FOR THE PRAIRIE

On our show for May 15th, host Terri Wilke will speak with her guest, Courtney Masterson, ecologist and executive director of Native Lands Restoration Collaborative, AKA Native Lands LLC.

 

Courtney Masterson will reflect on her path to creating a life-affirming career in her community of Lawrence, Kansas (and beyond), inspired by her love for the prairie and people, uniting the two for a healthier world and brighter future.

She has given regular prairie walks on pristine pieces of prairie for several years and hopefully for many more years.  Our urban areas are growing rapidly and development changes the face of the city every day. People struggle to connect with nature for many reasons – loss of natural areas, economic instability, and accessibility, to name a few.

Often, an open heart and hard work can build bridges between people and places. In just the last 200 years, we’ve lost over 95% of the tallgrass prairie that once dominated the Midwestern landscape – an ecosystem that is many thousands of years old. We can’t bring that expansive prairie back but we can protect what is left.

On April 27th, 2923, city employees of the Lawrence Kansas Parks and Recreation Department “mistakenly” sprayed herbicide on a five-acre stretch of prairie behind the Prairie Park Nature Center.  The herbicide has done a very good job of killing broadleaf plants.  Certainly, early native prairie blooming plants were destroyed.  Rather than protect that piece of prairie, Courtney Masterson is actively engaged with the restoration of the damaged prairie plant life.  Courtney will tell the tale.

https://www.grasslandheritage.org/prairiepark

We at EcoRadio KC are glad to encourage awareness and protection of our world.  Our goal is to assure our listeners are aware of how we can create a sustainable present for a sustainable future!

This will be a great radio hour!

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can about the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”

Margaret Mead


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