Traveling Through Nebraska: Fontenelle Nature Preserve
Located in Bellevue, Nebraska, approximately 8 miles southeast of Omaha, the Fontenelle Nature Preserve is a biological treasure trove encompassing nearly 440 acres of deciduous forest, tallgrass prairie, and Missouri River loess bluffs. Established in 1972 by the Fontenelle Nature Association, the preserve seeks to conserve the region's fragmented ecosystems while providing opportunities for research, conservation, and education.
One of the preserve's defining features is the presence of a Missouri Bur Oak forest, which has been relatively intact since pre-settlement times. This ancient community contains tree remnants dating as far back as the 18th century, offering researchers valuable insights into Nebraska's past climate, forest structure, and the complex relationships between tree species. These ancient oaks also provide habitat for unique communities of insects, such as burrowing bees, and endangered species like the Indiana bat.
A mixture of high-quality tallgrass prairies and timbered areas results from unique environmental conditions at Fontenelle. This variation gives researchers a window into the transitions that have shaped the terrain over time. Prairie fires, for example, play a crucial role in this multi-species ecosystem, and their suppression has long-lasting impacts on the very structure of plant and animal life found here. The staff and researchers have also worked closely to put integrated management policies in place that includes some re-enactment of the seasonal burning practices, which will help promote greater renewal of area forest and prevent massive larger range fires.
Studies have shown that animal populations, especially the local avian population in Fontenelle Forest, have drastically benefited from a conservation plan such that about 100 plus species documented thus far inhabit Fontenelle. Additionally, areas protected exhibit a mix with species that migrated from the area and have been renewed; at one point documented having recorded approximately 20 species at the 6 stops within and outside of Fontenelle.
Some 18.3 miles of trails have been mapped, which researchers and amateur naturalists alike can use for an intimate involvement with this ecosystem. However, extensive measures have been incorporated on many sections of these trails along timber walls in maintaining some natural control on further population disintegration that can and usually does develop.
Over the years Fontenelle has also set up efforts to collaborate with area Universities such as the University of Nebraska-Omaha to develop novel conservation management programs to ensure endangered plants also become a targeted area of future efforts. With a comprehensive research program which has gathered vast historical and location-sensitive information along trails at the preserve it continues to pioneer such education aspects by encouraging critical thinking on local and global species migration related issues. That being said, research does indeed verify numerous migrations among documented animals still are resulting effects, so the efforts may indeed just be able to act as one of the focal point programs giving early verification that study sites are, in fact very crucial instruments.
It's by balancing accessibility with tightly informed conservation practices that Fontenelle Nature Preserve is able to offer its inhabitants extraordinary preservation experiences. By empowering its local partners in conservation efforts, to instill environmental awareness by adopting community-based strategies that contribute to protecting and re-establishing other treasured sanctuary zones, we may see promising evidence and proof of dedication to ecological preservation.
Fontenelle Nature Preserve demonstrates the potential for dynamic management of conserved habitats and exhibits extraordinary versatility in human and natural interaction as part of that management.
One of the preserve's defining features is the presence of a Missouri Bur Oak forest, which has been relatively intact since pre-settlement times. This ancient community contains tree remnants dating as far back as the 18th century, offering researchers valuable insights into Nebraska's past climate, forest structure, and the complex relationships between tree species. These ancient oaks also provide habitat for unique communities of insects, such as burrowing bees, and endangered species like the Indiana bat.
A mixture of high-quality tallgrass prairies and timbered areas results from unique environmental conditions at Fontenelle. This variation gives researchers a window into the transitions that have shaped the terrain over time. Prairie fires, for example, play a crucial role in this multi-species ecosystem, and their suppression has long-lasting impacts on the very structure of plant and animal life found here. The staff and researchers have also worked closely to put integrated management policies in place that includes some re-enactment of the seasonal burning practices, which will help promote greater renewal of area forest and prevent massive larger range fires.
Studies have shown that animal populations, especially the local avian population in Fontenelle Forest, have drastically benefited from a conservation plan such that about 100 plus species documented thus far inhabit Fontenelle. Additionally, areas protected exhibit a mix with species that migrated from the area and have been renewed; at one point documented having recorded approximately 20 species at the 6 stops within and outside of Fontenelle.
Some 18.3 miles of trails have been mapped, which researchers and amateur naturalists alike can use for an intimate involvement with this ecosystem. However, extensive measures have been incorporated on many sections of these trails along timber walls in maintaining some natural control on further population disintegration that can and usually does develop.
Over the years Fontenelle has also set up efforts to collaborate with area Universities such as the University of Nebraska-Omaha to develop novel conservation management programs to ensure endangered plants also become a targeted area of future efforts. With a comprehensive research program which has gathered vast historical and location-sensitive information along trails at the preserve it continues to pioneer such education aspects by encouraging critical thinking on local and global species migration related issues. That being said, research does indeed verify numerous migrations among documented animals still are resulting effects, so the efforts may indeed just be able to act as one of the focal point programs giving early verification that study sites are, in fact very crucial instruments.
It's by balancing accessibility with tightly informed conservation practices that Fontenelle Nature Preserve is able to offer its inhabitants extraordinary preservation experiences. By empowering its local partners in conservation efforts, to instill environmental awareness by adopting community-based strategies that contribute to protecting and re-establishing other treasured sanctuary zones, we may see promising evidence and proof of dedication to ecological preservation.
Fontenelle Nature Preserve demonstrates the potential for dynamic management of conserved habitats and exhibits extraordinary versatility in human and natural interaction as part of that management.
