Encroach | Gradual infringement Advance beyond Former limit |
W
ithout the disturbances of grazing and fire, trees will encroach on a prairie, cast shade and kill off the grass. Out on the Konza Prairie, it is interesting how some trees and shrubs manage to survive the periodic fires. Also interesting is the fact that for 20,000 years the natural prairie ecosystem was in balance as a direct result of human behavior. Native Americans used fire annually as a tool to assist in hunting and as a land management mechanism. This begs the question: at what point does human activity become unnatural?
“Not even a prairie fire can destroy the grass; it grows again when the spring breeze flows.” - Chinese proverb
