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Research Shows Underdog Grasslands Ecosystem Supports Climate Change Solutions

As is the case with everything else in life, it is important to pay attention to even minor things related to grasslands. Recent studies show that grasslands, considered to be an insignificant ecosystem, does have some influence on climate change solutions. As such, grassland ecosystem conservation deserves to be given its share of importance.

Among ecosystems around the world, the least protected and most converted one is the grasslands ecosystem despite the fact that grasslands have rich soil and play a significant role in providing food to people.

This has resulted in the grasslands getting converted into fields for row-crop agriculture. There are two reasons as to why the loss of grasslands is causing huge problems for us. They are:

1.The conversion of natural grasslands on a continuous basis has put the species that depend on grasslands for their survivals at risk. Huge quantities (several tons) of carbon are released into the atmosphere by the converted grasslands.

When it comes to the mitigation of the impact caused by climate change, the natural solution that holds the most promise is the ability of an ecosystem to collect and keep carbon. Strategies that are employed to prevent the conversion of ecosystem aim at taking advantage of their natural ability in counteracting carbon emissions. In fact, it is an acknowledged fact that the potential of forests in storing carbon is very high. Now, do the grasslands have the ability to store carbon?

2.Grasslands may be devoid of trees, but they have the ability to store carbon in significant amounts. This is to say that the grasslands are equivalent to trees growing into the soil. Grasslands are underground forests that store carbon. The characteristic long and dense root systems of native prairie plants do not store carbon themselves but also cycle the element between the vegetation above the ground and the soil.

This is the good news. Grassland conservation efforts enable them to keep carbon in the soil and provide a number other benefits as well to wildlife and native plants. It also helps to improve water quality.

It time for grassland enthusiasts to act. Grasslands have the ability to contribute to lessening the effect of climate change. You can contribute in several ways as follows:

  • Make natives and locals aware of the benefits offered by the grassland ecosystem.
  • Teach them the ways to protect grasslands. Prevent soil erosion.
  • Tell them as to how wetlands, an important constituent of grassland ecology, can be protected and restored.
  • Advise them to practice agricultural crop rotation to prevent the depletion of nutrients from the soil.
  • Plant trees so that they act as windbreaks.
  • Practice burning during the dry season to encourage fresh growth and for restoring calcium in the soil. Calcium builds up within dry grasses.