Action Plans are now available for three newly defined COAs: Missouri River Hills COA, Southeast Sand Ridge Grasslands COA, and Upper Blue River COA. Click here for more information on Conservation Opportunity Areas.

Missouri River Hills Conservation Opportunity Area (view action plan)

The Missouri River Hills landscape is the largest contiguous block of forested land north of the Missouri River. Serving as the boundary where glaciers once met the Ozarks, the tallgrass prairies from the north transition into the rugged forest hills and this greatly influenced the wildlife of the area. Today the Missouri River Hills still support an interesting mosaic of forests, woodlands and glades. A strong partnership between the Ruffed Grouse Society, Missouri Department of Conservation, private landowners and many other conservation groups has led to forest, woodland and glade restoration on public and private land within this COA. For one landowner's perspective, click here. For more information on this partnership, view the article on page 8-9 of the Fall 2008 Missouri Natural Areas Newsletter.

Southeast Sand Ridge Grasslands Conservation Opportunity Area (view action plan)

The Southeast Sand Ridge Grasslands COA highlights scattered prairie remnants in the Missouri bootheel. Sand prairies are the rarest natural community in southeast Missouri and certainly one of the rarest statewide. Presently less than 2,000 acres of medium to high quality sand prairies and savannas remain in Southeast Missouri. Today, all of the sand community acreage has been altered or domesticated for agricultural purposes. Many animals occupy sand communities such as Dusty hognosed snakes, Illinois chorus frogs, Bobwhite quail, Eastern meadowlarks, Northern harriers, and other grassland birds; native bees, sand cicadas, and insects that we have just begun to learn about. For more information on Missouri's sand prairies, view the article, "A Prairie in the Swamp," from the June 2004 issue of the Missouri Conservationist.

Upper Blue River Conservation Opportunity Area (view action plan)

Located in the midst of urban Kansas City, the Upper Blue River COA includes a largely intact corridor of public land that contains remnants of the area's orignial landscape. Led by Kansas City WildLands, this COA offers many volunteer opportunities for the public to get involved. Read more on pages 6-7 of the Fall 2008 Missouri Natural Areas Newsletter.