CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa's Tallgrass Prairie Center will welcome Karen Viste-Sparkman as part of the center's on-going Ecological Restoration Seminar Series at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 24. Karen Viste-Sparkman is a Wildlife Biologist with Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, and she be sharing the story of ecological restoration at Neal Smith NWR.

The refuge was established in 1991 and was the first large-scale ecological project of its kind. It serves as a model in restoring and reconstructing the tallgrass prairie and oak savanna ecosystems that once dominated Iowa's landscape. The refuge has experienced successes and challenges, from reintroduced native species to invasive species. The seminar is free and open to the public. It will be held at the Tallgrass Prairie Center, 2412 W 27th Street, Cedar Falls, IA. For more information, contact Daryl Smith, Director, UNI's Tallgrass Prairie Center, at 319-273-2238 or daryl.smith@uni.edu.