AT: Ecological Resilience in Prairies

Ecological Resilience in Prairies, Chris Helzer (Nature Conservancy, Nebraska). Zoom meeting link.

What defines ecological resilience in prairies? Whether working to preserve a remnant prairie or to restore a hay meadow to prairie status, what are the indicators that the prairie ecology is sustainable? What are the dynamics of a prairie that allow it to be resilient and even thrive with disturbance? The NPAT Fayette Prairie Chapter is delighted to host Chris Helzer to address this topic. Chris is a well-known and popular speaker and author, who brings insights developed over a career working with prairies.

Chris Helzer is Director of Science for The Nature Conservancy in Nebraska. He has worked for the Conservancy since 1997. Chris has a B.S. in Wildlife Biology and a M.S. in Landscape Ecology from the University of Nebraska. Today, he conducts research and evaluates prairie management and restoration work on land owned by The Nature Conservancy. He is also dedicated to raising awareness about the value of prairies through his photography, writing and presentations. Chris is author of The Prairie Ecologist blog, and two books: “The Ecology and Management of Prairies in the Central United States” and “Hidden Prairie: Photographing Life in One Square Meter.” He lives in Aurora, Nebraska.