Human Impacts on Praries

Humans have lived on the prairies for thousands of years. The first people who lived in these regions understood this ecosystem's unique characteristics and adapted their lives to them. Historically, prairies covered about 400,000 square miles of North America. Today, less than four percent of this area remains. This means that tallgrass prairies are one of the most endangered ecosystems in the world.

Settlers from Europe and the eastern United States moved to the plains and began to change them. The newcomers fenced and farmed the prairies and stopped the fires that brought new growth.

Today, we have learned how important the prairies are. People are conserving pieces of the original prairie and are restoring areas of grassland for everyone to enjoy.