Wichita ? The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wants to buy easements on up to 1 million acres of intact, native tallgrass prairie in Kansas to establish a conservation area.

The goal of the proposed Flint Hills Legacy Conservation Area Initiative would be to maintain wildlife habitat. The agency says parts of the Flint Hills are being lost to commercial and residential development.

The voluntary easement program would cover parts of 14 counties.

Hearings are planned next week in Alma, Wichita and Cottonwood Falls to solicit comments and answer questions from the public.