The Center for Plant Conservation (CPC) has passed the 700 mark of endangered plants 'safeguarded in seed banks and living collections'. But what is that worth? The CPC says that, 'off-site storage and cultivation of genetically appropriate plant material is a critical step in supporting restoration in the wild.' I have my doubts.

Protecting rare plants by placing them in gardens is at best an academic exercise and at worst conservation under false pretenses. More likely, these activities match well the historical, stamp-collecting instincts of the participating institutions.

What is absolutely required to ensure the longevity of rare and endangered plants (and no one disputes this) is the protection and restoration of the ecosystems within which they have evolved. So....let's get on with it.

Restoring biodiversity is critical to a healthy future for the Earth. But how best to ensure this has been an ongoing debate within human society. Many call for more government programs. Alternatively, Stanford biologists Paul Ehrlich and Robert Pringle say the only path forward requires direct action by many small groups and individuals. They recommend actions such as reclaiming degraded land, reintroducing species to areas where they once lived, and educating people about how Nature works. Hint: Join us. That's what we do here.

American Indians have used it for centuries to create rich soil and grow better crops. Now its the newest 'discovery' of American academics. Its Biochar, the carbon rich end-product of the slow burning (pyrolysis) of organic matter, which can vastly improve soil for plants. When mixed with soil, biochar greatly increases water capacity, promotes the growth of soil life, and lasts for thousands of years.

Civilization has been shown by a new study to have had a major influence on the incidence of natural area fires. The last two millenia have seen wild swings in fire frequency due to changing human activities. Since about 1970, and the wide-spread loss of human control, the pattern has been "burn baby burn."

In 1974 Don Gardner started a prairie development project on a 7.3-acre former permanent pasture located on the south side of Kempton in Mona Township, Ford County, Illinois. This site includes photographs, maps, species lists, and a good discussion of methods.

The U.S. Forest Service is transferring hundreds of millions of dollars out of their working accounts to pay for the California fires. So is it the 'Forest Service' or the Fire Service? Fire suppression will cost the U.S. taxpayer close to 2 billion dollars this year. What a waste. On the other hand, if the Fire Service [sic] has $700 million less for building roads, maybe that's a good thing.

A rough survey of Lost Prairie this Monday netted two vascular plants not previously reported (at least not by Gleason or Robertson et al). The prairie lettuce (Lactuca ludoviciana) is easy enough to spot. It is a large lettuce with prickly leaves, as in the weedy garden lettuce.

Volunteer Revegetation Saturday

After all the stabbing at heavy soil in the rain,
and all the hands, backs, eyes, knees, working the plants in
and after passing pots, picks, spades, cups, bottles, chuckles, shovels,
and so many how-to’s and how-come’s and
all too simple explanations, ...

In their ongoing battle with monarch caterpillars...

 ...research shows that the milkweeds (Asclepias) have turned away from a bold defense (sticky, latex sap) toward fast, energy efficient tissue repair.

I've added three new galleries today: 'Hanley, August 2008', 'Lost Prairie, August 2008', and 'NAPC, 2008.' The latter features images from the North American Prairie Conference, including shots of Garvin Heights Savanna and Prairie Moon Nursery. By the way, this was probably the best NAPC yet. Great venue, great presentations, and great field trips.

Twenty years ago, America awoke to frantic headlines that our first national park, Yellowstone, was being destroyed by fire. Now, after 20 years, the facts on the ground say otherwise.

Even a quiet stroll in the park can dramatically change natural ecosystems, according to a new study by conservation biologists. These findings could have important implications for land management policies.

Berkeley researcher, Sarah Reed, found more than five times as much coyote and bobcat scat in preserves with no public access than she did in areas open to the public.

New research from the Georgia Institute of Technology suggests that native herbivores prefer to consume exotic over native plants. Their results imply that restoring native herbivore communities may be a viable option to help control exotic plant invasions.”  

Scientists argue that the small, isolated herds of Bison bison now dotting the west could be reintroduced to vast swaths of their former range, including sites in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico.

They could come from Yellowstone.