Past Events

Grassland loss is one of the greatest conservation issues currently facing the Southeastern United States. Of the nearly 6,000 plant species native to the Southeast, 60% of these require or prefer grasslands. Despite this, grasslands across this region are being lost at an alarming rate. The Southeastern Grasslands Institute (SGI) is an organization dedicated to studying, conserving, and restoring grasslands in the Southeastern United States. Alaina Krakowiak serves as SGI's Central Appalachian Grasslands Coordinator. In this presentation, she will discuss the history of grasslands in Virginia: what might these have looked like, and where would they have been found? She will also discuss the current state of Virginia's grasslands: what do we have left, and what is threatening them? Lastly, she will talk about what SGI is doing to restore grasslands, including some actions you can take at your own home.