Las Cienegas Grassland Restoration

The desert grasslands found within the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area (LCNCA) include some of the rarest habitats in the American Southwest and are home to six endangered species. These grasslands have degraded over the last 100 years into mesquite woodlands due to grazing practices, fire suppression policies, and the introduction of non-native plant species. The loss of grassland has encouraged erosion, reduced watershed function, and decreased available habitat for pronghorn antelope and other species. In 2009 and 2010, BLM implemented a grassland restoration project on over 3,000 acres, out of an identified 20,000 acres of degraded grassland found within the LCNCA. The project has removed mesquite trees from the area, helping [...]