Most of North America’s Grasslands have been lost to development.
North America’s grasslands consist of tallgrass, mixed grass and shortgrass prairie. Through expansion, 70 percent of our native grasslands have been converted to crops and pasture. Wildlife has suffered, especially grassland bird species. Bobwhite quail and pheasant populations have crashed. Monarch butterflies are sliding toward extinction. Elk rarely see their native range. Grasslands need help.
The North American Grasslands Conservation Act has the potential to be a significant piece of conservation legislation by creating an incentive-based program to conserve grasslands. With bipartisan support, it was introduced by U.S. Representatives Nancy Mace (R–S.C.), Sharice Davids (D–Kan.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R–Penn.) and Mike Thompson (D–Calif.).
“Grasslands are among the most endangered ecosystems in the world, with over 70 percent of America’s tallgrass, mixed grass, and shortgrass prairies now gone,” Rep. Fitzpatrick said. “Our grasslands are vital for the survival of farmers and rural communities across Pennsylvania and our nation, which is why I am championing this critical piece of bipartisan, bicameral legislation. By establishing a landowner-driven, incentive-based program and investing in restoration programs, the North American Grasslands Conservation Act will protect essential habitats that support our American farmers, ranchers and Tribal Nations and revitalize these critical ecosystems, ensuring they continue to sustain wildlife and rural communities for generations to come.”
A Grasslands Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate in 2021. Highlighting how slow it often goes for legislation to find its path toward passage. I wrote about the 2021 Grassland Act, and issues with the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) enrollment decline and how these lost acres of grasslands are detrimental to the wildlife, birds and insects reliant on grasslands habitat. It’s also bad for humanity.
The new House version of the Grasslands Act is modeled after the successful North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA).
“The United States has over 125 million acres of grasslands that are threatened, and right here in South Carolina, we see firsthand how important conservation is to the health and beauty of our natural ecosystems,” Rep. Mace said. “Our office has made a promise to preserve this beauty, not just for today but for future generations.” The idea is for the Grasslands Act to drive landowner engagement through voluntary enrollment. Grasslands provide so many collective benefits. They’re home to wildlife, birds and insects.
They’re necessary for agriculture. Grasslands sequester carbon. They’re home to rural communities and Tribal Nations. Grasslands are where sportsmen and women roam. “In Kansas, we have grassland prairies that are well known throughout the Great Plains for their beautiful landscapes and scenic hiking trails, but grasslands once covered millions of acres across North America, stretching from coast to coast,” Rep. Davids said. “Grasslands are vital to ranchers and producers, Tribes and folks who love spending time outdoors. They’re critical habitat for countless species of birds, important pollinators and treasured animals like the bison. And, they’re crucial to fighting the effects of climate change, bolstering our food security, and combating extreme weather. I’m excited for this opportunity to highlight the protection of our grasslands and bipartisan solutions that build off of successful public-private partnerships.”
The beauty of Grasslands is underappreciated. While millions flock to the Rockies each summer to gaze upon the peaks of snowcapped mountains or travel great distances to stand beside the Grand Canyon in awe, too few pour over the pure majesty of life within a single acre of prairie. Take a lawn chair into a prairie at sunset. Settle in and be amazed by the symphony playing around you.
“Grasslands are vital to the livelihoods of our nation’s ranchers and the health of our native wildlife — yet they remain endangered. It’s great to join my colleagues to introduce the bipartisan North American Grasslands Conservation Act to invest in voluntary, incentive-based programs to help farmers, ranchers, Tribal Nations, sportsmen and women and state and local governments preserve, rehabilitate and responsibly manage our grasslands for generations to come,” Rep. Thompson said.
Collaboration is often key to moving legislation forward. Over 45 groups supporting the Grasslands Act can be found at www.ActforGrasslands.org
See you down the trail…
Brandon Butler writes an outdoors column for The Republic. Send comments to [email protected]. For more Driftwood Outdoors, check out the podcast on www.driftwoodoutdoors.com or anywhere podcasts are streamed.
