About Hidden Prairies of the Pacific Northwest
Sarah Hamman, Ph.D., Center for Natural Lands Management
Wildflower-filled prairies used to stretch over 2 million acres
across western Washington and Oregon. Through frequent burning and food
harvests by indigenous people, these unique habitats supported a rich diversity
of plant, animal and insect species for thousands of years. However, due to
development, invasive weeds, and lack of regular fire over the past two centuries,
95% of the prairies have been lost or degraded. The small postage-stamp
prairies that remain provide a glimpse of what once was. Land managers,
ecologists, and conservationists from a range of agencies, organizations and
tribes, are now using those small remnants to help reconstruct prairies for the
future. Much of the conservation focus is on endangered species – working
within the prairie remnants to bring back the rare plants, butterflies, birds
and mammals that are close to extinction. There is growing recognition,
however, that in order to restore prairies for the future, we need to make sure
people are part of the equation. Incorporating prairie species into farm and
ranch operations and reintegrating traditional practices like burning and harvesting
on prairie lands provides additional opportunities for conservation that
supports both wildlife and people. By expanding the conservation portfolio and
sharing knowledge across real and perceived barriers, we can support the
ecological, cultural and economic benefits provided by PNW prairies.
About the Speaker:
Sarah is the Restoration Ecologist for the Center for Natural
Lands Management (CNLM), a conservation non-profit based out of Washington and
California. Her work is aimed at researching and restoring rare species habitat
in Pacific Northwest prairies and oak woodlands using rigorous science and
careful conservation planning. Sarah holds a B.A. in Biology from Wittenberg
University and a Ph.D. in Ecology from Colorado State University. Sarah is also
an adjunct professor at The Evergreen State College, where she teaches in the
Master of Environmental Studies program and she is the Restoration Director for
the Olympia Coalition for Ecosystems Preservation, a small non-profit land
trust focused on conservation of shoreline and forest habitat in Olympia, WA.