A consortium of government agencies wants to hear from the public about its plan to try to protect and restore Central Arizona’s dwindling grasslands.

The meeting is in Prescott, AZ on Thursday, June 5.

“The health of these grasslands is critical for a number of species,” said Dee Kephart, habitat specialist for the Game and Fish Department’s Region 3 office.

The agencies signed the grasslands strategy in 2010 and update it every year so they can work together on common goals. The strategy covers about 750,000 acres and uses pronghorn antelope as an indicator species about the health of local grasslands.

“Pronghorn are an ideal species to examine because they are so closely tied to this type of habitat,” Kephart said. “They are heavily dependant on their eyesight, so open spaces are critical.”

North America’s central grasslands are considered one of the most threatened ecosystems on the continent and in the world, the strategy notes.

See on www.prescottaz.com