Native Plant Project
RESTORING THE PRAIRIE
When Theodore Roosevelt first encountered the North Dakota Badlands in the 1880s, he witnessed a dynamic landscape still rich in biodiversity and essential habitats, yet already beginning to show signs of ecological change—from overgrazing and the decline of native animal species.
Over the following decades, the region experienced profound ecological changes due to intense agricultural practices, including monocropping and overgrazing, which disrupted the delicate balance of the prairie ecosystem. The Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library (TRPL) now stands on land once compromised by these practices—its soil health depleted, native species diminished, and natural resilience weakened. A lightning strike that ignited wildfires on the site served as both a signal of the ecosystem’s vulnerability and a natural process with the potential to restore ecological balance.
Recognizing the opportunity to support long-term ecological resilience and model conservation leadership, TRPL launched the Native Plant Project to help regenerate a healthy, biodiverse prairie landscape. In partnership with Resource Environmental Solutions (RES) and North Dakota State University (NDSU), the goal is not to recreate the past, but to cultivate a thriving ecosystem that sustains wildlife, enriches the soil, and fosters meaningful human connection with the natural world.
There can be no greater issue than that of conservation in this country.
THE NATIVE PLANTS PROJECT INITIATIVE
TRPL is actively demonstrating innovative conservation through tangible steps, which we hope to serve as a replicable model for similar restoration projects across the region:
1. IDENTIFY KEY REGIONS
The project team identified key reference sites rich in native biodiversity within the Little Missouri Badlands, including Roosevelt’s historic Maltese Cross and Elkhorn Ranch properties.
2. SEED COLLECTION
Over the last three growing seasons, dedicated teams of students, community volunteers, and environmental science professionals have manually collected seeds from more than 200 native plant species, many previously unavailable commercially. This meticulous collection, totaling over 350 pounds, lays the groundwork for sustainable and biodiverse landscape restoration.
3. CLEANING & STORAGE
After collection, seeds were carefully cleaned to remove chaff, soil, and other contaminants using sieves, air separators, and hand-sorting techniques. Once cleaned, the seeds were thoroughly dried to prevent mold and deterioration, then stored in climate-controlled conditions to preserve their viability. Each batch was labeled, cataloged, and tracked to ensure traceability by species, collection location, and date—laying a critical foundation for successful future planting and long-term restoration efforts.
4. GERMINATION & CULTIVATION
Seeds were carefully germinated by Resource Environmental Solutions (RES) at their Taylor Creek Nursery, where conditions are optimized for native plant development. Once established, a selection of these young plants was transferred to the NDSU Hettinger Research Extension Center to continue growing and produce additional seed. This multi-phase cultivation process has resulted in a strong crop of native plant plugs, well-adapted for survival and ready to support prairie restoration efforts in the Badlands region.
5. PLANTING & BROAD-SCALE SEEDING
Beginning in late spring, cultivated native plant plugs were installed on the Library’s roof and in bioswales, directly embedding regenerative practices into the Library’s landscape and design. Separately designated seed collections are now being used to restore the surrounding landscape—reintroducing vital native species, attracting pollinators, and rebuilding essential wildlife habitats across the prairie ecosystem.
6. ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT
Sustainable management techniques like adaptive multi-paddock grazing and prescribed burns will continue to be support long-term ecological resilience. These approaches promote native plant diversity, improve soil health and carbon storage, and help manage invasive species –while modeling best practices for regenerative land stewardship.
Get Involved
LOOKING AHEAD
Through the Native Plant Project, the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library is forging a pathway toward genuine environmental stewardship— transforming compromised lands into thriving habitats and demonstrating how sustainable action can lead to regenerative landscapes. As the Library continues this work, we hope to not only revive the prairie ecosystem but also inspire communities to adopt similar practices, amplifying Roosevelt’s legacy of conservation around the world.
