The Conservation Science Program at Ecostudies Institute leads a suite of research and monitoring projects with strong collaborative partnerships across the PNW to advance our understanding of prairie-oak ecosystems and species, improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our restoration strategies, and inform ecological and cultural goals for our restoration and conservation efforts.
In close collaboration with other Ecostudies programs, we conduct applied research, provide technical guidance, engage in community building efforts, and share our work through strategic communications.
Conservation Grazing
Conservation grazing is a tool that can be used to maintain or even enhance prairie habitat while supporting local farming and ranching communities and local food production networks. Ecostudies Institute has been working with local ranchers and conservation partners over the past ten years to evaluate the impacts of conservation grazing on both upland and wet prairie habitat, along with the native species that use these sensitive areas.
North Salish Sea Restoration & Monitoring
Ecostudies Institute is collaborating with partners to restore and monitor the unique and beautiful prairie balds and oak woodlands of the North Salish Sea.
Prairie Habitat Monitoring
Ecostudies Institute has been monitoring prairie habitat on Joint Base Lewis-McChord for over 10 years, allowing us to both evaluate restoration effectiveness over time and inform restoration actions that benefit listed species across the military installation.
Taylor’s Checkerspot Butterfly Host Plant Resiliency Project
In collaboration with partners across the Pacific Northwest, Ecostudies Institute is working to identify site- and microsite-scale biotic and abiotic factors that lead to successful germination, establishment, and persistence of Taylor’s checkerspot butterfly (TCB) host plants.
Butterfly Research and Monitoring
Ecostudies Institute monitors endangered and at-risk butterflies at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and other state and federal lands to understand population locations and distributions, guide habitat management decisions, and reduce impacts to military training. We also work closely with partners to identify gaps in knowledge about butterflies and their habitat needs and design research projects to fill those knowledge gaps.