History

The Prairie Reconstruction Initiative was born from a need to engage with and share knowledge among practitioners seeking to improve the prairie reconstruction process.

PRI History

PRI traces its roots to 2011, when the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) surveyed all its refuge system field stations in the Midwest Region to identify the greatest science needs, management concerns, and limitations to meeting resource goals and objectives. Respondents consistently mentioned prairie reconstruction, citing >95,000 acres of prairie already reconstructed and estimating 100,000+ additional acres in need of reconstruction. 

Recognizing that prairie reconstruction transcends organizations, USFWS hosted a structured decision making workshop in 2012 including participants from USFWS, US Geological Survey, Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Iowa State University. The group identified key uncertainties within the prairie reconstruction process, developed an objectives hierarchy, created a roadmap for future work and initiated a collaborative effort called the Prairie Reconstruction Initiative. The group also established the Prairie Reconstruction Initiative Advisory Team (PRIAT) and Leadership Team (LT) to provide direction for PRI. 

PRIAT and LT members participated in PRI on a collateral basis, yet were committed to launching this important initiative. The sustained engagement of a core group of dedicated individuals during the formative period laid the groundwork for the database and monitoring protocol. In addition, through initial outreach activities, we established our identity and developed practitioner awareness.

2016 saw the alignment of two events that collectively increased our visibility and reach. Our Symposium in Fergus Falls, MN drew nearly 150 participants from multiple states (in person and via remote broadcast) and highlighted widespread practitioner support for the mission of PRI. At the same time, USFWS dedicated two part-time coordinators and a science coordinator to accelerate progress on existing projects and expand the number of projects PRI could work on simultaneously. As a result of this increased capacity, in less than two years PRI finalized the business rules and communications plan, revised and beta-tested the database, initiated the monitoring protocol, produced two videos and continued other outreach activities.

The vision that arose from the 2012 workshop will continue to guide PRI’s work into the future. 

PRI Milestones

2012:

2014:

2016:

2018:

2019: