Yosemite's meadows can be restored, but it will take time and effort

Researchers at Colorado State University are working to restore Yosemite National Park's famous meadows by reintroducing native plants that used to cover the area, as reported in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences. Overgrazing by sheep in the 19th century depleted native wet meadow plants and damaged soil quality, threatening wildlife and diminishing the park's iconic views.

Without deep-rooted vegetation to maintain soil health and moisture, the meadows release carbon and dry out, making recovery more difficult. To address the issue, scientists planted 40,000 native sedge seedlings in the meadows and tracked their progress. After three years, the sedges were gradually enhancing soil health by increasing organic matter, but the meadow continued to lose carbon due to ongoing decomposition.

While recovery will be slow, the reintroduction of historically dominant vegetation will help prevent further ecosystem decline. According to lead author David Cooper, restoring the original plant life could take 25-50 years to fully repair the damage caused over the past 150 years.