Accelerated Native Prairie Bank Protection-Phase VIII

The loss of native prairie and associated grassland habitat is arguably the greatest conservation challenge facing western and southern Minnesota. Through acquisition of Native Prairie Bank conservation easements, this proposal aims to permanently protect 200 acres of native prairie habitat.

Native prairie is a fragile, unique natural ecosystem that consists of thousands of different organisms, plants, animals, bacteria and soil fungi. Their complex interactions provide the food, water and shelter required by many of Minnesota's rare, threatened and endangered species. Native prairie provides a multitude of benefits to the citizens of the state, such as water filtration and recharge, pollinator and wildlife habitat, carbon sequestration, soil health, erosion control, outdoor recreation, etc. High quality native prairies provide the best available habitat for grassland dependent pollinators, birds and animals. Restoration efforts aim to meet the standards set by these original native prairies.

The Minnesota Biological Survey has identified about 249,000 acres of remaining native prairie in Minnesota, approximately 1.3% of what once existed in the state. Of these 249,000 acres, approximately 118,000 acres still have no formal protection. Threats to native prairie continue to be widespread including cropland conversion, mining, development, invasive species, woody encroachment and non-prairie focused land use/management.

Recognizing that protecting grassland and wetland habitat is one of the most critical conservation challenges facing Minnesota, over a dozen leading conservation organizations developed the Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan. Several outcomes are identified in the plan, one being the protection of all remaining native prairie, largely through conservation easements. One of the primary easement tools for native prairie protection in Minnesota is the DNR administered Native Prairie Bank easement. Native Prairie Bank was established by the 1987 legislature as a tool to protect native prairie in a long-term ?bank? by authorizing the state to acquire conservation easements from willing landowners. To date 155 Native Prairie Banks protect close to 14,000 acres. Native Prairie Bank targets the protection of native prairie tracts, but can also include adjoining lands as buffers and additional habitat.

Eligible tracts are prioritized based on several scientific factors including:

1) Size and quality of habitat, focusing on diverse native prairie communities identified by the Minnesota Biological Survey
2) Occurrence of threatened and endangered species or suitability of habitat for Species in Greatest Conservation Need
3) Lands that are part of a larger habitat complex

Native Prairie Bank easements provide enduring, long-term protection by placing restrictions on future land use and grant the DNR the right to monitor and manage the prairie.

Native Prairie Bank coordinates with Minnesota Prairie Conservation Plan partners and utilizes the network of established Local Technical Teams (local staff from SWCDs, NRCS, DNR, USFWS, The Nature Conservancy, Pheasants Forever, etc.) to reach out to landowners and increase enrollment.