Alberta’s grasslands are a deeply rooted silent partner in fighting rising carbon levels, but are fast disappearing and need more protection, say University of Alberta scientists.
Nature Conservancy Canada (NCC) recently suggested the scope of loss across Canada’s rich prairie lands is greater than that of the Amazon rainforest, making these grasslands among the world’s most endangered ecosystems. It’s a reasonable claim, said U of A rangeland expert Edward Bork.
“Elevated CO2 levels are not only the result of fossil fuels, but also land-use conversion. Grasslands are the most ecologically threatened areas in Canada, and while development has slowed, it hasn’t stopped,” he said. “In a time when greenhouse gases and associated climate change are at the forefront of environmental issues, our grasslands and the role they play are significantly undervalued.”
Read more about Endangered Canadian grasslands.