Prairie Conservation

Iowa was once 95% covered with prairies, but today just a fraction of those remain. Scientists, like naturalists and biologists, are working to preserve remnant prairies and to reconstruct prairies in some areas where they were lost or destroyed.

Reconstructed and Remnant Prairies

Remnant prairies are rare in Iowa, but there are some significant efforts to reconstruct prairies in Iowa.

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Transcript
Green and brown prairie grasses growing on a hilly landscape.

Question

How might you be able to contribute to prairie reconstruction efforts in Iowa?

Prairies and the Environment

Plants like trees and prairie plants pull carbon from the air and store it, but prairie plants are able to store carbon in their roots, which protects them from surface threats like tornadoes and fires. 

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A woman holding a long, complex, network of roots from a prairie plant. Another woman is gesturing toward the roots.

Question

How might planting prairies be able to help with environmental issues?

Biological Carbon Sequestration

Carbon sequestration is when carbon is pulled out of the air and stored. Trees and prairies both do this, but trees store most of the carbon above ground, while prairies store most of it below ground in their roots.

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Transcript
Carbon is captured above ground by prairie plants and pulled into the roots

Question

How does carbon sequestration work in prairies?

Prairie Burns

Controlled prairie burns are done to help control the species of plants in a prairie.

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A prairie which is burning. The front line of fire is orange and is approaching a prairie with brown grasses.

Question

What different ways can someone control a burn in a prairie?

Preserving Prairie Land

Naturalists and biologists work to protect and preserve prairies. However, volunteers, farmers, families and even you can play a role in prairie preservation. 

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Transcript
A close up of beautiful purple prairie flowers on green stems.

Question

What are some small ways you might be able to keep Iowa prairies from becoming extinct?

The Bison Factor

Let's learn how bison are involved in the prairie reconstruction process at Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge.

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Transcript
A herd of bison in a prairie.

Question

How might bison contribute to prairie reconstruction efforts?