Prairie restoration

Prairie restoration is an ecologically friendly way to restore some of the prairie land that was lost to industry, farming and commerce. For example, the U.S. state of Illinois alone once held over 22 million acres (89,000 km²) of prairie land and now just 2,000 acres (8 km²) of "original" prairie land exist.

Purpose

Ecologically, prairie restoration aids in conservation of earth's topsoil, which is often exposed to erosion from wind and rain when prairies are plowed under to make way for new commerce. Conversely, much more of the prairie lands have become the fertile fields on which cereal crops of corn, barley and wheat are grown.

Many prairie plants are also highly resistant to drought, temperature extremes, disease, and native insect pests. They are frequently used for xeriscaping projects in arid regions of the American West.

A restoration project of prairie lands can be large or small. A backyard prairie restoration will enrich soil, help with erosion and take up extra water in excessive rainfalls. Prairie flowers are attractive to native butterflies and other pollinators. On a larger scale, communities and corporations are creating areas of restored prairies which in turn will store organic carbon in the soil and help maintain the biodiversity of the 3000 plus species that count on the grasslands for food and shelter.

Types of plants

Prairie plants consist of grasses and forbs. Grasses, which are monocots, are similar to what may be in a yard, but grasses in the prairie will be of a broader leaf. Some prominent tallgrass prairie grasses include Big Bluestem, Indiangrass, and Switchgrass. Midgrass and shortgrass species include Little Bluestem and Buffalograss. Forbs fall into an unusual category. They are not grasses, trees or shrubs, but are herbaceous and share the field with the less diverse grasses. Most wildflowers and legumes are forbs. Forbs are structurally specialized to resist herbaceous grazers such as American bison, and their commonly hairy leaves help deter the cold and prevent excessive evaporation. Many of the forbs contain secondary compounds that were discovered by the American Natives and are still used widely today. One particular forb, the purple coneflower, is recognized more readily by its scientific name "Echinacea purpurea", or just "Echinacea", which is used as an herbal remedy for colds.

Care of prairies

Fire is a big component to the success of prairie lands, large or small. Controlled burns, with a permit, are recommended every year (after two growth seasons) to burn away dead plants; prevent certain other plants from encroaching (such as trees) and release nutrients into the ground to encourage new growth. The Native Americans may also have used the burns to control pests such as ticks.

If controlled burns are not possible, rotational mowing is recommended as a substitute.

Prairie contributors

Some popular prairie restoration projects have been completed and maintained by conservation departments, such as Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, located in Wilmington, Illinois. This restoration project is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. It sits on part of the Joliet Army Ammunitions Plant, specifically on an area once contaminated from TNT manufacturing. Since 1997, the project has opened some 15,000 acres (61 km²) of restored prairie to the public.

Another large restoration project finds its home on the ample area of Fermilab; a U.S. governmental atomic accelerator laboratory located in Batavia, Illinois. Fermilab's 6,800 acres (28 km²) sit a top fertile farmland and the prairie restoration project consists of approximately 1000 acres (4 km²) of that. This project began in 1971 and continues today with the help of Fermilab employees and many community teachers, botanists and volunteers.

ee also

*Land rehabilitation
*Restoration Ecology
*Buffalo Commons

External links

* [http://www.theprairieenthusiasts.org The Prairie Enthusiasts] Grassland protection and restoration in the upper Midwest.
* [http://www.prairieplains.org Prairie Plains Resource Institute]
* [http://www-ed.fnal.gov/help/prairie/Prairie_Res/index.html Prairie Parcel Restoration]
* [http://www.prairies.org/ Prairies Forever]
* [http://www.fs.fed.us/mntp/ Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie]
* [http://www-ed.fnal.gov/samplers/prairie/fnal_prairie.html Fermilab Prairie] Prairie at the Fermilab Accelerator at Batavia, IL
* [http://www.prairieresto.com Prairie Restorations, Inc.]
* [http://www.CitizensforConservation.org/ Citizens for Conservation] A non-profit centered in Barrington, IL restoring prairie, savanna and wetland habitats.
* [http://saukprairievision.org Sauk Prairie Conservation Alliance] , located in central Wisconsin; instrumental in the rehabilitation of the Sauk Prairie on the Badger Army Ammunition Plant
* [http://www.savingcranes.org International Crane Foundation] , restores prairies and other crane habitats.
* [http://www.youcanchangetheplanet.org Youcanchangetheplanet.org] - A non-profit organization dedicated to sustainable conservation and the rehabilitation of prairies, forests, and wetlands.