Here at LREC, we are in the process of restoring prairie, woodland, and riparian ecosystems to provide field experiences for students in a variety of ecosystems that used to be present in the St. Louis area and to provide habitat to help conserve the species and processes that were once present in this area.

So what is ecosystem restoration?
It’s the repair or reestablishment of the natural community by reinstating as many as possible of the species and processes formerly present. Preserving the biodiversity, or different species of life, is important because these species evolved together in response to the physical environment and to one another over thousands of years or more.

Restoration at LREC

• Tallgrass Prairie Restoration
• Woodland Restoration
• Riparian Restoration

References

Packard, S. and C. F. Mutel. 1997. The Tallgrass Restoration Handbook. Island Press: Washington, DC.