Keep up-to-date with topics related to ecological restoration and learn about some of our current projects!
Ecological restoration does not happen overnight. Like any good land management, it is a multi-step, multi-year process that involves multiple moving parts, seasonal requirements, and cooperation from Mother Nature and the weather. Despite these challenges, there is a (more or less) set process for undertaking any ecological restoration project. This provides a good starting point for us to explore restoration further.
Read MorePrescribed burning, also known as controlled fire, is a restoration and land management technique that has been growing in popularity over the last few decades. It is used for managing prairies, forests, oak savannas, and wetlands all over the country. As we transition into winter, let’s take an in-depth look at why prescribed fire is so important and so useful tool in the ecological restoration toolkit.
Read MoreAs Halloween approaches, people are starting to celebrate the strange, scary, and downright creepy. And what’s creepier than plants that consume living creatures for survival? You might be surprised that you can find, not 1, but 4 different genus of carnivorous plants occurring naturally in Minnesota. But what exactly does carnivorous mean? Certainly there aren’t any areas of Minnesota where you are at risk of being attacked and eaten by a giant flytrap….right?
Read MoreMost people I know love Autumn. The changing colors of the leaves, the upcoming holidays, back-to-school, pumpkin spice, cooler weather....there’s a lot that changes with the changing seasons. The same holds true for ecological work. The turn of the season marks a shift in our work at NRP, and autumn in particular often yields a host of new projects.
Read MoreTallgrass prairies in particular are what dominate a majority of southern and some of western Minnesota. The tallgrass prairie ecosystem is one of the world's most degraded ecosystems with less than 1% of remnants still intact, due to its well watered and fertile soil. Restorations of these ecosystems are sought after for many reasons.
Read MoreLet me introduce NRP’s land ethic--what we affectionately call LIGHT ON THE LAND. This little, four-word phrase is seen everywhere we are--our logo, website, trucks, business cards, even our shirts. It permeates who we are because it’s more than just a marketing tag. It’s at the heart of our mission as ecological restoration professionals. Just as conservationism and preservationism drove Pinchot’s and Muir’s environmental attitudes and work, Light on the Land drives our attitude and work. It is our land ethic; our attempt at defining our obligation to the environment. It is our ecological conscience.
Read MoreEcological Restoration.
Maybe you’ve heard that phrase before; perhaps in the news regarding global ecosystem biodiversity, or on information placards along your favorite hiking trail. Perhaps you’ve heard about the need to conserve native prairies, or preserve pollinator habitat, or restore water quality—all adjectives that sit nicely under the umbrella of “Ecological Restoration.” Here at NRP, we identify as an ecological restoration company. But what does that actually mean? What is ecological restoration, and why do we think it matters so much that we built an entire company dedicated to it? Let’s explore.
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