The Pecan Creek Pollinative Prairie is a native prairie reconstruction project located on four acres in the east field at UNT's Discovery Park. Last week, NBC DFW caught wind of this important project led by UNT Ecology instructor Dr. Jaime Baxter-Slye and sent news reporter Seth Voorhees to meet the students and researchers working to preserve the prairie. The story can be found here.

https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/UNT-Researchers-Work-to-Preserve-Texas-Prairies-510686281.html

In May 2016, staff and students initiated the project to promote conservation and sustainable urban landscaping of native habitats for declining pollinator populations, such as the American Bumblebee and Monarch Butterfly. Since then, over 500 UNT students of varying backgrounds and academic interests have come together to volunteer at the Pollinative Prairie. (the 1000 number comes from the number of volunteer hours )

"[This area] used to have 2,000 native plants, and those are hard to find nowadays," said Dr. Baxter-Slye in the NBC video. She worries about what a future without these natural resources might look like, but in just three years, what started as a field dominated by invasive Bermuda grass with little life has transformed into a vibrant prairie. Over 200 species plants, insects, birds, fungi, and a mammal can currently be found at the Pollinative Prairie, and a breeding pair of American Kestrel Falcons has even nested in the area, capturing the attention of visitors and those following the nest box videos posted to UNT Ecology on Facebook.

This project was originally proposed with the combined support of the UNT undergraduate chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration (SER) and the student chapter of SEEDS well as UNT Ecology and the Advanced Environmental Research Institute. The groundwork was laid with essential funding from UNT's We Mean Green Fund, and Phase 1 of 3 is nearing completion. To help continue this necessary restoration work at the Pollinative Prairie, donations can be made directly to the project by contacting Meghan Dours.

Dr. Jaime Baxter-Slye and her team are working to build the rest of the prairie and create spaces for volunteers and guests to walk, rest, and discover peace with nature. For more information, or to get involved in volunteering, contact Dr. Baxter-Slye at slye@unt.edu.