Meadows and grasslands were once an expansive thriving landscape typology in the state of Alabama. These meadow landscapes were historically host to thousands of native and endemic species, including pollinators, insects, and small mammals. According to Southeastern Grasslands Initiative (SGI), these landscapes have dwindled down to less than 10% of the landmass that they once held. Between the plow of agriculture, the blade of the bulldozer for urban expansion, and the suppression of natural fires, grasslands have been destroyed at unprecedented rates.
Meadows are critical hotspots for ecological diversity where even small, fragmented patches serve as a seedbank and safe haven for many species. Our research in Alabama Meadows is not exclusively a restoration or conservation effort, but also one that is fascinated by the cultural significance of the ecosystem. Culturally, amidst the typical sprawling condition of suburbanization, patches of wildflowers and grasses offer an alternative to the static, tidy, controlled landscapes of the south.
