(Radio Iowa) – Students at Briar Cliff University in Sioux City are working to restore a large western Iowa prairie to its original ecosystem. Students cut down black locust trees from the Sioux City Prairie. Professor David Hoferer says the trees can cause prairie grass to die and subsequently force out species that nest in the land. Hoferer says the project is a part of a growing movement to “re-wild” Iowa.

“It takes all of us working together to want to do something better for the future,” Hoferer says. “And if we all come together and work better for the future, then this little effort here will help to keep the Sioux City prairie thriving.” The 150-acre property, located next to the university, is one of the nation’s largest urban prairies. Student Zach Allen, a junior at Briar Cliff, led a group of 20 students to cut down the black locust trees, which aren’t native to Iowa. Allen says he wants to see more efforts across the state to preserve natural habitats.

Allen says, “Instead of just looking at the current benefits they can get, year over year, to start looking into the further into the future and make sure that the ecosystems in our environment is going to be sustainable for those future generations.” He says he was inspired to action by what he learned in the classroom. Prairie used to cover around 80 percent of Iowa. Now, it’s down to less than one percent.

(Kendall Crawford, Iowa Public Radio)