Protecting Pioneer Cemetery Prairies: Balancing the Need to Preserve Cultural and Natural Heritage Values

The protection and management of pioneer cemetery prairies is a daunting challenge. As the public has become accus; tamed to highly manicured grass in their backyard lawns, neighborhood parks and cemeteries, prairie cemeteries, with grasses three; to six;feet ta ll , are often thought to be abandoned or unkept even though the cemeteries reta in their original vegetation. Caring for prairie plants, protecting cemetery stones, and providing public access need not be goals that stand in conflict. Working in conjunction, cemetery advocates, archaeologists, and plant biologists can reach satisfactory accommodations. This paper gives an overview of the protection status of pioneer cemetery prairies and savannas in Illinois and the issues faced by those managing for the natural vegetation within these cemeteries along with providing an approach on how to deal with potential conflicts arising between the need to preserve the cultural heritage of the cemetery and conduct management necessary to maintain the historic prairie and savanna communities.