse emissions, but it isn’t the only thing we can plant to mitigate emissions.
Planting grasslands, areas where the vegetation is dominated by grasses rather than large trees or shrubs can help absorb and store billions of tonnes of carbon and greenhouse gas emissions and support native species that depend on them.
Native grasses have deep, extensive root systems which help hold soil in place and prevent erosion. Grasslands can regulate water flow and improve water quality by filtering out pollutants and absorbing excess nutrients. They also help to decrease flooding and recharge groundwater supplies, which provides drinking water for local communities.
Grasslands support a diverse range of plant and animal species. They provide a home for a quarter of the world’s population and habitats for thousands of highly specialized plants and animals. Planting grasslands can help restore habitats for native species, including birds, insects, and small mammals. Moreover, grasslands are maintained by the species that depend on them. Animal migrations regenerate the landscapes by controlling pests, dispersing seeds, and trampling invasive species.
Planting grasslands also add aesthetic value to areas, especially when the wildflowers start blooming in the spring.
Canada’s grasslands
In Canada, over 80 per cent of Canada’s Prairie grasslands have been lost due to conversion to urban development, conservation to fields for growing crops and other land uses. Every year, 60,000 hectares, or 100,000 football fields, disappear. Grasslands are important to Indigenous People because they use them for harveting food and medicines. Often, communities will use fire to renew the ecosystem and encourage new growth.
Under the Nature Conservancy of Canada, the Prairie Grasslands Action Plan is working to conserve more than 500,000 hectares by 2030. They will work with local communities, ranchers, livestock producers and grazing groups in collaboration with Indigenous Nations, industry and governments to help restore these areas.
Why grasslands not trees?
Planting grasslands is proven to be beneficial on many levels, cultural, environmental, and even economical, and yet trees are always the preferred vegetation to plant when we talk about absorbing greenhouse gas emissions. One of the reasons planting grasslands has not gained popularity is because their rich soils make them ideal for growing crops, and the lack of trees in the area makes them easy targets for development. There may be more public and political support for tree-planting initiatives due to their greater ecological, economic and aesthetic value, leading to greater investment and attention.
Additionally, existing grasslands can also be mistaken for unused space. Ontario, Canada Premier Doug Ford even described the Greenbelt (a protected area of green space, farmland, forests, and wetlands) as an “empty field with weeds ” that should be cleared and used to build housing.
So, how do we include grassland planting in our tree planting schemes? We can raise awareness about the importance of grasslands and the benefits of planting them through educational campaigns, workshops, and outreach programs targeting landowners, farmers, ranchers, and the general public.
Governments can also provide financial incentives such as grants, subsidies, tax credits, or cost-sharing programs to landowners and farmers who undertake grassland planting or restoration projects. Communities and organizations can also establish demonstration sites or pilot projects to showcase successful grassland planting and restoration techniques, provide hands-on learning opportunities, and inspire others to replicate similar efforts on their own lands.
Planting grasslands encourages vegetation growth, supports local biodiversity, and can be an important natural solution for absorbing greenhouse gas emissions. We should encourage more grassland programs to help diversify our spaces and contribute to a healthy planet and environment.
