GHF mission statement
Grassland Heritage Foundation is a non-profit membership organization devoted to prairie preservation and education.
Welcome to the Grassland Heritage Foundation
Did you know?
- In the rain shadow of the Rocky Mountains arose some 400 million acres of grasslands. Here was the continent’s largest continuous ecosystem. But fencing, hunting, and monoculture agriculture have all wrought enormous changes on the prairie region of North America.
- Once covering the entire mid-section of our country, tallgrass prairie, with three-fourths of its biomass underground, created some of the most productive soils in the world. That legacy, now known as the Corn Belt is the very foundation of our Midwestern economy and why we pay less of our income for food than almost any other nation!
- Less than 5% of the tallgrass prairie remains today, there are few visual reminders of this part of our heritage. All that is left unplowed or undeveloped are the Flint Hills rangelands of Kansas and Oklahoma and tiny remnant prairies, such as The Prairie Center in Olathe, Kansas.
Tallgrass prairie preservation and education are the focus of GHF.
Burning the Synder prairie - 2007 Burning the Synder prairie - 2007 Remnant prairie south west of Lawrence Remnant prairie south west of Lawrence Remnant prairie south west of Lawrence Face painting at a GHF gathering Remnant prairie south west of Lawrence Prairie Flower Prairie Flower Prairie Flower Butterfly Butterfly Coneflower on a native prairie Prairie FlowersGHF Picture of the Month
Do you have photos to share? Enter your favorite prairie photo to be featured as the 'GHF Photo of the Month'. It's easy, Get the details.
Fast facts
- Prairie arose in the rain shadow of the Rocky Mountains, and once covered 400 million acres over the center of the U.S. from Saskatchewan to Texas. Prairies are diverse communities dominated by grasses and wildflowers.
- Tallgrass prairie, with three-fourths of its biomass underground, created some of the most productive soils in the world. Prairie thrives amid drought, fire, and grazing due to root systems up to 15 feet deep.
- Only 1% of the tallgrass prairie remains today due to fire suppression and intensive crop production, making it a globally endangered ecosystem. Remaining prairies now include the Flint Hills of Kansas and Oklahoma and small remnant prairies, such as The Prairie Center in Olathe, Kansas.