Human Interests vs Conservation of the Badlands and Black Hills of South Dakota

Merideth Kendal

This presentation touches on the history of how humans in particular, white settlers, have treated the land of the Badlands and Black Hills and how we can move forward with using the land respectfully.

4 thoughts on “Human Interests vs Conservation of the Badlands and Black Hills of South Dakota”

  1. Your presentation was very informative, Merideth. Isn’t it terrible that the rightful owners of the Badlands have to *continue* proving that the area belongs to them? How differently history would have been if the US government had adhered to a single treaty they signed with the Native Americans.

    1. Thank you, Allison! I absolutely agree. Hopefully moving forward the government both federal and local can begin to repair some of that damaged trust.

  2. Thank you, Merideth, for this great presentation! Seeing how there is no back-up planet, is it possible that human interests may soon align with conservation efforts? Any sign of this move in the Badlands?

  3. Thank you for your kind words! There is some forward motion toward scientific research stations such as SURF replacing some of the mining operations in the Black Hills. These research stations may not be mission specific to conservation, but they do indirectly help conservation efforts by taking the place of some of the destructive industries that had previously operated in those spaces in the Black Hills.

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