OUTDOOR CORNER: SAVANNAH: MIDSSOURI'S `SAFARI' LAND

Would you believe that Missouri was once a vast savannah? Most folks would picture an African plain with lions and zebra roaming the grassy hills looking for the occasional tree for shade from the oppressive heat. Africa does not have the market on savannah though.

Missouri was at one time dominated by savannah. In fact this region had an equal to greater amount of savannah than forest. The factor seldom considered in describing a forest is tree density. The spacing of the trees can have a considerable impact on what type of plant community you have.

Allow me to introduce you to a savannah.

Savannah, as defined by Webster's dictionary, is "A plain characterized by coarse grasses and scattered tree growth".

Although accurate, this fails to give you a feel for what a savannah truly is. Missouri citizen Joseph Mudd, in 1888, had this to say: "The timbered lands were open, the trees standing so far apart that the hunters could see the deer at distances from one to five hundred yards. The entire surface of the country was then covered with a rank growth of vegetation, consisting of the native grasses and wildflowers, which gave the landscape, especially the timbered lands, a much more beautiful appearance...."

Explorer Henry Rowe Schoolcraft, while in Missouri in 1819, had this description of the landscape we know as savannah, " ...a succession of hills of moderate elevation, covered chiefly by oaks and without underbrush. A tall, thick rank growth of wild grass covers the whole country, in which the oaks are standing interspersed, like fruit trees in some well cultivated orchard, and giving to the scenery the most novel, pleasing, and picturesque appearance."

The first explorers to Missouri were not expecting what they saw when they got away from the rivers. Accustomed to the densely vegetated forests of the eastern United States Missouri seemed a barren territory. Hence the name `barrens' for many regions of sparse trees.

I think with regard to expectations we have a lot in common with the pioneers to Missouri. We are not accustomed to seeing vast savannahs. The ability to see hundreds of yards into a forest of trees, without vegetation obstructing your view, is virtually unheard of today.

Historically Missouri was one third savannah. So when the first Europeans came along, forest only existed along the river bottoms and in the swamp lands of the present day Bootheel. Hill country that was not grasslands was most likely savannah. However this is not what we see today. WHY?

Savannahs are maintained by two major factors: rainfall and fire. Trees need a considerable amount of water to grow. Prairies have lower rainfall amounts and make life difficult for trees. A true forest will have higher rainfall thus giving a variety of trees the moisture they need. A savannah is a gradient between prairie and forest. It is a mixture of both forest trees and prairie grasses and wildflowers.

The grasses have to deal with more shade and the trees grow very slow due to the lack of water. It is a natural compromise established eons ago.

The line dividing savannah from forest and prairie is difficult to define though. Put simply, when does an area stop being a prairie and start being a savannah? Conversely, when are there enough trees to call an area a forest rather than savannah?

The second factor in managing a savannah is fire. Often seen as a scourge that devours natural resources, fire has a negative image. Smokey the Bear even lets us know about wildfire's destructive nature. Wildfires can do a lot of damage if they occur at the wrong time or if they burn into undesired areas.

Ecologists have learned that Missouri had fires every 3-5 years. Fires in early spring and late fall occurred with such repetition that the plants became adapted to fire and even grew to need it to survive. Savannahs are a community of plants that depend on fire. Take away the fire and many plants disappear. Thickets of trees invade and take over leaving the savannah a memory.

The Department of Conservation is committed to restoring natural communities such as savannahs. They are superior habitat for game and nongame animals alike. The department thins dense groves of sprouts and may conduct a prescribed burn to promote savannah grasses and wildflowers. Sites that represent the finest quality savannah are managed in this way.

This spring you may see areas that are blackened by fire in an effort to heal a savannah. Bear in mind that only a few invading plants that do not tolerate fire will be hurt by the fire.

Most plants in Missouri will benefit from the kiss of flames. Ketcherside Mt., Graves Mt.., University Forest, Current River, and Castor River, are all conservation areas that are being restored to savannah like conditions in one degree or another. These projects range in size from 10 to 800 acres.

Ha Ha Tonka, Lake of the Ozarks and Hawn State parks each have a high quality example of savannah to offer if you know what to look for. The next time you visit a public nature area keep in mind the variety a forest can possess but be on the look out for the truly fantastic savannah.

A.J. Hendershott is an education consultant with the Missouri Department of Conservation.