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Problems Grassland Ecosystems Are Facing

Grasslands are an ecological community dominated by grasses and tend to have dry climates. They are found in subtropical and temperate areas and may be called prairies, steppes, veldts or pampas, depending on their location and specific climate. At one time, grasslands covered a quarter of the planet, but many grassland areas have been converted into farms.

Conversion to Agricultural Lands
- Because grasslands are flat and have nutrient-rich soil, they can easily be converted into farmland. This conversion destroys the grassland ecosystem, replacing native plants with fields of corn, wheat, soybeans or other crops. Agricultural practices such as fertilization can strip the nutrients from the once rich soil, and growing only a single crop in a field can lead to problems with pests and pesticides. These activities further displace or harm the animals who live on the grassland. Grasslands that are used as pasture for cattle can be destroyed by overgrazing or trampling if not carefully managed.
Encroachment
- Many crop plants are drought-resistant and cold-resistant, meaning they can potentially survive and establish if they escape from farmlands into the surrounding grassland. What's more, these agricultural plants may be herbicide resistant, so once they have invaded grassland habitats, they are difficult to kill. Trees are usually uncommon in grasslands because of seasonal droughts and fires, but in wetter grassland areas, trees and shrubs may be able to establish themselves. In extreme cases, this can lead to temperate forests encroaching upon and overtaking the grassland ecosystem.
Climate Change
- Grasslands receive little rain; in fact, steppe grasslands have some of the same vegetation you would find in a desert. Moist deserts and dry grasslands are very similar, and if global temperatures increase, the resulting change in rainfall patterns could lead to some of these marginal grassland ecosystems becoming deserts.
Restoring Grasslands
- Scientists are researching the topic of prairie restoration so that areas that were once grasslands can be reclaimed. This restoration involves the removal of non-native, invasive species and the planting and maintenance of native species. Restored prairies are periodically burned to kill the trees and shrubs that could take root and turn the grassland into a temperate forest. This must be done with care to avoid harming ground-nesting birds and other animals who live in the grassland.

Nature