We have to talk about Grasslands!
Before we dig into the dirt (literally), let’s talk carbon. Carbon sequestration is like Earth’s way of saying, “I got this.” It’s the process of grabbing carbon dioxide (CO₂). You know, the stuff causing climate change (they are real wdym!) and tucking it away safely where it can’t mess things up.
There are two ways this happens. Nature’s way with helps from trees, plants, soil, even grasslands as they are like green vacuum cleaners. They suck CO₂ out of the air and stash it underground. Scientists call this biological sequestration, but we just call it plants doing their thing. Technical way by trapping CO₂ from factories and power plants, and stuff it way down deep in the Earth. Like, “Don’t call me, don’t visit me” kind of deep. That’s geological sequestration. In this post we'll stay in the biological sequestration.
Why should we care? Because the more CO₂ we store, the less hangs around making the planet hotter. Think of it as cleaning up the sky, one plant, park, or prairie at a time. So next time you see grass, trees, or even a patch of wildflowers, thank them, as you should. They’re not just pretty, they’re on a mission to save the world.
Source: Force of Nature, retrieved 2025
Okay now we go back on what am I actually doing.
I didn’t plan on becoming a grassland fangirl. But here I am, calculating how much carbon they’re storing underground to save the mother Earth. As so you know, my academic journey started a year ago at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where I pursued landscape architecture. I imagined myself designing waterfront public parks and multi-functional urban green corridors. Little did I know I’d be knee-deep in spreadsheets and soil cores, calculating just how much carbon a patch of prairie could quietly store.
So, naturally. We dove into soil health, carbon cycles, and prairie restoration. I learned two things quickly:
- Soil is complicated, just like your relationship.
- Grasslands are the Mandalorian of land types: always on a mission, carrying more than you think, and rarely getting the credit they deserve. (Yup! That's me the Star Wars fangirl!)
Why did I say that?
Because when people think about Natural and Working Lands (NWL+) in the fight against climate change, grasslands are often left out of the spotlight. Forests get most of the attention. They have big trees, majestic canopies, and those Instagram-friendly vibes. Wetlands are also rising stars, praised for their biodiversity and flood protection. Even croplands get recognition when they go regenerative.
But grasslands? They’re quiet. Unassuming. You drive past them on the highway without a second thought. Yet underground, they’re storing carbon in their deep root systems, especially when left undisturbed or restored with native species.
Grasslands, the undervalued heroes of nature.
So yeah! grasslands are totally the Din Djarin of natural systems. They don’t need applause. They just get the job done. This is the way.
LEAM Me Explain
Now, fast forward, I ended up working with the LEAM (Land-use Evolution and Impact Assessment Model) group. Here’s the fun part: I get to run scenario analysis that show what happens if we protect, restore, or develop certain land parcels. Turns out, grasslands being transformed into different land-use is the climate version of deleting your thesis the night before it's due.
- Land cover change detection: satellite data, NLCD layers, and lots of “ooh, that was grass, now it’s a mall” kind of moments. Yep that's true!
- Carbon sequestration estimates: Using IPCC Tier 1 and Tier 2 methods (yep, carbon accounting is a thing, and no, it’s not as sexy as it sounds).
- Scenario modeling: We ask questions like “What if we added green infrastructure here?” or “What if this field stayed a prairie instead of a development?”
Then we run the model, interpret the outcomes, and help planners and decision-makers avoid climate disasters.
***Disclaimer: I did not include specific modeling results in this post due to confidentiality restrictions. What I’ve shared focuses only on the general methods and approaches used in studying carbon sequestration in grasslands. If you’re interested in discussing the topic further, especially in relation to ecosystem restoration, carbon modeling, or grassland strategies. Feel free to reach out! I’d be happy to connect.
What Does It All Mean?
For landscape architects and planners like me, it means one thing: We’re not just designing spaces anymore, we’re designing climate futures. Yay!
“The best way to predict the future is to design it.” — Some wise person (probably not talking about grass, but it still works in this context.)
Working on carbon sequestration made me realize that landscape architecture isn’t just about aesthetics. It’s about shaping land systems to work with nature, not against it. And while prairie grass may not look like much, it's quietly battling climate change underground.
What’s Next?
This project didn’t just change how I see prairies, it changed how I see everything. Especially back home in Indonesia. Before, I mostly thought about climate issues in terms of urban flooding, sea-level rise, or mitigation strategis in planning. But now? I see the hidden potential of overlooked landscapes. Those drylands, scrublands, and grass-covered hills that people don’t even think twice about.
So I came up with a research question: "If prairies in the Midwest can quietly lock away carbon and support climate resilience, why can’t we explore similar strategies in the vast rural and semi-natural areas across Indonesia or my home, South Sumatra?"
Wetlands in South Sumatra Circa 2021
In South Sumatra, grasslands often dominated by species like Imperata cylindrica. Not many people know these ecosystems play a crucial role in carbon sequestration. Studies indicate that such grasslands can store significant amounts of soil organic carbon, especially when managed sustainably through practices like agroforestry and crop-livestock integration. (Source: Syahrinudin, Denich M, Becker M, Hartati W, Vleg PLG. 2020)
Despite their potential, grasslands have historically been undervalued in carbon offset policies, which tend to prioritize forests. This oversight neglects the substantial belowground carbon storage capabilities of grasslands, which are vital for long-term climate mitigation.
Although my main focus here is about grassland, back home in South Sumatra wetlands and peatlands are abundant, where there are over 1.2 million hectares of peatland ecosystems (Source: Finlayson, 2021). These areas are among the most efficient natural carbon sinks, with the ability to absorb and store vast amounts of carbon dioxide. In fact, wetlands can sequester up to three times more carbon than forests (Source: YKAN, 2023)
Beyond carbon storage, these ecosystems provide critical services such as flood regulation, water purification, and habitats for diverse species. However, they face threats from agricultural expansion and infrastructure development, leading to habitat degradation and increased greenhouse gas emissions.
Recognizing the benefits of grasslands, wetlands and peatlands all thogether is essential for comprehensive climate action. These ecosystems contribute to both mitigation, by sequestering carbon, and adaptation, by enhancing landscape resilience to climate impacts.
Incorporating these landscapes into land-use planning and conservation efforts can amplify their benefits. For instance, restoring degraded grasslands and protecting peatlands can bolster carbon storage while supporting biodiversity and local livelihoods. But we can learn from grasslands to better accomodate the wetlands and peatlands in South Sumatra.
Mitigation vs. Adaptation
When it comes to climate action, we usually split our game plan into two divisions: mitigation and adaptation.
- Mitigation = stopping or slowing climate change (think: reducing emissions, storing carbon, switching to renewables).
- Adaptation = adjusting to the climate change that’s already happening (think: flood-proof buildings, drought-resistant crops, cooling green infrastructure).
And here’s the fun part: grasslands do both! isn't it cool?
Yep. These overlooked stretches of native prairie aren’t just lying there looking pretty. They’re actively pulling carbon out of the atmosphere and stashing it underground (mitigation) while also making landscapes more resilient to floods, droughts, and soil degradation (adaptation). It’s like discovering your backyard lawn is secretly Batman (I'm not exaggerating tho).
This is where landscape architecture and environmental planning come in. Our work doesn’t stop at aesthetics. We’re designing systems that must perform under pressure, be resilient, able to bounce-back. So why not lean into ecosystems that naturally know how to do that?
Grassland restoration, when modeled, becomes a way to simulate land-use decisions that both reduce net emissions, and increase landscape resilience in the face of climate uncertainty.
As a profession, we often get stuck thinking it's either green roofs or carbon credits, rain gardens or clean energy. But integrating grasslands into both urban and rural projects? That’s a strategy that pulls double duty, and looks good doing it.
So What Does This Mean for Earth Day?
Until then, let’s keep the grass growing, the carbon sinking, and the planet (hopefully) cooling.
Grass is Greener where the Carbon’s Stored! Happy Earth Day!
Works cited:
1. Syahrinudin, Denich, M., Becker, M., Hartati, W., & Vlek, P. L. G. (2020).
Soil carbon sequestration in Imperata grasslands through sustainable management.
2. Finlayson, C. M. (2021).
Peatlands in Southeast Asia: A global perspective on carbon storage and ecosystem services.
3. Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN). (2023).
Wetlands and Peatlands as Carbon Sinks.
Retrieved from https://www.ykan.or.id
4. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). (2006).
2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories: Volume 4 – Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Use.
Retrieved from https://www.ipcc-nggip.iges.or.jp/public/2006gl/
5. United States Geological Survey (USGS).
National Land Cover Database (NLCD).
Retrieved from https://www.usgs.gov/centers/eros/science/national-land-cover-database
6. LEAM Group. (n.d.).
Land-use Evolution and Impact Assessment Model (LEAM).
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Retrieved from https://leam.illinois.edu
7. (Quote) "The best way to predict the future is to design it."
Often attributed to Alan Kay or Abraham Lincoln depending on context — you can include it as:
Kay, A. (n.d.). The best way to predict the future is to invent it.
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