Welcome to the Lek Trek Website!
Why we need the Lek Trek
How the Lek Trek Works
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Lek Trek Special Events
Photo gallery of Missouri prairie species
The Missouri Grasslands Coalition
Contact the Lek Trek Team
Where to see prairies
The
Missouri Grasslands Coalition
A decade ago, Missouri had 10,000 greater prairie-chickens. By 1998,
that number had shrunk to fewer than 1,000 birds, causing the prairie-chicken
to be placed on the state endangered species list. This alarming drop
signals the decline of high quality grassland habitat, home to not only
the prairie-chicken but thousands of other bird, insect, plant, mammal
and amphibian species.
The immediate danger of losing habitat for the prairie-chicken was the
impetus for the Missouri Prairie Foundation
now in its 34th year to lead a greater effort for improving grassland
habitat in Missouri. In 1998, the Missouri Prairie Foundation (MPF) spearheaded
the formation of the Grasslands Coalition, bringing government agencies,
conservation organizations, hunting groups and private landowners together
to pool resources and explore ways to expand and improve this grassland
resource.
The Coalition identified nine focus areas with
remnant populations of greater prairie-chickens. These areas, ranging
from 10,000 to 30,000 acres, have the potential for making grassland improvements
on a landscape scale. This undertaking will require financial incentives
to assist farmers and landowners with the cost of implementing management
practices friendly to grassland wildlife. Some of the practices needed
are conversion of cropland to grass, tree and brush removal and conversion
of fescue to native warm-season grasses.
The Lek Trek will serve to introduce the Grasslands Coalition to Missourians.
It will also help citizens understand the importance of the Coalition's
work. Long after the Lek Trek has passed, however, the Grasslands Coalition
will continue its work of obtaining funds and implementing improvements
on Missouri's grasslands.
Click here for a listing of Missouri Grasslands Coalition Members.
Would you like to become involved in a Grasslands Coalition project? If you live in the vicinity of one of the nine Grasslands Coalition Focus Areas and would like to become involved in a Grasslands Coalition project, please contact Judy Gray at: grayj@mail.conservation.state.mo.us