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Northern Great Plains
Restoring the great American prairie
The Northern Great Plains presents unique opportunities for conservation.
© Valerie Bruchon/American Prairie Foundation
Two hundred years ago, Lewis and Clark traveled through the Northern Great Plains and found an abundance of life rivaling the African savanna. Millions of bison, pronghorn and elk grazed an endless sea of grass, watched by prairie wolves, grizzlies and other predators in the distance while immense flocks of birds colored the big open sky.
Today, large swaths of this mixed-grass prairie remain, but the sights and sounds of many native species are largely gone. With less than 2 percent of the region’s 180 million acres in reserves managed for wildlife conservation, the Northern Great Plains is one of the least protected places on Earth. There is, however, an opportunity to restore and conserve this remarkable landscape and the wildlife that call it home.
WWF's vision: A healthy and well-managed landscape that conserves all native species through a combination of conservation areas and ecologically sustainable agriculture.
The place. In the heart of North America, the Northern Great Plains stretches across soils built up over millennia. Its untilled prairies, diverse grasses, magnificent wildflowers, and meandering streams and rivers span five states within the United States and two Canadian provinces.
The species. This region is home to more than 1,500 species of plants like blue grama, sagebrush and coneflower; 300 birds, including the greater sage grouse, golden eagle and sandhill crane; and 220 species of butterfly. It harbors more than 90 mammals, including the American bison, the prairie dog and the blackfooted ferret— one of the most endangered mammals in North America.
The people. Many people living on the prairie can trace their roots back generations; centuries for Native Americans. The virtues of cultural pride, hard work and tight-knit communities shape much of the culture of the Northern Great Plains and figure prominently in how Americans see themselves today.
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