In this webinar hosted by Natural Areas Association, Stacy Moore and Tyler Knapp of Institute for Applied Ecology discuss the Sagebrush in Prisons Project, which is part of the Sustainability in Prisons Project.
The Institute for Applied Ecology is a 501(c)(3) organization located in Corvallis, Oregon and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Their mission is to conserve native species and habitats through restoration, research and education. They coordinate the Sagebrush in Prisons Project, which provides unique and meaningful ecological activities and horticultural training to incarcerated men and women with the goal of restoring native habitat for the greater sage-grouse in the great basin region. The project currently is active in nine prisons in five different states.
Crew members in the prisons grow sagebrush from seed, and water, weed, thin, and fertilize the seedlings throughout the spring and summer. In the fall all of the sagebrush seedlings are boxed up and sent to BLM restoration sites to be planted. Many of these sites previously burned in wildfires which quickly are taken over by invasive weeds like cheatgrass. By planting sagebrush seedlings, the areas are able to recover more quickly to providing habitat for sage-grouse once again.
Learn more about Institute for Applied Ecology and Sagebrush in Prisons Project on their website.
Learn more about Natural Areas Association on their website.
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