Flawed Turfgrass Research Report
Gets Mass Media Attention . . . Now What?
On January 19, 2010 the University of California (Irvine) and the American Geophysical Union (AGU) sent
out a joint press release based on a research study conducted by Amy Townsend-Small and
Claudi Czimczik titled "Carbon Sequestration and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Urban Turf".
The peer reviewed study suggests that turfgrass has a negative impact on the environment and has
received extensive press coverage worldwide.
Unfortunately the research contained serious miscalculations which have since been acknowledged by
the authors.
We have now learned that even the methodolgy used in conducting the research is in itself
currently under review and being questioned by leading turfgrass extension specialists and turfgrass
research scientists nationwide who are challenging the results.
The attached press release is intended to undo the negative press that the study has already generated.
TPI Press Release