Virginia Grasslands to Visit
Alaina Krakowiak – February 2026
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, SGI’s Central Appalachian Grasslands Coordinator, presented a talk “Virginia’s Grasslands: Past, Present, and Future” to the WOAH Chapter on February 12, 2026.
In this presentation, she described the history of grasslands in Virginia: what they might have looked like, and where they would have been found. She also discussed the current state of Virginia’s grasslands: what do we have left and what is threatening them. Grass species are an essential component of our native gardens. Alaina provided the list below of thirteen Virginia grasslands that can be visited by the public (some visits must be arranged with site steward).
