Our Changing Climate

Peatlands cover just 3% of Earth’s surface yet store an estimated 30% of all land-based carbon. They offer vital habitat for thousands of plants and animals and provide important water filtration and flood control benefits.

But peatlands have been systemically drained for agriculture, forestry and development. And when they are not protected, restored and properly managed, they become carbon sources instead of carbon sinks. In fact, degraded peatlands account for nearly 5% of human-caused carbon emissions.

Minnesota has more than 6 million acres of peatlands, more than any other state in the continental U.S. That makes our state a critical player in peatland protection and restoration. Our scientists have studied these weird and wonderful ecosystems for years and recently published the Peatlands Playbook, which outlines how we can ensure peatlands continue to benefit climate and water.

Cover crops—plants like grasses or legumes grown between harvest and planting seasons—help keep soil healthy, reduce erosion and improve water quality by absorbing fertilizer before it washes into waterways.

They also store carbon in the soil and are among the most effective natural climate solutions in Minnesota. Plus, farmers can sell the cover crop or use it as feed for cattle.

TNC is working to remove barriers to planting cover crops in Minnesota. One way we’re doing that is by helping agribusinesses invest in equipment that will help them distribute cover crop seed and supplies to farmers. By improving the supply chain, we can help more farmers realize the economic and environmental benefits of adopting this climate-smart practice.

We know planting more trees is a key climate solution, but where can we plant when so much land is already used for cities and food production?

To answer that question, The Nature Conservancy and American Forests created The Reforestation Hub—an interactive tool that takes into account the historic extent of forests, land ownership, cost and other factors to determine the best locations for tree planting. Across Minnesota, the hub identifies nearly 2.1 million suitable acres for reforestation. If we planted trees on all those acres, they would capture more than 6 million tons of CO₂ annually, equivalent to taking 1.3 million cars off the road.

Grasslands are the most threatened, least protected habitat type on Earth—and they’re enormously effective at storing carbon. The deep roots of prairie plants hold vast amounts of carbon in the soil. But when grasslands are plowed, carbon is released into the atmosphere.

Our remaining grasslands are critical carbon sinks that must be protected and cared for. Grazed grasslands are the healthiest. Historically, bison and elk grazed the grasslands; today, it’s mostly cattle. Their hooves stir the soil, pushing seeds and dead plants down into the ground to create new life while their waste fertilizes the soil.

To ensure cattle grazing benefits the land, ranchers must rotate their herds to new pastures after a period of grazing, giving the land time to rest and recover. This is one component of what’s known as regenerative grazing—ranching practices that produce food and generate income while restoring the land.

We’re helping prairies adapt to a warmer future, starting with the seeds we plant. By planting seeds from regions with slightly warmer and drier climates, we’re building genetic diversity in the prairie and growing plants that can better withstand heat, drought and disease. It’s a smart strategy we’re using in our restoration work—and we’re encouraging others to do the same.

To support this work, TNC created the Seeds of Resilience Tool with support from the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Climate Adaptation Fund and the Prairie Pothole Joint Venture. It gathers data from across Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota to help land managers find diverse seed sources and build genetic diversity into prairies.

The science is clear—a warmer, drier climate is connected to more extreme wildfires. Sometimes in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota, we experience that as smoky skies and poor air quality alerts; other times it hits closer to home when an uncontrolled blaze pops up in the prairie, the Northwoods or the Black Hills. Not only are these wildfires dangerous and devastating for communities, but they unleash plumes of stored carbon, worsening climate change.

It may seem counterintuitive, but one of the best ways to fight these destructive wildfires is with fire.

Our grasslands and forests evolved with fire, but for more than a century, fire suppression has been the norm. That led to a buildup of highly flammable trees and grasses in these landscapes that can help fires quickly spread out of control.

By intentionally burning these landscapes, a practice that was long understood and utilized by Indigenous Peoples, we can prevent future wildfires. These small, controlled fires emit less carbon and allow us to regain some control over how and when these landscapes burn.

We’re preparing our forests today for the climate of tomorrow by planting climate-smart seedlings in northern Minnesota.

What makes these trees climate-smart? They are grown from seeds sourced from central Minnesota, meaning they’re adapted to slightly warmer temperatures—similar to the conditions they may face in the coming decades. This ensures that we’re growing native trees that are more likely to be resilient in the face of climate change.

We also consider tree species diversity when planting. Forests with a variety of species are more likely to succeed than forests planted with a single species. Diverse forests are more resilient to climate stress, pests and disease, and they provide better wildlife habitat.

Working with partners, TNC scientists identified and mapped a network of lands across the United States with unique topographies, geologies and other characteristics that can withstand climate impacts, called the Resilient and Connected Network.

This roadmap of “natural highways and neighborhoods” shows where plant and animal species have the best chance to move away from growing climate threats and find new places to call home.

The Black Hills in South Dakota is one example. Its variety of habitats attracts wildlife like mountain lions and bighorn sheep. Minnesota’s Superior National Forest is another, with large blocks of contiguous forest for moose, wolves and migratory birds to thrive. And the Missouri Couteau, which includes the Prairie Pothole Region across North and South Dakota, provides critical wetland and prairie habitat for nesting waterfowl, earning it the name the “duck factory of the world.”