Shortgrass Prairie
Palmer Land Trust has taken a lead role in the protection of a large assemblage of lands in the Arkansas Tablelands section of the Central Shortgrass Prairie Ecoregion. The Central Shortgrass Prairie is considered a threatened ecosystem in North America. Much of this region is identified as a Priority Conservation Area by The Nature Conservancy, as well as a High Priority Acquisition Area by the Colorado Division of Wildlife. This region contains a high percentage of natural vegetation communities and provides views of sweeping vistas, broad horizons, traditional agricultural practices, and rolling plains.
In northeastern Pueblo County and northwestern Crowley County, at least 19 property owners have granted conservation easements on over 45,000 acres of private land. In addition, this same area has over 21,000 acres of land administered by the State Land Board, and 7,600 acres of federal land administered by the Bureau of Land Management. Protection of land by conservation easements protects the traditional and historic agricultural land use.
Below are a few examples of important properties Palmer has protected to date:
