Nature & Environment

Study Finds Prairie Grasslands Crucial for Carbon Storage

University of Alberta researchers highlight the importance of preserving grasslands as a key strategy in Canada’s fight against climate change.

By By Paul Whitaker • 2025-08-08

A new study by researchers at the University of Alberta has highlighted the critical role prairie grasslands play in storing carbon and mitigating climate change. The findings, published this week in the Journal of Environmental Science, show that these ecosystems sequester significant amounts of carbon in their deep root systems and soil.

Lead researcher Dr. Paul Jensen explained that unlike forests, which store most of their carbon above ground, grasslands retain the majority underground, making them more resilient to disturbances such as wildfires. “Even if the vegetation is lost, the carbon stored in the soil remains relatively stable,” he said.

The study involved sampling soil cores from more than 50 sites across Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Researchers measured carbon content at various depths, finding that older, undisturbed grasslands contained the highest levels.

These findings underscore the importance of protecting remaining prairie ecosystems, which have been reduced to less than 20 percent of their original range due to agriculture and urban development. “Once these lands are plowed, much of the stored carbon is released into the atmosphere,” Jensen warned.

In addition to carbon storage, prairie grasslands support biodiversity, provide grazing land for livestock, and help regulate water cycles. Conservation groups argue that these combined benefits make them an essential part of Canada’s climate strategy.

The research team is calling for policies that incentivize landowners to preserve and restore grassland habitats. Suggested measures include conservation easements, financial support for sustainable grazing practices, and funding for ecological restoration projects.

Public awareness campaigns are also being proposed to highlight the ecological value of grasslands. “People often overlook these landscapes because they’re not as visually dramatic as forests or mountains,” said Jensen. “But their environmental importance is immense.”

The study’s authors hope their findings will influence both provincial and federal climate policies, ensuring that prairie grasslands receive the same level of protection as other critical ecosystems in Canada.