The Big Picture

We believe that a prairie reserve devoted to wildlife will promote positive economic opportunities throughout our community, as well as encourage regional collaboration. We recognize that agriculture remains the dominant industry in the region and trust that visitors to American Prairie Reserve stimulate local economic activity when they contract local guides and patronize local establishments. Additional and significant economic opportunities are born through various Reserve expenditures, such as vehicle and facility maintenance, and reserve operations such as fence building, wildlife monitoring and payment of taxes.

Progress to Date

We track the economic impact of Reserve-related activities in the local region. Since our inception in 2001, APF’s expenditures in Phillips County total over $18.3 million, including land purchases, wages paid to local staff, tourism activities, equipment and supply purchases, payments to local contractors and real estate taxes.APF is committed to supporting and taking part in discussions about how resources associated with the Reserve can infuse and sustain the local economy.

Additionally, APF studies the relative success of wildlife reserves around the world and gathers best practices applicable to our project from these reserves regarding their experiences with neighboring communities.

Next Steps

While APF does not intend to run concessions on the Reserve for the long term, we do plan for and encourage the type, quality and location of facilities and services that will be best suited for use on the Reserve to fit within our mission. We are gathering information about opportunities that will enhance the experience of visiting the Reserve while protecting the ecological values of the area. Also, as the Reserve expands, APF will remain committed to creating a permanent endowment to maintain the basic ongoing management costs of running the Reserve.