Baldwin Woods Forest Preserve

Prior to Euro-American settlement, the Baldwin Woods area encompassed about 3,700 acres of closed forest and open savanna. However, development of rural areas for agriculture and, in recent years, for suburban housing has greatly reduced the extent of native woodland. In 1980, the entire Baldwin Woods area was designated as a National Natural Landmark because it is recognized as a “significant example of the natural heritage of the Nation.” Scientific studies within the area are done with as little disturbance as possible so as not to damage the sensitive ecosystem. The KU Field Station preserves 404 contiguous acres of the Baldwin Woods ecosystem, in several tracts (Breidenthal, Rice, Wall, and the Forest Legacy Reserve acquired in 2016) in perpetuity.