Grasslands are plant communities that have few or no trees, or have open canopies that allow for the development of a grassy groundcover. Grasslands in the southeastern U.S. support rare plant and animal species and in some cases qualify as global or regional hotspots of biodiversity. Yet the Southeast’s grasslands have been reduced by approximately 90% since European settlement, as the result of agriculture, urbanization, and fire suppression. Today, climate change represents an additional stressor that may pose direct and indirect threats to grassland-related biodiversity. Additional knowledge is urgently needed to evaluate conservation options for species of conservation concern in southeastern U.S. grasslands, including species [...]
Summary
Grasslands are plant communities that have few or no trees, or have open canopies that allow for the development of a grassy groundcover. Grasslands in the southeastern U.S. support rare plant and animal species and in some cases qualify as global or regional hotspots of biodiversity. Yet the Southeast’s grasslands have been reduced by approximately 90% since European settlement, as the result of agriculture, urbanization, and fire suppression. Today, climate change represents an additional stressor that may pose direct and indirect threats to grassland-related biodiversity. Additional knowledge is urgently needed to evaluate conservation options for species of conservation concern in southeastern U.S. grasslands, including species that are listed as endangered or threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act or are being considered for such listing.
A region-wide workshop of scientific and conservation professionals will explore the challenges to grassland species conservation in the southeastern U.S. Emphasis will be placed on clarifying the research and data needs of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and state agencies related to Species Status Assessments (SSAs) for imperiled grassland species. This project will produce a report that specifies the types of data and analysis most needed to help grassland managers restore, conserve, and manage these ecosystems into the future. This work supports Secretary of Interior’s priority to create a conservation stewardship legacy by utilizing science to identify best practices to manage land and water resource and adapt to changes in the environment.
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36215097913_cc6ce9ca24_k.jpg “Meadow in Pisgah National Forest, NC - Credit: Alan Cressler”
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Purpose
Grasslands are plant communities with few or no trees or with open canopies that allow development of a grassy groundcover. Some qualify as global or regional hotspots of biodiversity supporting rare plant and animal species. Grasslands of the southeastern United States have been reduced by approximately 90% since European settlement, with some types approaching 100% loss, primarily as a result of agriculture, urbanization, and fire suppression. Climate change now presents a new potential threat with largely unknown consequences. Knowledge is urgently needed to evaluate conservation options for species of conservation concern in southeastern U.S. grasslands, e.g. species that are listed as endangered or threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act or are being considered for such listing. In addition, botanists are aware of nearly 100 undescribed plant species restricted to grassland systems in the region. Once named, many of these likely will be listed, at least at the state level. We propose a region-wide workshop to be held in 2019, which will bring together scientific and conservation professionals to explore the challenges to grassland species conservation in the southeastern U.S. Emphasis will be placed on clarifying the research and data needs of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and state agencies related to Species Status Assessments (SSAs) for imperiled grassland species. The workshop will produce a white paper that specifies the types of data and analysis most needed to help grassland managers restore, conserve, and manage these ecosystems into the future. This, in turn, will help assure that the many benefits that grasslands provide to the public – beauty, recreation, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, and ecosystem services – will continue to be available.
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Technical Summary
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The goal of this project is to identify research needs with respect to grassland species of conservation concern in the southeastern U.S. These species and their habitats (natural communities) are important to regional biodiversity but have traditionally received less attention that other ecosystems such as forests. A workshop of experts will focus on threats to grassland habitats including land-use change, fire suppression, and climate change. The findings from the workshop will be published as a white paper. These findings will be used by natural resource managers, scientists, and stakeholders throughout the region to improve conservation of grassland species and habitats. This needs assessment will directly support priorities of the Secretary of the Interior by identifying the science needed to support the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in managing its land resources and adapt to changes in the environment.
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Completed
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Meadow in Pisgah National Forest, NC - Credit: Alan Cressler