Growing Grasslands: A Year of Progress for Audubon Conservation Ranching in Texas

Now greater than ever, ranchers and conservationists are working facet by facet to show that working lands and wildlife can thrive collectively. In 2025, ranchers and conservationists with the Audubon Conservation Ranching (ACR) program continued that pattern throughout Texas, teaming as much as create one more impactful yr for grassland chicken habitat.  

In 2025, The Texas ACR program added 13 ranches representing 363,044 acres to this system. Our Chook-Pleasant Land Certifications now embody 28 licensed ranches masking greater than 439,000 acres of working lands. That is practically 700 sq. miles of habitat the place ranchers have dedicated to practices that assist grassland birds, pollinators, and the total internet of life that is determined by wholesome native vary. Every new acre represents a landowner who has chosen to handle their land with each productiveness and conservation in thoughts. 

Nevertheless, certifications and numbers inform solely a part of the story. In 2025, the ACR staff supplied hands-on technical help to landowners throughout the state who’re on their very own journey towards extra conservation-minded administration. From prairie restoration steering to grassland administration planning, our employees labored one-on-one with producers to assist them take significant steps for birds and wildlife on their properties. 

We additionally deepened our dedication to reaching producers from all backgrounds. This yr, the staff engaged with organizations representing girls in ranching, indigenous land stewards, and small-scale farmers and ranchers. We’re enthusiastic about new partnerships and alternatives with communities whose conservation contributions are too typically neglected, and whose voices make our program stronger.