Less than two hundred years ago, Iowa was a mosaic of tallgrass prairie and oak savannas.  Huge herds of bison and elk roamed the vast territory and were prey for wolves.  Both plants and animals adapted to frequent wildfires which raged across the landscape.  Today, most of the state is farmland and the tallgrass prairie ecosystem is nearly extinct.

The Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge is the world's largest tallgrass prairie reconstruction project ever attempted. Over 8,000 acres of farmland will one day again be prairie and savanna.

Friends of the Prairie Learning Center is a non-profit citizen group that supports this effort.  One of our main purposes is to educate people about the project and the vanishing prairie ecosystem that we hope to help save.  This tallgrass web site is our informational tool to keep our members and the general public informed as the Refuge continues to grow and evolve.  Visit us frequently and use it to build your knowledge of the prairie, as well as to learn what you can do to help reconstruct Iowa's native grassland.

Volunteers are responsible for the Friends of the Prairie Learning Center activities and there are numerous opportunities for you to get involved.  I urge you to support the Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge with your time and money.  Become part of this unprecedented endeavor and help us rebuild an ecosystem.

Mark Lyle, President  
Friends of the Prairie Learning Center 
Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge