Cemetery prairie

"[2] Iowa is estimated to have 200 to 300 relic cemetery prairies[3] totaling about 1,000 acres (400 ha; 1.6 sq mi; 4.0 km2),[4] which is thought to be less than 0.1 percent of the state's original native grassland.

[9] Remnant cemetery prairies are valuable control groups or points of comparison for scientific studies of degraded or restored grasslands.

[13] One cemetery prairie in Plainview, Illinois stands at least 1 ft (30 cm) above the surrounding cornfield, illustrating the difference in soil retention rates of perennial versus cultivated annual vegetation.

[5][14][15] Similarly, roads and paths that once led to the cemeteries may have disappeared over time, which simultaneously proffers a measure of security through obscurity and as a practical matter somewhat hinders preservation efforts.

"[2] Broader definitions of the Plains Grassland ecoregion put the northern extent in Alberta and the southern bound in Chihuahua.

Native prairie had the highest alpha diversity of the four types of field; the researchers found evidence that "large-scale conversion of acreage to biofuel crops may have substantial negative effects on arthropod biodiversity both within the cropping systems and in the surrounding landscape...In general, [related] studies have borne out the hypothesis that agricultural landscapes that offer a diverse flora of native perennials will harbor a higher diversity of beneficial arthropods than will extensive monocultures of annual plants such as corn and soybean.

[21] Restoration ecologists owe much to such preserved consecrated lands; their cultural place in our psyche has assured continuity of minimally disturbed ecological communities.

Ironically, though, it is the neglected sacred places, those without the constant care needed to maintain carpets of lawn, as found in typical cemeteries, which have served as refuge to the native flora.

Prairie cemetery managers must preserve the historical integrity of grave markers and respect the socio-cultural and archeological value of a burial ground in addition to the usual considerations of maintaining a more typical natural area.

[25] Per the North American Prairie Conference, "While burning is very important to maintaining the historic vegetation, managers need to consider the protection of the stone markers.

Excessive fuel (especially brush piles and downed trees) should be removed from the site and away from any markers to prevent heat damage.