Across the globe there is a misunderstanding that farming by itself is a leading cause for global warming, Ontario’s Sheep Farmers conducted research on the subject and found that sheep can reduce the world’s carbon footprint. The report found that the use of sheep for grazing can affect the environment in three areas: biodiversity, soil health and carbon emissions.
The first major impact sheep have is in the biodiversity of their local ecosystems, through grazing and the ecological help of farmers grasslands are being restored and pollination in those areas is improving. This impact has meant that species are returning to grasslands and farmers are helping to improve their habitats with nesting areas and fertilized soil.
This leads into the soil health that sheep herds are creating, the grazing of animals helps to fertilize land and helps pollinators spread their seeds, improving the soil through layers of lightly compacted compost and manure. Responsible farming also limits grazing in grasslands to reduce the strain on the fields while promoting growth.
The final area where sheep farmers are finding success in reducing their environmental effects is in carbon emissions and compaction. When used well, sheep can improve degraded soils and improve ecosystems leading to carbon being locked deep in soil, a well-managed grassland can store up to 200 tonnes of carbon per hectare.
Responsible farming practices and sustainability driven farming can actually lead to a healthier future around the world.