A Case For Native Grasses

With climate change looming there are solutions being proposed left and right aimed at curbing our carbon emissions and avoiding the potential catastrophic effects that are likely coming our way (and already are). Solar, wind, vertical farming, carbon capture, algae fuels and so many more solutions are being proposed so often it can be hard to keep up. While these new breakthroughs should be applauded and encouraged there is another action we can do that can be implemented right now. It doesn’t require any new technological breakthroughs, no research and development, or innovation. Everything we need is already here and was here before we got here. Native grasses and plants.

Native grasses are crucially important to just about every region in the world. Grasses are what makes a large amount of life possible, and allows many ecosystems to flourish. In the past, grasses provided a way for humans to thrive in that they were a source of food that didn’t require any planting or maintenance and are extremely hard to destroy. They provided foraging and ecosystems for the animals humans ate throughout human existence.

Since the industrial revolution, we have slowly chipped away at our native grasses throughout the country in order to build roads, cities, and farms. Only about 3% of the North America’s original grasslands exist today. This remaining grasslands are spread out throughout the country and significantly fragmented.

Native grasses absorb vast amounts of carbon and store it in the soil. Grasslands account for about 34% of the terrestrial stock of carbon on earth while 39% is stored in forests. In forests the primary source of carbon storage is locked up in the vegetation where grasslands store it in the soil. Trees are extremely important to absorbing carbon as well and provide enormous benefits to the planet and that is widely accepted. Planting trees to absorb carbon is a widely accepted way to combat climate change.

While it is widely accepted that trees are important for the climate, what isn’t talked about as much is the ability to sequester a large amount of carbon via grasslands. Planting native grass is relatively easy, requires little to no upkeep and provides a range of benefits that can be quantified almost immediately. Regions where forests are prevalent should continue to be forests, these places have ecosystems that are irreplaceable and provide so much. Areas that were once grasslands can be restored back to what they once were too. Please don’t cut down trees to plant native grass!

Currently, the United States has declining soil health throughout agriculture lands and urban areas. According to the USDA, some lands in the United States have seen a reduction by as much as 50% due to soil degradation and desertification. Desertification is recognized as land that has been degraded to point where there is no possible reversal. Planting native grass in areas facing increased degradation can replenish soil and increase productivity, ensuring there is no desertification.

Grasses have evolved from their roots rather than their tips, helping to make them more resilient. When large animals stomp on them it actually helps it grow better to a degree, pushing seeds into the soil. When grazing is done on the land, the grass continues to grow unphased. Once a grassland is planted and sustaining it is difficult to remove. Fires can destroy a field in seconds, but grasses can begin to return within weeks and be even thicker than before a fire. Non-native grasses can also ignite faster, making wildfires worse and more prevalent than native grasses. According to New Scientist, non-native grass is making wildfires in California three times as frequent and twice as large.

Many species on the endangered species list reside in grasslands. Returning degraded areas back into native grasslands can provide more space on earth for certain endangered species like the black footed ferret, and the mountain plover which reside in the great plains. In addition to endangered species, returning these areas to their original glory can help ecosystems by increasing wildlife populations biodiversity. Research conducted by the University of Illinois shows a bird population decrease as a direct result of invasive species.

With the right public awareness, climate change could be mitigated noticeably almost immediately by people across the world by doing this. Native grasses can be planted in our own backyards replacing lawns that aren’t environmentally friendly. Americans lawns use too much water, provide little to not habitat. Lawns that use native grasses have been found to be more lush, resist weeds better, provide habitat, and even help grow better fruits and vegetables.

Agroforestry has taken off in areas where deforestation is prevalent to ensure people can grow food without contributing to deforestation of the amazon. These same principles can be adopted in backyard gardens to promote biodiversity and make gardens thrive. Urban agroforests can have large yields while providing habitat for birds, butterflies, bees, and other insects that provide the basis for ecosystems.

Planting native grasses and plants throughout our communities and open spaces can have enormous positive benefits for our communities. Only native species to a given region should be planted, as vast harm can be done when invasive species take root. Check out where you can get native plants near you.