What are tallgrass communities?
“Tallgrass communities” – also known as tallgrass prairies and savannas – are natural grasslands with a great diversity of grasses, wildflowers and animal life. In Ontario, tallgrass is teeming with wildlife, including: · over 200 species of plants, such as blazing-star and wild bergamot; · many birds, such as bobolinks, savanna sparrows and northern bobwhite quail; · mammals, such as deer, meadow voles, and badgers; and · a fascinating diversity of insects, from butterflies and damselflies to ants, leafhoppers and ladybeetles.
Where are they? Where have they gone?
 Tallgrass was once found throughout the central
U.S. and in southern Ontario and Manitoba. It covered an estimated 90 million hectares – about the size of British Columbia. Now only 1.5 million hectares (about one percent) remains – about the size of half of Vancouver Island. · In southern Ontario, tallgrass once covered approximately 1000 km2 – less than 3 percent remains! · Most tallgrass communities have been lost over the past 200 years due to human use of the land for agriculture and urbanization.
Why are they important?
Tallgrass… · is a globally imperiled ecosystem and one of the most endangered ecosystems in Canada; · is part of Ontario’s natural heritage; · provides habitat for a huge number of wildlife species, including many that are officially designated as rare at the global, national or provincial level; and · is home to species such as northern bobwhite which is in danger of disappearing from Canada. Some tallgrass species, like the greater prairie chicken and the karner blue butterfly, have already disappeared from Canada.
What is happening to save tallgrass in Ontario?
World Wildlife Fund Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources have developed a recovery plan for Ontario’s tallgrass communities. · Local groups and individuals are hard at work across the region to save and recover tallgrass. · The Ontario Tallgrass Prairie and Savanna Association is working to raise awareness, coordinate recovery efforts, and help provide local groups with the tools they need to do the job.
|
