Benefits

Why Care About Grasslands?

People thrive when grasslands thrive. Grasslands provide essential ecological, economic, and cultural value. The Central Grasslands of North America provide critically important ecosystem services, including clean water, healthy soils, and habitat for wildlife. Globally, grasslands provide ecological benefits on the same scale as rainforests, old-growth forests, and coral reefs.

Grassland ecosystems are rich in biodiversity and support a wealth of species.

Habitat: From beef to bees, grasslands help feed the world by supporting life. According to the USDA, some scientists estimate that one out of every three bites of food we eat exists because of animal pollinators. Grasslands support pollinators by providing essential habitat corridors between regions. Native grassland plants provide excellent shelter, pollen, and nectar while remaining resilient to drought fluctuations.

Clean Water: Healthy grasslands collect and filter agricultural runoff, naturally reducing toxins and recharging groundwater. They are key to providing a sustainable source of clean water for communities, irrigation, cattle, and wildlife. 

Healthy Soils: Healthy grasslands have roots reaching up to 6 feet underground that hold soils in place, prevent erosion, enhance water retention, and improve drought resilience. These vast root systems store organic carbon, creating rich, fertile soil. Soil below healthy grasslands is home to billions of organisms that drive the nutrient cycling process, improving soil quality.

Kirwin Prairie Flowers
Kirwin prairie flowers

Economic and Cultural Value

Cattle, bison, and other livestock play an essential role in supporting rural economies. Sustainable land management that uses regenerative grazing practices, including those rooted in Traditional Ecological Knowledge, improves grassland health while providing long-term security for ranchers and food for North Americans.

Grassland recreational activities like hunting, fishing, and wildlife viewing contribute revenue to rural and national economies. Birdwatching alone adds $279 billion into the U.S. economy annually. Grasslands provide a sense of place for all people to connect physically, intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually with the prairie’s past, present, and future.

Learn more about our plan to recover North America’s Central Grasslands.

Photo Credits
  • Kulm Wetland Management District grassland: Photo: Krista Lundgren/USFWS
  • Kirwin prairie flowers: Photo: Tony Ifland/USFWS
  • Upland game bird hunting: Photo: USFWS