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The Great Plains

Resilient and Connected Plains

How we're saving nature's stage in the Great Plains.

October 29, 2020

A herd of bison walk across a grassy, hilly landscape toward the camera.
Bison Grazing Bison at The Nature Conservancy's Broken Kettle Grassland Preserve in the Loess Hills of Iowa. © Chris Helzer/The Nature Conservancy

Nature is on the move as warmer temperatures, increased flooding and other climate impacts alter and destroy habitat, forcing species to search for new places to live. As nature faces growing threats, so do people who rely on healthy lands and waters for food, jobs and quality of life.

The Resilient and Connected Network

Working with non-government, government and academic partners, scientists at The Nature Conservancy (TNC) have identified and mapped a network of lands across the United States with unique topographies, geologies, and other characteristics that can withstand climate impacts, called the Resilient and Connected Network.

This roadmap of “natural highways and neighborhoods” shows where plant and animal species have the best chance to move away from growing climate threats and find new places to call home.

Give Them Room to Roam

As our changing climate continues to take a toll on wildlife habitat, we're working on ensuring safe and resilient natural highways for migrating wildlife.

Texas Horned Lizard with wide-eyed stare
Five freshwater mussels of varying size
Mountain lion roars
Mallard Drake duck flying out of water
Pronghorn pair in the distance
Texas Horned Lizard with wide-eyed stare

Texas Horned Lizard: A Texas horned lizard spotted in the short grass at Four Canyon Preserve, OK. © Going West Productions

Five freshwater mussels of varying size

Mussels: The Meramec River supports several species of mussels. © Mark Godfrey/The Nature Conservancy

Mountain lion roars

Mountain lion: Mountain lion © Paul Berquist

Mallard Drake duck flying out of water

Mallard Drake: Courtesy of America's duck factory, the Missouri Coteau © U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Pronghorn pair in the distance

Pronghorn: A pair of pronghorn at Niobrara Valley Preserve. © Amanda Hefner/TNC

 

Black Hills

The Black Hills in South Dakota is an ecologically unique and important area for conservation. Sitting at the confluence of sage lands, pine forests and mixed grasslands, its diverse habitat attracts an array of wildlife including mountain lions and bighorn sheep. TNC’s Whitney Preserve in the Black Hills is home to rare plants and is one of the best places in the region for birdwatching.
Person riding a horse in the Black Hills.
Whitney Preserve The Black Hills is an ecologically unique and important area for conservation © Mike Deal
Closeup of a bobcat kitten.
Bobcat One of many animals to call the Black Hills home, bobcat populations are being closely monitored by South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks. © Marty Cordano
Whitney Preserve The Black Hills is an ecologically unique and important area for conservation © Mike Deal
Bobcat One of many animals to call the Black Hills home, bobcat populations are being closely monitored by South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks. © Marty Cordano

 

Blackland Prairies

The blacklands of southwestern Arkansas, a landscape dominated by tall native grasses and vibrant wildflowers, harbors more than 600 types of plants, including 21 globally imperiled plant communities. Originally about 12 million acres of these prairies and woodlands covered parts of Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. Today, only some 10,000 acres remain in scattered patches. TNC is working with partners and private landowners to restore blackland sites in the Natural State.
A man in plaid carefully removes encroaching cedar trees.
Invasive Species Removal Staff and volunteers work to remove easter redcedar to restore the prairie landscape. © Going West Productions
Pale purple coneflowers in whimsical lighting.
Prairie Ridge Preserve This place, along with nearby Terre Noire Natural Area, are examples of the best remaining blackland prairie complexes in the state. © Jimmy Smith
Invasive Species Removal Staff and volunteers work to remove easter redcedar to restore the prairie landscape. © Going West Productions
Prairie Ridge Preserve This place, along with nearby Terre Noire Natural Area, are examples of the best remaining blackland prairie complexes in the state. © Jimmy Smith

 

Davis Mountains

The Davis Mountains in western Texas are called a “sky island” because they rise abruptly from the surrounding Chihuahuan desert. This cooler and wetter oasis provides habitat for plants and wildlife unable to live in the desert. The mix of forests, grasslands, canyons and creeks provides opportunities for many species to find suitable conditions, even in a changing climate.
A growling mountain lion stands on red dirt.
Mountain lion The Davis Mountains provide important habitat for mountain lions, black bears, bobcat, elk and more. © Paul Berquist
Lush green trees and grasses dot the rugged landscape of the Davis Mountains.
Davis Mountains A rugged yet fragile sky-island refuge, Davis Mountains Preserve is surrounded by a vast, West Texas desert landscape. © Jerod Foster
Mountain lion The Davis Mountains provide important habitat for mountain lions, black bears, bobcat, elk and more. © Paul Berquist
Davis Mountains A rugged yet fragile sky-island refuge, Davis Mountains Preserve is surrounded by a vast, West Texas desert landscape. © Jerod Foster

 

Flint Hills

Originally spanning portions of 14 states from Canada to the Gulf of America, today less than 4% of world’s tallgrass prairie remains—and most found in the Flint Hills of eastern Kansas and northern Oklahoma. Here, four million acres of deep-rooted grasses in the Flint Hills nurture some the greatest biological diversity in the world. In Kansas, Konza Prairie and Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve are open to the public and TNC also works with private landowners to preserve their land.
Scenic view of the rolling Flint Hills.
Flint Hills The last remaining vast tallgrass prairie in the world © Jim Griggs
A weathered rancher in plaid stares out his screened window.
Rancher Ranching continues to dominate local economies as the primary agricultural use of native grasslands. © Michael Forsberg
Flint Hills The last remaining vast tallgrass prairie in the world © Jim Griggs
Rancher Ranching continues to dominate local economies as the primary agricultural use of native grasslands. © Michael Forsberg

 

Oklahoma Canyons

Prairies and grasslands are some of North America’s most threatened and ignored habitats suffering from land fragmentation, encroachment of invasive species and conversion of native grasses to cropland. The Four Canyon Preserve in western Oklahoma spans 4,050-acres of rugged short-grass prairie along the banks and floodplain of the mighty Canadian River. This preserve protects the charismatic Texas horned lizard, better known as the horny toad, Cassin’s sparrow as well as important plants for pollinators such as blue indigo, prairie coneflower, prairie blazing star and common milkweed.
A horny toad with an intense stare lies flat on red earth while several people stand in the background.
Four Canyon Preserve Protecting over 4,000-acres of short-grass prairie along the mighty Canadian River. © Ryan West Photography
A group of hikers climb up a hill in the Oklahoma Canyons.
Up and Down Hiking up and out of one of the four canyons located on the preserve. © Going West Productions
Four Canyon Preserve Protecting over 4,000-acres of short-grass prairie along the mighty Canadian River. © Ryan West Photography
Up and Down Hiking up and out of one of the four canyons located on the preserve. © Going West Productions

 

Loess Hills

Fine particles of windblown silt, known as loess, created the Loess Hills as glaciers retreated at the end of the last Ice Age. Today, the 650,000-acre Loess Hills landscape rises 200 feet above the Missouri River valley and is recognized for its unusually deep deposits of loess. Iowa's largest surviving prairies are found in the Loess Hills and TNC's Broken Kettle Grasslands Preserve. TNC hopes to preserve more than 100,000 acres in the Loess Hills to maintain healthy ecological systems within a sustainable, working agricultural landscape.
Group of hikers making their way to a high point in the Loess Hill of Iowa that is home to tremendous diversity of plants and animals which are resilient to climate change.
Loess Hills Western Iowa’s Loess Hills harbor a tremendous diversity of plants and animals and holds more than half of Iowa’s remaining tallgrass prairie habitat. © Chris Helzer/TNC
Overlooking the bison herd at the Broken Kettle Grasslands Preserve in the Loess Hills of Iowa which are known for resiliency in the face of climate change.
Bison in Iowa Bison grazing at The Nature Conservancy's Broken Kettle Grassland Preserve in the Loess Hills of Iowa. © Chris Heizer/TNC
Loess Hills Western Iowa’s Loess Hills harbor a tremendous diversity of plants and animals and holds more than half of Iowa’s remaining tallgrass prairie habitat. © Chris Helzer/TNC
Bison in Iowa Bison grazing at The Nature Conservancy's Broken Kettle Grassland Preserve in the Loess Hills of Iowa. © Chris Heizer/TNC

 

Meramec River

Among the longest free-flowing rivers in the U.S., the Meramec River in Missouri is an irreplaceable freshwater resource and key tributary to the Mississippi River. Its well-protected watershed supports among the highest biodiversity in the region, provides economic and recreational resources for local communities, and clean drinking water to approximately 70,000 households.
Kayakers portaging around a sandbar in the Missouri Meramec River, one of the longest free-flowing waterways providing key habitat protections in the face of climate change.
Biodiversity Six species of endangered mussels and other rare aquatic and terrestrial species live in the Meramec River. © Mark Godfrey/TNC
At the Vilander Bluff Natural Area overlooking the Missouri Meramec River which provides clean drinking water to over 70,000 households.
Vilander Bluff Meramec River overlook at Vilander Bluff Natural Area. © Bill Duncan
Biodiversity Six species of endangered mussels and other rare aquatic and terrestrial species live in the Meramec River. © Mark Godfrey/TNC
Vilander Bluff Meramec River overlook at Vilander Bluff Natural Area. © Bill Duncan

 

Missouri Coteau

The Missouri Coteau includes much of the Prairie Pothole Region, regarded as America’s duck factory because its prairies and wetlands create ideal habitat for nesting waterfowl. TNC’s 7,000+-acre Davis Ranch in North Dakota is being managed for not only ducks but also pollinators and grassland birds.
Overlooking the Missouri Coteau at the Davis Ranch in North Dakota that provides resilient habitat for nesting waterfowl in the face of climate change.
Prairie pothole The prairies and wetlands of the Missouri Coteau and Prairie Pothole Region create ideal habitat for nesting waterfowl. © Richard Hamilton Smith
A mallard drake duck taking flight out of the wetlands of the Missouri Coteau in North Dakota that also provides habitat for pollinators and grassland birds.
Mallard Drake The Missouri Coteau, where TNC's Davis Ranch is located, is known as the 'duck factory' of North America. © U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Prairie pothole The prairies and wetlands of the Missouri Coteau and Prairie Pothole Region create ideal habitat for nesting waterfowl. © Richard Hamilton Smith
Mallard Drake The Missouri Coteau, where TNC's Davis Ranch is located, is known as the 'duck factory' of North America. © U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

 

Nebraska Sandhills

The Nebraska Sandhills encompass approximately 19,300 square miles of sand dunes, stretching 265 miles across Nebraska. It one of the largest contiguous, intact grasslands in all of the United States. Ranching has proven to be the best economic and environmental use of the Sandhills, and TNC works alongside ranchers on invasive species removal and prescribed fire training.
The sun rises over the winding river at the Niobrara Valley Preserve, the largest tract of intact grasslands, which offers climate resiliency.
Niobrara Valley Preserve Trail road and sunrise in the Nebraska Sandhills © Amanda Henfer/TNC
Two pronghorn antelope standing in the Niobrara Valley Preserve they help maintain by grazing activity that ensures balance in the prairie ecosystem as the climate changes.
Pronghorn A pair of pronghorn at Niobrara Valley Preserve. © Amanda Hefner/TNC
Niobrara Valley Preserve Trail road and sunrise in the Nebraska Sandhills © Amanda Henfer/TNC
Pronghorn A pair of pronghorn at Niobrara Valley Preserve. © Amanda Hefner/TNC

 

Superior National Forest

Encompassing the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, the large blocks of contiguous forest within Superior National Forest are ideal for Minnesota’s moose, wolves and migratory songbirds as well as sustainable timber harvests. TNC is planting millions of trees in the region with climate change in mind to ensure our forests will remain diverse and resilient.
Two people paddling a canoe within the boundary waters of the Superior National Forest that provides a climate resilient landscape for wildlife and outdoor recreation.
Boundary Waters Within the Superior National Forest, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness includes more than 1,200 miles of paddling routes. © Paula Champagne
Birds-eye view of the towering trees and meandering waterways of the Superior National Forest in Minnesota providing climate resiliency and protections for people and nature.
Superior National Forest The large blocks of contiguous forest within Superior National Forest are ideal for Minnesota’s moose, wolves and migratory songbirds. © Jason Whalen/Fauna Creative
Boundary Waters Within the Superior National Forest, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness includes more than 1,200 miles of paddling routes. © Paula Champagne
Superior National Forest The large blocks of contiguous forest within Superior National Forest are ideal for Minnesota’s moose, wolves and migratory songbirds. © Jason Whalen/Fauna Creative

Resilient & Connected Story Map

Not in the Great Plains? Check out our story map to learn more about your area.

Explore the Story Map

The Resilient and Connected Network is a starting point for conversations with local communities, Indigenous communities, land trusts, agencies, corporations and funders on how we can coordinate our conservation efforts to increase our collective impact and sustain nature.

In order to achieve conservation at the scale that is required, collaboration with people and organizations across the public and private sectors is a must.

Get involved and learn more about the resilient and connected lands near you!

Speak Up for Nature!

Understanding environmental issues and how we can solve them is hard. Allow us to make it a little easier with our Issues Guide.

Speak Up

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