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Native Flora and Fauna Research

2007-11-04

By rethinking our relationship with the land we may be able to offer new strategies for sustaining our agricultural systems, our rural communities and our landscape. The prairies of the Northern Great Plains are one of the most sustainable ecosystems in North America.  Native species are naturally suited to the difficult environment in the northern prairies and can help us diversify our agriculture production and processing system, use more sustainable agriculture practices, and bring a multiuse strategy to land management.  With healthy management, this approach will encourage broader bio-diversity in the Region, reduce the amount of encroaching nonnative species, and help rebuild the health of the soils. At the same time native flora and fauna are heartier and will better withstand the climatic variability of the Plains.

Further research in the comparative economic and ecological advantage of increasing the amount of species native to this Region may provide new economic opportunities to producers, landowners, and rural communities. This could lead to increased habitat and greater diversity in our prairie lands.  It could provide new food and nonfood crop production processing opportunities, new tourism and recreation development, reduced energy usage or production of energy through other sources such as wind and bio-fuels, and encourage communities to begin building a stronger association with the landscape around them.

With few exceptions, rural communities in the Northern Great Plains have struggled to retain vibrant economies and have, in general, been passive followers of business and market trends. Rather than remaining in a constant stage of catch-up, strategies to increase use of native species within the agriculture production and land management systems could position rural communities as leaders in the business world. Entrepreneurs could drive product development that benefits from higher market value, reduced environmental degradation, and a comparative advantage of being located in the prairie.

By focusing on diversified and multifunctional approaches to agriculture, rural communities will become more resilient to the volatile market swings that have been devastating in recent years. In addition, a more diversified farm economy and landscape may lead to increased revenue for rural economies outside of traditional agriculture.  Herds of bison, elk, and other trademark species unique to the Northern Great Plains may draw more tourists to the Region. In carefully targeting emerging markets as in the cases of bison and elk, farmers may see new profitability in traditional livelihoods.  More diverse, innovative and sustainable farming operations would also be better suited to draw people interested in both eco-tourism and agri-tourism.

The Northern Great Plains Inc. in cooperation with the Great Plains Institute for Sustainable Development has begun a project to identify native flora and fauna that could offer income opportunities and outline research strategies for the Region’s universities to develop the agriculture, tourism and processing potential of these native species. The project will then identify what is the current scientific base of knowledge regarding native flora and fauna, what scientific gaps exist regarding these opportunities, and what research is necessary to close this gap. One research goal will be to determine if multifunctional use of land through increased native flora and fauna can go beyond both conventional and sustainable agriculture and begin rebuilding the health of agricultural economies and the prairie ecosystem simultaneously.

Specific areas that the project will focus on identifying the knowledge base needs include:

  1. Native flora potential for food products, health products, land management and restoration, weed control, carbon sequestration, bio-fuels, hydrocarbon replacement in manufacturing, and building construction;
  2. Native animal population potential for food and land management and restoration, including issues regarding complementarities with nonnative species, disease control, nutrition, human health, and interrelationships with other native species;
  3. Multiuse potential for land managed for income generation that could include both native and nonnative flora and fauna as income generators, examples include crop production and hunting, land set aside for carbon sequestration and used for both native grass seed production and a recreational activity;
  4. Potential for recreational activities as part of the multiuse income mix;
  5. Costs associated with transition from current farming practices to increased use of native species in the farm and ranch income mix;
  6. Needed market research for processed foods, health products, etc. from native flora and fauna;
  7. Potential policy issues that could be addressed that would lead to increased native flora and fauna as a part of farm diversity and income and rural community development.

The outcome will be a long-term research and action agenda for the Region regarding the opportunities, costs, benefits, and implementation strategies for development of a multiuse program of land management using native flora and fauna as a source for agricultural diversity and income, rural community development, and environmental sustainability.