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

Now more than ever, ranchers and conservationists are working side by side to prove that working lands and wildlife can thrive together. In 2025, ranchers and conservationists with the Audubon Conservation Ranching (ACR) program continued that trend across Texas, teaming up to create yet another impactful year for grassland bird habitat.  

In 2025, The Texas ACR program added 13 ranches representing 363,044 acres to the program. Our Bird-Friendly Land Certifications now encompass 28 certified ranches covering more than 439,000 acres of working lands. That's nearly 700 square miles of habitat where ranchers have committed to practices that support grassland birds, pollinators, and the full web of life that depends on healthy native range. Each new acre represents a landowner who has chosen to manage their land with both productivity and conservation in mind. 

However, certifications and numbers tell only part of the story. In 2025, the ACR team provided hands-on technical assistance to landowners across the state who are on their own journey toward more conservation-minded management. From prairie restoration guidance to grassland management planning, our staff worked one-on-one with producers to help them take meaningful steps for birds and wildlife on their properties. 

We also deepened our commitment to reaching producers from all backgrounds. This year, the team engaged with organizations representing women in ranching, indigenous land stewards, and small-scale farmers and ranchers. We are excited about new partnerships and opportunities with communities whose conservation contributions are too often overlooked, and whose voices make our program stronger.