Audubon to Expand Rancher-Powered Conservation for Birds Across 500,000 Grassland Acres

Washington, D.C. (April 7, 2026)—The Nationwide Audubon Society in the present day introduced it has been awarded $4 million from the Nationwide Fish and Wildlife Basis (NFWF) by means of the Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative to broaden bird-friendly ranching practices throughout the Central Grasslands—considered one of North America’s most necessary and most threatened ecosystems for birds.

Grassland birds are among the many fastest-declining teams of birds on the continent, largely as a consequence of habitat loss and degradation throughout agricultural lands. Via this funding, Audubon will work with farmers and ranchers to implement regenerative grazing and habitat administration practices that restore the construction and variety of grasslands that birds have to survive—whereas strengthening the productiveness and resilience of grass-based agricultural operations.

Audubon’s challenge can be delivered by means of its Audubon Conservation Ranching program, which in lower than a decade has grown into one of many most recognizable and impactful grassland conservation packages within the U.S. Over the subsequent three years, Audubon will enroll 32 new ranches into the trouble, bringing one other 500,000 acres in 13 states managed to assist grassland birds below the distinctive Audubon Licensed Fowl-Pleasant Land certification.

Marshall Johnson, Audubon’s Chief Conservation Officer, mentioned the 150 farms and ranches at the moment within the Audubon Conservation Ranching program—totaling almost 4.5 million acres—sign a true producer-led conservation motion, one that this funding will proceed to develop.

“Due to NFWF and program companions, this challenge will increase the facility and profile of voluntary, rancher-led conservation efforts to ship measurable advantages for working lands, wildlife, and rural communities on half 1,000,000 acres in America’s Central Grasslands,” Johnson mentioned.

Dave Haubein, proprietor of Spherical Rock Ranch in Missouri and the primary rancher to attain Audubon Licensed Fowl-Pleasant Land certification, emphasised the significance of recognizing ranchers as conservation leaders. Seeing his peer producer community lifted up as the driver of change is important to the conservation success story.

“It’s heartening to see rising assist for partnerships that middle on ranchers as conservation stewards for our nation’s grasslands,” Haubein mentioned. “Ranchers know if soil, water, and grasslands aren’t wholesome, neither are our operations. Being a part of Audubon Conservation Ranching helped us put a reputation and a framework round practices we imagine in, whereas displaying that correct grazing can’t solely assist birds and wildlife, however can improve productiveness of the land and the animals.”

Audubon is considered one of six preliminary grantees—together with the American Bird Conservancy, American Farmland Trust, Mule Deer Foundation, Sand County Foundation, and University of Missouri—chosen by means of the Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative, a landmark public-private partnership led by NFWF to speculate greater than $200 million over seven years in voluntary conservation throughout working lands. These preliminary six grantees are anticipated to work with greater than 750 personal cattle ranch operations throughout 26 states. The Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative funding can be supported by McDonald’s USA, the USDA Pure Assets Conservation Service (NRCS), and several other key McDonald’s USA beef and beverage suppliers.

“At the moment is a good day for America’s wildlife, its ranching communities and its beef provide chain,” mentioned Jeff Trandahl, government director and CEO of NFWF. “This primary spherical of grants from the Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative exhibits what can occur when firms, federal businesses, conservation organizations, and personal landowners be a part of forces to assist each wildlife conservation and financial prosperity. This initiative is simply getting began. We’re assured it would play a number one position in grasslands conservation throughout the nation for years to come back.”

Ranchers in collaborating with Audubon by means of the Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative ought to contact Thomas Schroeder, Senior Partnership Supervisor with the Audubon Conservation Ranching program, at thomas.schroeder@audubon.org.

At a look: Audubon’s Grassland Resilience and Conservation Initiative challenge

Mission title: Implementing regenerative grazing and habitat conservation practices to reinforce the biodiversity and resilience of grassland ecosystems within the Central Grasslands by means of the Audubon Conservation Ranching program.

Mission scope: Advance improved grazing administration and conservation practices throughout 500,000 acres in 13 states.

Key motion: Enroll 32 new farms and ranches within the Audubon Conservation Ranching program

Restore the habitat range that grassland birds rely on for nesting and foraging
Enhance soil well being and water retention, growing resilience to drought and excessive climate
Improve forage productiveness and long-term sustainability for ranching operations
Improve carbon sequestration in soils
Display measurable enhancements in grassland chook populations and broader biodiversity

About Audubon Conservation Ranching
Audubon Conservation Ranching companions with ranchers to maintain wholesome grasslands, considerable birdlife, and resilient rural communities. Via our bird-friendly land certification and science-based method, we empower land stewards to reinforce habitat, enhance soil well being and water high quality, and strengthen the connection between conservation and ranching. By buying merchandise from Audubon Licensed Fowl-Pleasant Land, shoppers grow to be conservationists, serving to defend America’s grasslands and the birds, wildlife, and those who rely on them. For extra info, go to www.audubon.org/ranching.

Concerning the Nationwide Fish and Wildlife Basis
The Nationwide Fish and Wildlife Basis (NFWF) works with companions to foster sustainable and impactful conservation options so that folks and nature thrive collectively. Chartered by Congress in 1984, NFWF has grown to grow to be the nation’s largest conservation basis. Since its founding, NFWF has funded greater than 23,900 initiatives which have generated a complete conservation influence of greater than $12 billion. Be taught extra at nfwf.org.

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