Sandplain Grassland
A globally rare ecosystem
Ranked as a Critically Imperiled habitat in Massachusetts, Sandplain Grassland is an important biodiversity hotspot. Despite its rare status and limited spatial range, Sandplain Grasslands are home to many unique plants, insects, and birds. On Nantucket, we are lucky to still have healthy acreages of Sandplain Grassland, including areas at the Linda Loring Nature Foundation.
Research and Management in Action
Sandplain Grassland is a early successional habitat. Without disturbance it will transition to a more woody, shrub-dominant landscape. Natural factors such as wind and salt spray help maintain Sandplain Grassland, but so does human management. In 2016, the Sandplain Grassland Network was formed to compile research and best management practices for this special habitat.