How Native Roofs Can Help
 

Our native roofs are comprised solely of species found in Alberta's prairies. 

• Rooftops make up as much as 70% of the area of the downtown core.  When topped with native plant species, rooftops can function as islands amongst urban development, creating new habitat in an otherwise uninviting environment. 

• In key areas they can provide rest places for migratory birds, as well as breeding and foraging habitats. 

• Introducing native environments to cities increases the public's awareness of native species and habitat loss.

 

North America's Native Prairies are Disappearing

 

• About 10% of Canada’s native prairies remain intact habitat; 25% for all of North America.

  • Half of the remaining native grassland in Canada is mixed grass prairie. Less than 25% of the original area remains.

  • Less than 5% of the original Fescue Prairie remains.

• We have seen an average 40% decline in grassland bird species since 1970, when this type of bird monitoring began. Declines prior to 1970 were likely even greater. 

• Causes: cultivation, grazing, draining of wetlands, encroachment by woodland species, and urban development.

 

Our Native Prairies are Important

 

• Native prairie grasslands store carbon in soil – they are in fact superior carbon sinks to forests with similar characteristics. Soil under Canada’s native grasslands contain up to 200 tonnes of carbon per hectare.

• There could be as much as two to three billion tonnes of carbon stored within the uncultivated prairies of western Canada.

  • Converting  native prairie to cultivated farmland results in a 20-35% loss of carbon stored in surface soil within a few years or decades.

• Introduced plants, including agricultural crops and common urban varietals (i.e. Kentucky Blue Grass) tend to require far more water and chemicals which can contaminate waterways.