Our mid-continental prairies have suffered more biological destruction than any other ecological region in North America. The Great Plains lost their sense of “wildness.” Prairie grasslands have been almost entirely converted to confined pasture for livestock, croplands and, near populated areas, real estate development. But, our grasslands once abounded with a great variety and abundance of wildlife that included not only immense herds of bison and pronghorn but also elk, wolves, and grizzly bears.

About the Initiative

Forest Guardians launched the Southern Prairie Conservation Initiative in 2005 with a vision toward restoring and protecting functional prairie ecosystems across a public/private lands network that supports the full array of native flora and fauna. The long-term goals include reconnecting now fragment habitat; re-establishing healthy populations of imperiled species; returning extirpated species such as wild bison, black-footed ferrets, and wolves; and engendering a greater appreciation for prairie wildness among the local and national community.