The final plan will guide management on 2.9 million acres of public lands - an area larger than Yellowstone National Park. Predator Conservation Alliance has developed recommendations based on the knowledge of biologists, advocates and policy analysts, which we believe can restore our prairie grassland ecosystem on the northern National Grasslands. It only takes a few seconds. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement and proposed management plans for the northern Great Plains National Grasslands do not go nearly far enough to change the way these lands are managed. The Forest Service is required to manage our public lands for the long-term conservation of all native wildlife.
Prairie dogs are the engineers that create a unique ecosystem used by dozens of prairie species.
The Forest Service should eliminate prairie dog poisoning and shooting to allow for the natural expansion of prairie dogs to reach this ten percent level. One-third of National Grasslands should be rested from livestock grazing annually. This will allow adequate amounts of taller grasses necessary for several wildlife species. Livestock should also be kept away from streams and wetlands. Wild bison should be restored on our National Grasslands.