Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture

Completed Competitive Grant

Quantifying eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) in southern Iowa: A starting point for conversations with landowners about threats to grassland resilience

Project ID: E2011-13

Abstract

The swift spread of eastern redcedar poses a number of problems for grasslands and wildlife habitats, which are already under strong pressure in the Midwest. This study documents the true nature of redcedar expansion in this area and uses that data to educate landowners about management practices aimed at slowing the spread of this pernicious woody species.

Key Question: To what extent has eastern redcedar expanded and encroached into southern Iowa grasslands over the past 30 years and what are the implications for grassland users?

Findings: Data was collected and shared with individual landowners and nongovernmental organizations and interest groups.

Lead investigator: Ryan Harr, ISU Natural Resource Ecology and Management

Co-Investigator(s):

James Miller, University of Illinois, and David Engle, Oklahoma State University

Year of grant completion: 2012

This competitive grant project was part of the Leopold Center's Ecology Initiative.

Topics: Models and assessment tools