On American Prairie

Dear Editor,

I recently read an American Prairie Reserve (APR) article titled, 'Freese Scale for Grassland Biodiversity, Background Summary'. This strange document was designed to justify the program proposed by APR. They rate 10 'ecological conditions' for each of their management units and come up with a biodiversity score. For example, the Timber Creek Unit (the old Etchart Ranch) had a total score or 17 out of 70. The reasons for the low 'Herbivory Pattern' included, "unnatural hydrology; Interior fences; Rest-rotation grazing systems". 'Herbivorous Mammals' received the lowest score (1) d...