Transforming a Degraded Landscape – The Wolf Run Grassland Restoration
In 1960, 120 acres of open ground at Shaw Nature Reserve in Gray Summit, MO was allowed to “go back to nature” through old-field succession. The land became a thicket of eastern red cedar and invasive shrubs. In 2021, the Reserve set out to restore this area to ecological health. After logging and years of stump removal, drone spraying and seed addition, the land was transformed into a diverse array of open woodlands, oak savanna and diverse prairie. This success story suggests that even the most forlorn areas can be restored to vibrant, healthy landscapes.