Grasslands and Savannas in Virginia

savanna with oak and hickory trees, maintained by fire, in the Piedmont physiographic province
Source: Virginia Native Plant Society (VNSP), Home is Where the Grassland Is with Chris Ludwig

The presence of so many grassland plant species in Virginia demonstrates that prairie-like habitat was common before settlement in the 1600's began to transform the landscape. Perhaps the most significant human impact after conversion of so much acreage to farmland was the reduction in wildfires.

With 40-50 inches or rain per year, natural plant succession on an old field will produce a forest within several decades. Grasslands existed because fires burned acreage every 5-10 years. In addition to natural fires caused by lightning, Native Americans intentionally burned the woods.¹

Animals of Virginia

Ferns of Virginia

Trees of Virginia

The Vegetation of Virginia

Wildfire and Prescribed Fire in Virginia

Source: Virginia Native Plant Society, Virginia Native Grassland Restoration

Links

• American Bird Conservancy
• In Virginia's Piedmont Grasslands: a Firmer Foothold for Declining Birds
• Fire Ecology
• Litter to glitter: promoting herbaceous groundcover and diversity in mid-southern USA oak forests using canopy disturbance and fire
• Forgotten Grasslands of the South
• Maryland Department of Natural Resources
• Natural Communities of Maryland
• Maryland Historical Magazine
• The Great Maryland Barrens - Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 (1955)
• Maryland Park Service
• Soldiers Delight Natural Environment Area
• National Bobwhite and Grassland Initiative
• The Nature Conservancy
• Appalachian Shale Barrens
• Potts Creek Shale Barren
• Traveling Through Time in the Virginia Pinelands
• Virginia Pinelands Program
• One Earth
• Southeast Savannas & Riparian Forests bioregion
• Vegetation Classification and Survey
• Floristics of Virginia's Northern and Central Piedmont grasslands
• Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation
• Cleveland Barrens Natural Area Preserve
• Cowbane Prairie Natural Area Preserve
• The Natural Communities of Virginia
• Central Appalachian Shale Barrens
• High-Elevation Forests, Grasslands, and Rock Outcrops
• Loblolly Pine Savannas
• Piedmont Oak - Hickory Woodlands, Savannas, and Grasslands
• Riverside Prairies
• Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources
• Good Fire
• Virginia Grassland Bird Initiative
• Virginia Native Plant Society
• Home is Where the Grassland Is with Chris Ludwig (2024 video)
• Virginia Outdoors Foundation
• Grass Roots: Restoring Virginia's Grassland Legacy
• West Virginia Department of Natural Resources
• Shale Barrens

Source: West Virginia Department of Commerce, The Savanna - West Virginia Forestry

References