Prairie Restoration

The American prairie has provided sustenance and shelter to people in the southern Great Plains for thousands of years. However, few areas are currently protected and many have been fundamentally altered by past human use. By restoring the native plants, animals, and processes of the prairie, we restore the natural heritage that has shaped our cultural heritage. The goal of restoration is often to return an anthropogenically altered ecosystem to its “natural state.” Restored ecosystems help restore important ecological services, such as cleaning air and water, cooling and reduction of greenhouse gases, and maintaining biodiversity. Restoration can repair damage to an ecosystem but also improve the lives of humans by renewing economic opportunities and rejuvenating traditional cultural practices. Restoration can be achieved in many ways, sometimes by connecting the damaged ecosystem to the larger landscape, repairing processes, or involving stakeholders.