Biodiversity
When we think of habitat loss and species going extinct, our first thoughts are usually of a clearcut rainforest. What we don't usually picture is the clearcuts that have already occured to give us our big, green lawns.
Habitat loss has been recognized as the #1 cause of species loss on Earth.1 Canada itself has many species that need protection, and there are over 1000 species of native plants in Nova Scotia alone... but how many do you regularly find on your lawn?2
- Lawns - typically made up of 1-3 species of grass - contain very few species overall.3 A single garden, on the other hand, can contain more than 1000 species of plants!4
- The limited plant species found on a lawn are often subject to the negative effects of pesticides.5
- It is believed that a quarter or more of the species on Earth may become extinct within the next 50 years, with habitat loss being the number one cause.1, 6
- Monocultures, such as lawns, especially vulnerable to pests and disease. Diverse ecosystems with many species, on the other hand, are relatively resilient.7
- Ironically, the loss of true grasslands (prairies and meadows) to development (including lawns!) has led to grassland birds being among the most threatened types of birds in North America today... despite the prevalence of the grass lawn.
