Ecosystem Restoration
With 4 acres of prairie remnant and nearly 40 acres of prairie being restored, PRI works to restore native endangered ecosystems.
At Pacific Rim Institute, we are actively restoring a glacial outwash prairie through traditional and modern means. Prairies are one of the rarest ecosystems in Washington, with 3% of original prairies remaining. At PRI, we have a 4-acre prairie remnant with over 80 species of rare native plants. Our work restoring this vital and endangered ecosystem has resulted in nearly 40 acres of prairie in various states of restoration, and through mowing, cover cropping, controlled burns, and out planting we work to expand this habitat.
We are also working to restore Garry oak savanna habitats, in collaboration with Sound Water Stewards, by establishing saplings in the Native Plant Center and then transferring them to either the North or South oak savanna, caging the oaks while they are small to prevent over foraging. We also seed and plant native flowers and grasses in the savannas to restore the former farmland.
We know our ecosystems are on the path to recovery, in 2024 the golden paintbrush count exceeded they 2023 count by 40,000 plants.
As our habitat restoration grows, PRI can be considered as an introduction site for endangered native insects or birds. PRI is being considered as an introduction site for the Taylor’s checkerspot (Euphydryas editha taylori) butterfly
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