1.6 million acres of grasslands were destroyed in 2021 alone

The global destruction of grasslands for agricultural and developmental purposes is an ongoing issue. In 2021, an area larger than Delaware, amounting to 1.6 million acres, was plowed in the US and Canada, primarily for crop expansion, as per the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) annual Plowprint report.

2021 saw 16 lakh acres grasslands destroyed

The report reveals that since 2012, a staggering 32 million acres of land in the region have been destroyed. Interestingly, the land most suitable for farming in the Great Plains was plowed decades ago, while newly plowed land is unlikely to yield significant crops.

Clay Bolt, communications manager for WWF’s Northern Great Plains program, highlighted the importance of grassland ecosystems and their role in carbon storage. He explained that when these plants are plowed, the soil is turned over and that carbon is released into the atmosphere.

Bolt said grasslands have large and branched roots that are similar to forests and retain carbon underground. When these plants are plowed, the soil is turned over and that carbon is released into the atmosphere. The crops that are grown in their place, such as corn or soybeans, typically have shallow roots and do not have the ability to store carbon.

The report also points out that most grassland plowing has occurred on private land because landowners have the option to plow, whether to make room for crops or for commercial development.

However, once grasslands are plowed, the habitat can be destroyed forever. It takes a huge amount of effort or becomes impossible to restore the ecosystem.

With new legislation like the Farm Bill and the North American Grassland Conservation Act set to govern agricultural sector policy for the next five years, experts hope that they will support Great Plains producers and farmers with new resources and strategies.

Conservation programs help mitigate climate change by improving water quality, retaining carbon in soil and reducing soil erosion in agricultural lands and grasslands across the country.

Northern Great Plains’ grassland loss increases

The report also found the Northern Great Plains region of the ecosystem—currently one of the world’s last four intact temperate grasslands—saw a slight uptick in acreage loss with the number of plowed acres increasing to 400,000 up from 385,000 thousand acres in 2020.

"What would you say if I told you there's a critical climate solution that we can implement right here in America that doesn't require massive investment, new technology, or a huge shift in behavior? Let’s stop plowing grasslands; just allow them to keep storing and sequestering carbon—and providing irreplaceable habitat for wildlife and pollinators—as they have done for millennia.” said Martha Kauffman, vice president for WWF’s Northern Great Plains program.

The report points out that much of the land most suited for agriculture was plowed up decades ago, with newly plowed land unlikely to produce significant yields. Destruction of grassland habitat is driven by economics often underpinned by well-intentioned government policies that incentivize conversion rather than protection.

“We can no longer ignore the fact that these landscapes, which have sustained people and wildlife since time immemorial, are being destroyed by the acre,” added Kauffman. “With 32 million acres lost since 2012, steady elimination of grasslands year in and year out is cause for urgent action. This year we have an opportunity to change course and address policies that can help curb this destruction.”

Keep Reading

• Fireworks Have Long-Lasting Effects On Wild Birds
• Countries With Highest Number Of Bicycle Users
• All The Latest Updates On Aravalli Mining, And The NGT Petition

Follow Ground Report for Climate Change and Under-Reported issues in India. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Koo App, Instagram, Whatsapp and YouTube. Write us on [email protected].