Grasslands once stretched unimpeded from North Dakota to Texas, extending into Canada and Mexico. These vast seas of prairie were home to enormous biodiversity: switchgrass, bluestem, meadowlarks, bobolinks, bison, badgers, prairie chickens, butterflies and so much more thrived in these habitats. Deep roots enabled a sprawling underground ecosystem, which enriched the soil, filtered water and held carbon for centuries.
Today, much of North America’s original grasslands have been lost to agricultural, industrial and residential development. But those that remain continue to provide for people and nature alike. Across the Great Plains, grasslands are helping to keep water clean, supply nutrition for livestock, offer rich opportunities for recreation, and provide habitat for wildlife and pollinators.
Grasslands in the Region
Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota
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96%
Most of the northern tallgrass prairie has been lost to conversion. It once covered parts of western Minnesota and eastern North and South Dakota.
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50%
Half of the mixed-grass prairies in the northwest Great Plains, including North Dakota and South Dakota, have been lost to conversion.
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700M
Across 31 species, 700 million grassland birds have been lost since 1970—a 53% decline in total population.
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100M
The Nature Conservancy has a goal of helping protect 100 million acres of grasslands across the Great Plains to benefit people and nature.
Here’s what we’re doing to protect and enhance this treasured ecosystem for all its inhabitants—two-legged, many-legged, rooted and rambling.
How we’re helping
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Protecting & restoring grasslands.
We’re working to preserve remaining grasslands and restore what has been lost. Learn more
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Supporting biodiversity & resilience.
We’re reconnecting habitat, rehabilitating prairie streams and supporting ranchers to keep grazing animals on grasslands. Learn more
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Bringing home bison.
We're helping return bison to Native Nations and communities by supporting Indigenous partners working to preserve this historical, cultural, traditional and spiritual relationship for future generations. Learn more
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Advocating for healthy grasslands.
We’re helping advance public funding and policy supporting grassland protection and restoration and the ranchers who steward our grasslands. Learn more
Protected Grasslands
Northern Tallgrass Prairie NWR
Western & central Minnesota
- Acres protected 14,544
The Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge is a partnership between TNC and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, working together to permanently protect native prairie and wetland habitats in western and central Minnesota.
Prairie Recovery Program
Minnesota
- Acres protected 8,035
The Minnesota Prairie Recovery Project helps protect, restore and enhance increasingly rare prairie, grassland, savanna and wetland habitats in Minnesota.
Southeastern Minnesota Prairie Project
Southeastern Minnesota
- Acres protected 9,502
We’re working to restore and maintain the diverse checkerboard of habitats that support rich biodiversity in southeast Minnesota’s Driftless Area. One of those key habitats is bluff prairies, which remain on the slopes of bluffs that were too difficult to plow but have been overrun by invasive species.
Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge
Northwest Minnesota
- Acres protected 24,000
The Glacial Ridge National Wildlife Refuge is a complex of prairies and wetlands that provide huge benefits for water quality, groundwater recharge and flood resilience.
MN Outdoor Heritage Fund
Minnesota
- Acres protected 22,000
Minnesota's Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, which was overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2008, has helped fund 22,000 acres of protected public lands in partnership with TNC. All of these properties are open to the public for hiking, photography, bird-watching and hunting.
Davis Ranch
North Dakota
- Acres protected 6,000+
Davis Ranch is in the heart of the prairie pothole region. The area formed when the last glaciers receded and left behind small ponds across the prairie, creating important habitat for waterfowl and giving this region the nickname “the duck factory of the world.” Prairie birds like the chestnut-collared longspur, western meadowlark, bobolink and grasshopper sparrow can be found on Davis Ranch.
Explore Our Work in Grasslands
The other side of prairie life
How a tiny fish made a big comeback in southwest Minnesota’s prairies.
Growing horse-high grass
A North Dakota rancher conducted a controlled burn on his property. The results were unbelievable.
Slowing down water
South Dakota ranchers are investing in unconventional grazing tactics and river stream health with support from TNC and partners.
Regenerative cattle ranching
How one historic ranch turned over a new leaf and improved profitability, soil health and their quality of life.
The Climate Connection
In a shifting climate, our grasslands are more important than ever.
Prairie roots reach deep into the soil, extending even farther than their stems reach above ground. This means the majority of grassland life is held underground, where the roots convert and store atmospheric carbon dioxide in the soil. If that grassland is converted for agriculture or development, the buried carbon is released back into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.
That’s why grassland protection is a climate solution. We’re working to keep grasslands intact by partnering with ranchers to support conservation practices, bringing bison back to their homelands and advocating for good grassland policies.
Grasslands are already experiencing the effects of climate change. We’re focused on supporting greater species and genetic diversity to boost the resilience of grasslands. One way we’re doing that is by sourcing prairie seed for restoration projects from many species and multiple sources to facilitate gene flow between different populations of native species, mimicking the way that seeds used to move freely across wide expanses of unfragmented grassland. This variability increases the potential for adaptation to changes in the environment that is needed for resilience in a changing climate.
Related Stories
1 million acres protected in MN, ND & SD
The Nature Conservancy and our partners are celebrating 1 million acres protected in Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.
Resilient Forests
We are working to plant trees, prevent wildfires and build resilience in Minnesota’s precious forests.
The Renewal of the Tallgrass Prairie
The Northern Tallgrass Prairie National Wildlife Refuge is a massive complex of lands protecting more than 15,000 acres.