Long associated in the public mind with abandoned farm fields and other “wasted” parcels of land, the ecological value of grasslands remain a mystery to many people.

But Long Island’s grasslands support an enormous array of plant and animal species such as sandplain gerardia (federally endangered plant species), several species of wildflowers, birds such as short-eared owls, bobolinks, meadowlarks and Northern harriers, and a variety of butterflies and dragonflies.

Historically, grasslands were a prominent feature of Long Island’s natural landscape. The Hempstead Plains, at one time the largest prairie east in the Northeast, covered over 60,000 acres (nearly 100 square miles) of central Nassau County, stretching from the Queens border to modern day Plainview.

The flat, sandy soils of the Hempstead Plains were well-suited for farms and airfields, both of which eventually gave way to the commercial, industrial, recreational and residential development seen in this area today. Presently, less than 100 acres of the Hempstead Plains remain, scattered among several small parcels in the vicinity of Nassau Coliseum and Eisenhower Park. 

From Grassland to Pine Barren

Despite their name, the pine barrens are neither barren nor made up of just pines. To the contrary, the pine barrens are a rich mosaic of forests, ponds, bogs, swamps and grasslands. 

In fact, most of the remaining grasslands on Long Island are located within the pine barrens, although they are often overlooked by the casual observer. As with all other habitats within the pine barrens, grasslands contribute significantly to the overall species diversity and support a wide range of specialized plant and animal species. Unlike many other habitats, however, grasslands are at risk both from human encroachment and from natural processes occurring within the pine barrens.

Left undisturbed, grasslands will eventually be colonized by shrubs and trees, eventually leading to its transformation into a forest-type habitat. The longevity of the Hempstead and Oak-Brush Plains was almost certainly due to frequent disturbance by fire, which prevented encroachment by woody plants.

Threats to Grasslands

Grasslands are the most threatened and most rapidly disappearing habitat on Long Island, the United States, and around the world.

Large-scale declines of grasslands have resulted in dramatic loss of species of grassland-nesting birds such as the short-eared owl, upland sandpiper, bobolink, Eastern meadowlark, and vesper and grasshopper sparrows, as well as several moth and butterfly species. Not surprisingly, on Long Island remnant populations of many of these species can only be found at a few isolated grasslands within the Pine Barrens.

This is why grasslands require careful stewardship and ongoing management, like prescribed fire, to preserve their viability and prevent their development into shrubby and ultimately forested habitats.

Saving Long Island's Grassland Communities

The Nature Conservancy is working with partners like the Suffolk County Soil and Water Conservation District to map the remaining grasslands on Long Island. From the map, grassland conservation priority areas will be determined and as well as potential sites for acquisition. The Conservancy is working with partners to develop management plans for existing grasslands and to determine the best practices for conserving grassland-dependent species.

Nature picture credits (top to bottom, left to right): Photo © The Nature Conservancy (grassland); Photo © Chris Helzer/TNC (female bobolink).