Managing Natural Lands

---

Unfortunately, the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation lacks the staff and resources to help every Iowa landowner manage the natural features on their land.

However, we have developed many resources to help you learn more about what to do or who to call about topics like reconstructing prairies, managing your land for wildlife habitat and more.

Publications for landowners

A Bird's Eye View: A Guide to Managing and Protecting Your Land for Neotropical Migratory Birds in the Upper Mississippi River Blufflands. Written and published by INHF. Available free by mail or online.

Woodland Health: Stewardship Options for Iowa Woodland Owners was written by INHF staff member Cheri Grauer and published by INHF in 2004. This 32-page booklet provides a holistic view of caring for Iowa woodlands--from the top of the canopy to the woodland flowers and wildlife below. Chapter topics include the history of Iowa woodlands, controlling invasive plants, avoiding fragmentation and much more.

Attracting Iowa Wildlife on Private Lands, by USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service and Iowa DNR. Partial funding by INHF. 36 pages, free.

A Practical Guide to Prairie Reconstruction, by Carl Kurtz. INHF provided some production and distribution assistance. 70 pages with many full-color photos and lists of resources, $12.95. You can get a sense of the book by reading the article Carl Kurtz and INHF staff member Marlene Ehresman wrote for our magazine's Ecology College section on the same subject.

If you’re interested in good land stewardship, you may be interested in permanently protecting your work. Don’t forget to check out resources on permanent land protection.

For other articles about different ecosystems and how to protect them, visit the Ecology College section of this website.