The Spatial Scale of the Northern Great Plains

The Northern Great Plains is one of the largest prairie grasslands in the world. This short- and mixed-grass prairie region is one the four intact temperate grasslands left on planet earth.  

There are various definitions of the region's expanse. The generally agreed definition is that it spans five US states (Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska) and two Canadian provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan). The region stretches across more than 180 million acres. It is as large as California and Nevada!

Map of Northern Great Plains (image courtesy of http://www.nhptv.org/wild/pipingplover.asp)

The spatial scale of the Northern Great Plains is therefore regional: it covers expansive regions of the US and Canada. The region could be split into certain local areas, such as South Dakota's Conata Basin or the Grasslands National Park in Saskatchewan. However, we will consider the ecoregion as a whole in our study of its history, impacts and future prospects.

  

Grasslands National Park in Saskatchewan
 (image courtesy of http://www.branimirphoto.ca/stock/pop_html/saskatchewan/SK-2708 3006.html)

Conata Basin in South Dakota
http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/southdakota/placesweprotect/conata-basin.xml 

Most of the Northern Great Plains ecoregion is made up of private land. 94 million acres of this private land is intact grassland. The ranching community controls much of this land - some families have been ranching their land for over 150 years. Ranchers are good for the land; they leave grasslands intact, create habitats for a diversity of birds and secure carbon in the soil. 9 million acres of the Northern Great Plains is managed by its original stewards: the Native Americans. ("Northern Great Plains.")

Native American celebrating a black-footed ferret release in Saskatchewan
(image courtesy of http://www.worldwildlife.org/places/northern-great-plains)