North Texas is home to a vast ecosystem of prairies, from the Blackland Prairie to the East and West Cross Timbers. However, as the state’s population booms — it is expected to double to 54.4 million by 205 — rapid development means less than 1% of the state’s original prairie remains.
To preserve what’s left, the Native Prairies Association of Texas has created the North Texas Prairie Initiative. The association is raising funds to support the initiative with the goal of conserving 2,000 acres of prairie in the region during the next four years.
“Our primary goal with this initiative is to protect as much native prairie and restored grassland as possible in North Texas and with urgency,” said Jeff Sargent, the group’s development director. “There aren’t too many conservation organizations that are protecting land in North Texas. There aren’t enough. There needs to be a lot more protection to maintain some stability in the native prairie ecosystem around here.”…