How Planting Grasslands Fights Climate Change

The volunteer-run Friends of Uplands Park Society works to restore and protect Uplands Park in Victoria, British Columbia. The members have helped native species, many of which are designated as at risk, thrive again by removing invasive species, planting more native species, and educating the community.

Organizations like the Detroit Audubon’s Bird City habitat restoration initiative are planting native flowers, grasses, and trees in vacant, underused lots and parks to restore the habitat for wildlife in the city.

Replacing nonfunctional grass lawns that require excessive amounts of water with a mix of desert plants and a few plants that need more water can help save water and keep cities like Las Vegas cool.

Sections of the massive network of wetlands in Colombo, Sri Lanka, went from being overwhelmed by garbage to biodiverse ecosystems that are a critical part of urban planning and flood prevention. The government and community groups worked to clean them up, and keep them clean, so the wetlands can do what they’re naturally good at.

Medellín, Colombia, is combating the urban heat island effect by creating green corridors across the city. Over 2.5 million plants and trees were carefully selected to maximize impact and planted on buildings and along roads and waterways.

In Paris, building-based agriculture, like rooftop gardens, allows for the production of nutritious food close to where they will be eaten. The practice helps eliminate carbon emissions, improve food security, and improve climate resilience.

Communities in Ecuador are building a “bioeconomy” through ecotourism and sustainable agriculture instead of relying on oil extraction. This can help protect the country’s biodiversity and increase locals’ incomes.

Landscaping businesses in California are trading in the typical tools and chemicals for goat herds. The practice of bringing in goats to munch on unwanted vegetation, called targeted grazing, is cheaper and more environmentally friendly than traditional landscaping.

A collaboration between tree-planting organizations in Washington D.C. helps Catholic church properties to plant and care for trees. The free trees are an effort to combat urban heat and benefit the local environment.

Pollinator-friendly solar arrays, also called solar meadows, feature meadows of native flowers around the solar panels instead of turf or gravel to support pollinators.