Economic Benefits
Grasslands contribute $78 billion annually to the U.S. economy by supporting an estimated 60 million cattle and 8 million sheep. To sustain agricultural production, grasslands must be conserved and well-managed to produce robust, resilient stands.
Abundant recreational and tourism opportunities exist in North America for the millions of visitors who spend countless hours each year in the tranquility and open spaces of grasslands. Whether riding horses on the plains of Texas or hunting pronghorn antelope in the short-grass prairie of Wyoming, there are plenty of recreational activities that benefit many.
Recreation and tourism afford economic benefits to local communities and states. Revenue generated through sales of outdoor gear, guide services, lodging and countless other activities contribute directly to the local community’s economy. These transactions further create benefits by providing jobs to related manufacturing and service industries, thus creating revenue through a ripple effect across the entire region. Estimates from the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation suggest almost 80 million people participated in consumptive and non-consumptive bird related recreation in 1991. Migratory waterfowl hunting alone contributed an estimated $1.3 billion to retail sales nationwide. Non-consumptive bird recreation generated $3.3 billion in retail sales revenue. These are significant benefits derived from tourism and recreation provided, to a large extent, by grassland ecosystems.
Grasslands also offer the potential to provide economic benefits from clean energy production. There is a growing emphasis in the potential for biofuels from harvested grasslands to replace practices with higher emissions. Grasslands also exist is some of the most wind-rich regions of the country. If these new sources of energy are planned so not to adversely impact wildlife populations, they could result in the restoration of more acres of grassland in areas of marginal cropland and boost struggling rural economies.
Other Grassland Benefits