Two Nature Conservancy Preserves Recognized in
8 Wonders of Kansas Contest
TOPEKA, KANSAS — January 29, 2008 — Cheyenne Bottoms and the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve were recognized today as wonders of Kansas in the 8 Wonders of Kansas Contest. The winners were announced today by Governor Kathleen Sebelius during the Kansas Day celebration at the Statehouse.
“We are thrilled that these two ecologically important landscapes, where we have invested so much effort, were named among the state’s wonders,” said Nature Conservancy State Director Alan Pollom. “Their diversity captures a striking range of the natural beauty in Kansas.”
Cheyenne Bottoms is a 40,000 acre wetland complex located in central Kansas outside of Great Bend. Together with the nearby Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, the shallow pools make this one of North America’s most important stop-over points for migrating shorebirds and waterfowl. The Nature Conservancy owns almost 7,700 acres in the marshy upland portion of the Bottoms while the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks owns nearly 20,000 acres in the lower-lying reaches of the basin.
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Representatives from Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve at the Statehouse.
Staff Photo |
The Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, located just north of Strong City deep in the heart of the Flint Hills, stands as an important reminder of the state’s pioneer past. The 11,000-acre preserve houses a biologically diverse population of wildlife, grand vistas of native prairie grasses, and cultural elements of the early ranching industry. A public-private partnership, unique in all the National Park system, shapes the future of this preserve. The Nature Conservancy is the principal landowner, pays the taxes, and manages the grazing leases. The National Park Service directs the public visitor experience and works with the Conservancy on land management decisions. The Kansas Park Trust operates the bookstore, promotes public awareness and organizes special events.
Both preserves are open to the public daily.
The Nature Conservancy’s Kansas Chapter was established in 1989, and has more than 7,000 members. The Kansas Chapter has helped conserve more than 77,400 acres and owns six preserves comprising over 46,500 acres across the state. Learn more at www.nature.org/kansas.
The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have been responsible for the protection of more than 15 million acres in the United States and have helped preserve more than 102 million acres in Latin America, the Caribbean, Asia and the Pacific. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.
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