Up Close and Personal with Prairies: Building a Connection to this Overlooked Ecosystem.

This article discusses the author's personal journey of developing a connection to prairies, an often overlooked ecosystem. The author initially had a bias towards forests and studied forestry in college, but their first job in interpretation at Wind Cave National Park exposed them to the beauty of prairies. Prairies are ecosystems dominated by grasses and other herbaceous plants, and they can be further subdivided based on soil type and water retention. Prairies are not only ecologically important but also culturally significant to many Native American tribes. The article also highlights the efforts of organizations like the Forest Preserves of Cook County in restoring and preserving prairies. However, prairies still face threats, such as the potential destruction of the Bell Bowl Prairie due to an airport expansion project. The article concludes by emphasizing the need to spend time with prairies and rebuild our relationship with this underappreciated ecosystem. The Forest Preserves of Cook County also acknowledges the indigenous peoples who originally inhabited the land. [Extracted from the article]