Grassland and Arid Lands Conservation

Grasslands and arid lands stretch across over 60% of Texas, and are among the most important and most threatened ecosystems for birds. With the Audubon Conservation Ranching (ACR) initiative, Audubon Texas is collaborating with ranchers and rural landowners to restore these vital landscapes, revitalize grassland habitat, and ensure that grassland birds have thriving places to breed, migrate, and winter. On working lands across Texas, we’re building a network of ranches managed both for production and ecology, grounding bird-conservation in sound science, local livelihoods, and regenerative land-use. 

With the help of our Audubon Texas range ecologist team, ACR rancher in Texas adopt tailored Habitat Management Plans that align grazing timing, intensity, and rotation with the needs of priority grassland-bird species. These plans often include restoring native grasses, controlling invasive woody plants, improving cover structure and edge habitat, monitoring soil health, and monitoring bird responses over time. As part of the broader ACR program, when ranches meet rigorous habitat, animal-welfare, and environmental-sustainability criteria, they earn the Audubon Certified Bird-Friendly Land seal, further linking wildlife habitat outcomes with increased market value for beef and bison. 

This work in Texas aligns directly with the national strategic vision embodied in the Flight Plan (2023–2028) of the National Audubon Society, whose goal is to “bend the bird curve” by halting and reversing bird-population declines across the Americas. Grasslands and arid lands alone account for roughly 1.3 billion acres of priority habitat in the hemisphere. By improving habitat on working ranches in Texas, we contribute to hemispheric bird-conservation outcomes by supporting migratory species that traverse flyways, strengthening habitat resilience in the face of climate change, and leveraging private lands for public-benefit conservation. 

For Texas, the stakes are especially high. These wide-open rangelands represent cultural heritage, working landscapes, and a wildlife lifeline all at once. Audubon Texas through ACR is helping landowners turn sustainable beef production into a win-win for ranching families and grassland birds alike. By forging partnerships, applying science, and creating market incentives, this program demonstrates how large-scale grassland restoration can work in real landscapes and real operations. 

In doing so, we’re not just protecting birds. We’re strengthening rural economies, regenerating soils, improving water retention, and enhancing the biodiversity and resilience of grassland ecosystems. We’re ensuring that Texas remains a place where birds soar over native prairie grasses and ranching remains part of the solution and not the problem. If you care about birds, open skies and broad horizons, the Audubon Conservation Ranching program offers a practical, powerful pathway to lasting impact.