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Missouri's Natural Areas

http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/missourisn_519.mp3

Scattered throughout the state are pieces of land that are protected through Missouri's Natural Areas Program. Each is unique and represents a chunk of the state's varied landscape. Michele Skalicky reports.

Just south of Bolivar and a little off highway 13 is a little slice of prairie.

La Petite Gemme is truly one of nature's gems. Right now it doesn't look like much but by summer these 37 acres will come to life with various plants such as western and sawtooth sunflowers, white and new England asters, shooting stars and butterfly milkweed and of course a variety of prairie grasses. Several wildlife species can be found here including the upland sandpiper, henslow's sparrow, glass snakes, coyotes and rabbits.

Missouri has preserved several pieces of land—each representing a different aspect of the state's varying landscape—through its Natural Areas Program. La Petite Gemme, owned by the Mo Prairie Foudation and managed by the MO conservation Dept., was designated as a Natural Area on June 21, 1977.

This month marks the 30th anniversary of the formation of the MO Natural Areas Committee.

Mike Leahy, natural areas coordinator for the MO Dept. of Conservation, says the committee was formed by his dept. and the Dept. of Natural Resources to ensure that the state's natural heritage would be promoted, protected and conserved

The Natural Areas Committee is composed of Conservation Dept. and DNR representatives. Members also come from the U.S. Forest Service, the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Nature Conservancy.

Leahy says natural areas are defined by the type of natural community or habitat that they represent

According to Leahy, the public was promised a natural areas program in 1976 as part of the Design for Conservation proposal that gave the MO Conservation Dept. its conservation sales tax.

Some of the state's natural areas are fairly remote and require good use of a map and compass because they don't have developed trails while others are easily accessible and have well-developed trails

To find out about Natural Areas near you and to find out more about La Petite Gemme, go to missouriconservation.org.

Michele Skalicky has worked at KSMU since the station occupied the old white house at National and Grand. She enjoys working on both the announcing side and in news and has been the recipient of statewide and national awards for news reporting. She likes to tell stories that make a difference. Michele enjoys outdoor activities, including hiking, camping and leisurely kayaking.