Can Prairie Grasses Help Fight Climate Change?

Grasslands, especially prairie grasses, are more than scenic landscapes. They act as natural climate heroes, storing carbon, regulating water, and supporting biodiversity. But what happens when these vast expanses are put at risk by climate change?

How Are Prairie Grasses Being Affected by Climate Change?

Recent studies show that grassland communities are shifting toward species that thrive in hotter and drier conditions, at rates that mirror fast climate warming and drying trends. This shift threatens native prairie grasses and reduces the resilience of grasslands globally.

In Canada’s Manitoba, rising temperatures and decreased soil moisture are putting prairie ecosystems and wetland wildlife, like waterfowl, under pressure. (Source: Climate Change Conenction) 

Meanwhile, grasslands worldwide are seeing faster shifts in species composition than forests, indicating that grasslands are in the climate change fast lane. (Source: UC Santa Cruz) 

Climate Change Effects on Grasslands: What’s At Stake?

• Impaired carbon storage: Grasslands store 25–35% of all terrestrial carbon, mostly in their soil and root systems. But degradation from drought, heat, and erosion limits their capacity.

• Biodiversity loss: Altered precipitation and warming temperatures are allowing invasive plants and woody shrubs to encroach, reducing habitat quality and forcing changes in prairie grass composition.

• Wildlife decline: In North America, grassland bird populations have declined by over 50% since 1970, affected by habitat loss, climate change, and invasive woody plants. (According to: AP News)

Climate Change Mitigation Efforts for Temperate Grasslands

Thankfully, targeted efforts are gaining traction:

• Restoration through prairie strips and native planting: Farmers in the U.S. are using prairie strips to reduce erosion by 95%, enhance soil health, and create wildlife corridors. 

• Silvopasture systems: Combining trees and grazing systems enhances soil moisture, reduces temperature extremes, and stores more carbon than open pastures.

• Rewilding former pasturelands: Restoring degraded grazed lands to native prairie can sequester billions of tons of additional carbon.

• Global financing initiatives: Mongolia’s recent $200 M “Eternal Mongolia” fund aims to safeguard its temperate grasslands, curbing carbon emissions while preserving biodiversity. 

How Does Grasslands Affect Climate Change?

Grasslands intersect with climate change in several key ways:

• Soil carbon sink: They store massive amounts of carbon underground, up to 35% of terrestrial carbon.

• Buffering climate extremes: Grassland roots stabilize soil, retaining moisture, reducing erosion, and supporting water systems.

• Feedback loop: Healthy prairie grasses absorb CO₂ and mitigate methane and nitrous oxide emissions, while degraded grasslands may release greenhouse gases 

• Vulnerability to disruption: Without tree cover, grasslands face rapid warming and drying, which affects their resilience and ability to act as stable carbon sinks.

A Path Forward: From Prairie Stewardship to Everyday Action

The solutions being implemented, from prairie restoration and silvopasture to global conservation finance, highlight how we can support grasslands in mitigating climate change. But individual choices also matter.

After enjoying your morning cup, what if your coffee cup wasn’t just recyclable, but made from coffee grounds itself?

At Coffee Kreis, we offer reusable cups crafted from spent coffee grounds. It’s a small but symbolic step: turning waste into a tool, reducing plastic use, and extending the positive impact of your daily brew.

Because protecting prairie grasses, reducing emissions, and supporting circular solutions, like cups made from coffee, are all part of building a more resilient planet.

Explore our sustainable range at coffeekreis.com, and take part in conserving ecosystems that protect us all, one reusable cup at a time.