Prairie

American prairies used to cover gigantic swaths of the Midwest and Great Plains region far greater than the eye could see - 170 million acres, to be exact. American colonizers' displacement of indigenous peoples, systematic annihalation of buffalo populations, and conversion of rich prairie soils into agricultural fields decimated the abundant prairie, with a mere 1% of prairie remaining today. Prairies are grassland ecosystems composed of native grasses and herbaceaous flowering broad-leaf plants called forbes. Prairies are incredibly biodiverse, both above and below ground, serving as habitat and feeding grounds for native mammals, insects, birds, and microorganisms. With up to two-thirds of prairie growth found below ground in vast root systems, prairies serve an important role in carbon sequestration and water filtration. This also means they easily resprout from below ground when controlled burns are used to clear dead growth, return the nutrients to the ground, and keep woody invaders at bay. There is a growing movement to restore prairies and grow backyard prairies to help mitigate climate change, support native plant and animal species, and protect our waterways. The Allen Centennial Prairie is one example of a bite-sized prairie. It was planted from seed in 2022 with native prairie plants from all around the state.