The Southeastern Grasslands Initiative: Rebuilding the Forgotten Grasslands of the South
Tommy Johns & The Fabled Squirrel
[Van Buren Co., TN] “…for pasturage and meadows, they are scarcely surpassed. There is a course nutritious grass, well known in this part of the State as ‘mountain grass,’ which is indigenous to the soil, and afford rich and abundant pasturage to hundreds of cattle, sheep, and other animals...In many places are tracts similar to the ‘oak openings’ of the west, where the trees stand wide apart, or in graceful groups with broad vistas opening up on every hand, some of which extend far into the distance, while others are terminated suddenly by the tangled undergrowth which borders the banks of mountain streams. Here and there are little sunny glades or miniature prairies, appear in the distance like cultivated fields” (Killebrew and Safford 1874).
[Fentress Co., TN] “Twenty-‐five thousand head of cattle could be fattened on this range every summer”(Hogue 1916).
Fire Suppression Conversion to Fescue/Cool Season Grasses Conversion to Row-‐Crop Agriculture Urbanization
Relatively Secure Grasslands Baaatany Project
Ancient, grazing-‐dependent
Functionally Extinct Grasslands Require Recreation 3.7 million acres of prairie as of 1800
Baskin et al. (1994)
Restorable Grasslands Tree thinning, fire, grazing
Biodiversity Crisis The greatest threat to the biodiversity of eastern North America
Can we afford to let our last remnants slip into oblivion? 34% of land animals 49% grasslands
60%
The loss of grassland habitats is leading to losses in plant and animal species 1,213 G1-‐G3 communities
Savannas 10%
Ecological  Collapse
Renewed Interest in Grassland Conservation
nd Can our grasslands survive into the 22
century?
Until there is a coordinated effort to conserve, research, and rebuild them they will continue to slip into oblivion
Saving our grasslands will require… • unparalleled long-‐term financial commitment from philanthropy and grants • support at local, regional, state, and national levels • leadership and coordination • investments in infrastructure and organization • Multifaceted response
MidwesternTallgrass Prairie/Savanna
c
Great Plains
SGI headquarters SGI partners
Southern Pine Savannas
Southeastern Interior Grasslands
Historical prairies Historical savannas Small grasslands
Southeastern Grasslands Initiative A CLEARINGHOUSE FOR SOUTHEASTERN GRASSLANDS Donors Donors
Corporate Sponsors
Donors Donors Donors
Corporate Sponsors
Grants & Contracts Market Proceeds
PRESERVATION
RESTORATION
RESEARCH & MONITORING
RESCUE
RE-‐CREATION
SEED-‐BANKING
MARKET-‐DRIVEN
EDUCATION & OUTREACH
Founding  Partner IL P
R V
IH
WGCP
A P
EGCP
B R
PD
$250,000