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Grasslands Described

What is a Grassland?

"Grasslands is really a misleading name for this dynamic, diverse, and critically important ecosystem. They should be called wildflowerlands in my opinion," says Pepperwood's Ecologist and CNGA Board Member Michelle Halbur, "because there is so much more going on – and grasses are wildflowers too! Just not the showy ones with petals." - From Pepperwood e-newsletter, May 2023.

Learn more about grasslands: The Forest Beneath Our Feet, presented by Michelle Halbur at Pepperwood Preserve

What Defines a Native Grassland?

Native Grassland as Classified by Vegetation Scientists at NatureServe, the California Native Plant Society, and California Department of Fish & Wildlife

A native grassland is an herbaceous vegetation stand in which native plant species constitute at least 10% of the relative cover of total plant cover, at any time during the growing season. These native taxa must also be evenly distributed throughout the stand.

Even if non-native species dominate at certain times, the area still qualifies as native if it meets this threshold during early blooms or late-season growth. This definition uses relative cover, meaning only the vegetated portion is considered (excluding bare ground).
Areas with 90% or more non-native cover and no diverse or evenly spread native species are classified as non-native grasslands.

California Department of Fish and Wildlife. VegCAMP. Natural Communities. https://wildlife.ca.gov/Data/VegCAMP/Natural-Communities

"Native prairie refers to the grass species that have existed in the area for thousands of years."

What is Native Prairie? A Teacher Resource. Saskatchewan Prairie Conservation Action Plan. https://www.pcap-sk.org/rsu_docs/documents/native-prairie-fact-sheet.pdf.

Here are Some Definitions and Interpretations of Grasslands

"Grassland means land on which the vegetation is dominated by grasses, grass-like plants, shrubs and forbs." USDA NRCS. Definitions and Guidance – Grassland Reserve Program (GRP). https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/null/?cid=nrcs141p2_023202. Accessed July 26, 2021.

"Land that has never been cultivated." (USDA Economic Research Service, Sep 1, 2011. “Do farm programs encourage native grassland losses?”https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2011/september/native-grassland/. Accessed July 26, 2021.

"Herbaceous and grass-dominated ecosystems are critical components of Earth's land surface... Examples of these “grassy” ecosystems are grasslands, shrublands, tundra, open tree savannas, and woodlands." (Wilcox et al. 2023).

California’s Relatively Intact Grasslands are Reservoirs of Biodiversity

Grassland birds, mammals, reptiles, insects, pollinators and other animals depend on the resources these plants and spaces provide.

Native grasslands support about 40% of California's total native plant species (Wigand 2007:55).
Over 300 species of native grasses are found in California. Grasses are an integral part of diverse habitats, ranging from cool, wet forests to hot, dry deserts.
An astounding 90% of California's rare plant species reside in grasslands (Skinner & Pavlik, 1994; Eviner, 2016).
California's grasslands are home to 30% of species listed as threatened and endangered (CDFW 2022).
Currently 73 grassland-associated species are listed by the state & federal Endangered Species Acts: 14 vertebrates and 59 plants, and 14 invertebrates, including 6 butterfly species. This count does not include unlisted native pollinators and other plants and animals experiencing sharp declines.

Habitat: Grasslands are essential open habitats that provide necessary food and shelter for many birds, insects, and animals.

"Old-growth" grasslands are ancient ecosystems characterized by high herbaceous species richness, high endemism, and unique species compositions.
The decline in native grasses and grasslands in the last two centuries has been caused by intensive cultivation, poorly managed grazing, urbanization, fire suppression, and the introduction of invasive, nonnative species.

Agriculture, invasion by exotic species, development, and other human-related activities have reduced California native grasslands by 99%.

CNGA's Mission is to promote, preserve, and restore the diversity of California's native grasses and grassland ecosystems through education, advocacy, research, and stewardship.

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