Chapter 12. Chapter 12: Grasslands

Why are grasslands important?

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Guiding Question 12.2

Why are grasslands important?

Why You Should Care

Grasslands are important for all of the services they provide. Grasslands are the breadbaskets of the planet; they contain most of the arable (suitable for cultivation) land on Earth. They are not usually as productive as forests, meaning that they do not take up as much CO2 by photosynthesis, but they are just as important to humans as the source of most of our food. Healthy grasslands also prevent soil erosion and loss, which is not a trivial matter because soil is formed extremely slowly. Grasslands are also important for biodiversity of plants and animals. Many grassland birds, for example, are becoming threatened worldwide as their habitats dwindle. The greater prairie chicken, a kind of grouse, is one of the most high-profile animals on the United States Endangered Species list.

Infographic 12.2: Grassland Goods and Services

Question 12.1

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Question 12.2

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Question 12.3

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Question 12.4

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Question 12.5

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There are several possible reasons, including having a place to store food, but the simplest one is to escape predation. There are very few places to hide in a grassland, so mammals can be easy targets for birds of prey.

Question 12.6

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Your answer will vary based on what you find valuable. Even in terms of monetary profit, there isn’t a clear answer since the prevalence of the agriculture, livestock, and biofuel industries vary from region to region. It is probably safe to say that providing a habitat for a diversity of species is not the most monetarily valuable service provided.

Your answer will vary based on whether you choose to value the goods and services based on money, benefit to people in terms of food, etc.

An ecologist would value the habitat aspect. A banker would value whatever is the most profitable. A politician would value whatever is in the prevailing interest of the people. For example, there is more interest and value placed on biofuel crops as an alternate energy source than is perhaps merited by its potential to lessen our dependence on fossil fuels.