September 2, 2015

According to a new NASA study, the presence or scarcity of vegetation is an essential factor in the intensity of local climate change. The study found that as plant cover declines below 65% of land area (vs. roads or other “impervious surfaces”), temperatures increased in "urban heat islands." Temperatures were as much as 1.6°C higher than surrounding areas when plant cover was reduced to 35%. The study is meant to assist urban and other land management planners as the global climate continues to warm.

Native Plants Work Better -

Although the study does not specifically differentiate between native and non-native vegetation, experts agree locally adapted native plant species are more likely to thrive, require less water and chemicals, and provide essential ecosystem services such as pollinator habitat and pest control. For more on the value and resilience of locally adapted native plants see the Department of the Interior’s National Seed Strategy.