Native grasslands are vanishing across America
The United States has lost about half of its historic grasslands, putting one of the nation’s most important ecosystems at risk, according to conservation experts.
Once stretching “from sea to shining sea,” native grasslands covered areas across the country, including regions now known for forests, cities and farmland. Today, about 98% of native tallgrass prairies have disappeared.
Experts with the America’s Grasslands Coalition say protecting the remaining grasslands is essential for preserving biodiversity, wildlife and healthy ecosystems.
Grasslands face growing threats
Grasslands continue to decline due to invasive plant species, expanding development and intensive agriculture. Housing projects, highways, shopping centers and new industrial sites are increasingly replacing open prairie areas.
Some of the largest remaining grassland ecosystems are found in the Flint Hills and the Nebraska Sandhills, which still contain millions of acres of native habitat.
More than 1,000 native grass species have been documented in the U.S., including big bluestem, which can grow up to 10 feet tall, and little bluestem, a grass adapted to dry, sandy soils.
Why protecting grasslands matters
Grasslands provide critical benefits for the environment. They store large amounts of carbon, help protect soil, regulate water and support wildlife, including bison, elk, deer, birds, pollinators and prairie dogs.
Experts estimate grasslands hold about 30% of the world’s soil-based carbon, with most of it stored underground.
Indigenous communities have long relied on grasslands for food, materials and land management practices, including controlled burns that helped maintain healthy ecosystems.
Conservation efforts aim to protect what remains
Scientists warn that climate change, habitat loss and poor land management continue to weaken grassland ecosystems. Raising awareness is considered a key step toward protecting these landscapes for future generations.
As the U.S. approaches its 250th anniversary, conservation groups say the country’s grasslands represent an important part of its natural heritage — and preserving them is essential for the future.
For Houstonians and Texans interested in learning more about native wildflowers and grasses, visit Native Plant Society of Texas.
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