Conserving Oak Ecosystems – Gerry Steinauer

Conserving Oak Ecosystems – Gerry Steinauer

January 25th, 2022 - 7:00pm - 8:30pm

Virtual Winter Lecture Series via Zoom

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Presentation Via Zoom, Tuesday, January 25, 2022 from 7:00 – 8:30

Stimulate your intellect and expand your horizons from the comfort of your own home through our 2022 Virtual Winter Lecture Series (WLS). A summary of the 2022 WLS is in our latest newsletter.

Since Euro-American settlement, control of wildfires and other factors have greatly altered oak woodlands. Indian Cave State Park, located near the Missouri River bluffs in southeast Nebraska, contains nearly 2,500 acres of oak woodlands. Over the last century, lack of fire has allowed shade-tolerant and fire-intolerant trees and shrubs to proliferate in these woodlands. The resulting dense shade has stifled oak regeneration and herbaceous plant diversity, as well as degraded wildlife habitat. In recent years, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission and Northern Prairies Land Trust have instigated prescribed fire, tree thinning and invasive plant control in the park’s woodlands. Game Commission botanist Gerry Steinauer will discuss this effort and changes in the park’s oak woodlands.

Photo by Gerry Steinauer