Texas Projects

Texas Landowner Toolkit

Find Help with Conservation
Resource
Herds for Birds
Our interactive tool to learn what conservation assistance programs are available in your area.

For more assistance navigating conservation programs within the state, or for more information on the Audubon Conservation Ranching program, contact us at audubontexas@audubon.org for a consultation. 

State Programs 

  • Texas A&M Forest Service 

  • Provides technical support and cost-share for forestry and habitat projects, including: 

  • Southern Pine Beetle Prevention Cost-Share 

  • Forest Legacy (easement purchases) 

  • Forest Stewardship (10-year management plans) 

  • Longleaf Pine Conservation Assistance 

  • Oak Wilt Suppression (up to 40% cost assistance) 

  • Joint Chief’s Landscape Restoration Partnership (wildfire risk & habitat) 

  • Neches River & Cypress Basin Watershed Restoration (prescribed fire & invasive control) 

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) 

  • Offers technical and financial help for private landowners through programs such as: 

  • Wildlife Tax Valuation (1-D-1) 

  • Pastures for Upland Birds (native prairie restoration) 

  • Landowner Incentive Program (habitat improvement) 

  • Texas Prairie Wetlands Project (wetlands & plantings) 

  • Technical Guidance Program (work directly with a wildlife biologist) 

  • Playa Conservation Initiative (per-acre payments for playa restoration) 

Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board (TSSWCB) 

  • Administers cost-share and technical assistance including: 

  • Water Quality Management Plans 

  • Feral Swine Control Pilot Program (loaned “smart traps”) 

Federal Programs 

  • Farm Service Agency (FSA) 

  • Supports farmers and ranchers via programs such as: 

  • Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) 

  • Continuous CRP (buffers, filter strips, field borders) 

  • Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) 

  • Offers financial & technical help for: 

  • Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) 

  • Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) 

  • Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) 

  • Conservation Technical Assistance 

  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) 

  • Provides landowner-friendly support including: 

  • Coastal Program (coastal land/ easements) 

  • Partners for Fish & Wildlife Program (free planning & cost-share) 

  • Safe Harbor Agreements (flexible species-habitat compliance) 

Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) 

  • Audubon Texas – Workshops, technical guidance, and ranching support through the Audubon Conservation Ranching program. 

  • Playa Lakes Joint Venture (PLJV) – Provides planning tools, science, and funding support for playa wetland and grassland conservation in the High Plains 

  • Oaks and Prairies Joint Venture (OPJV) – Focused on restoring native grasslands and savannas for declining bird species across Central Texas and Oklahoma. 

  • Rio Grande Joint Venture (RGJV) – Works to conserve grassland, desert, and riparian habitats in South and West Texas through partnerships and technical expertise. 

  • Ducks Unlimited – Wetland restoration and cost-share programs focused on waterfowl habitat and water quality. 

  • Texas Agricultural Land Trust (TALT) – Accredited land trust helping landowners establish voluntary conservation easements. 

  • Wildlife Habitat Federation (WHF) – Offers native grass and pollinator restoration assistance on working lands. 

Miller Land and Livestock Achieves Audubon's Bird-Friendly Habitat Certification
January 11, 2024 — Cattle crucial to making a mosaic of grassland habitat good for birds
News
Audubon and Partners Announce First Bird-Friendly Certified Bison Ranch in Montana
October 04, 2023 — North Bridger Bison ranch in Shields Valley, Montana is using bison to boost birds.
Working Lands
A small owl standing in grass holds a worm dangling from its beak and looks at the camera with its bright yellow eye.
Ranchlands’ Colorado & Wyoming Ranches Certified as Audubon Bird-Friendly Habitats
August 22, 2023 — Cattle cater to bird conservation in the Audubon Conservation Ranching program
Working Lands
An Eastern Meadowlark vocalizing with its beak wide open. It's a small bird, yellow on the belly with a black stripe running from its shoulder to its center. The back is rufous with mottled black pips. Its face has a pop of yellow between its beak and eye, and there's strong speed stripe racing from the back of the eye towards the rear of the head. The bird is perched on a wood post and the background is soft warm and green tones in a creamy bokeh.
National Audubon Society Names Ashly Steinke its Grassland Ecologist for Wisconsin
August 21, 2023 — Will build landowner relationships that help the Audubon Conservation Ranching program grow
Working Lands
Herefords Support Habitat at Audubon Certified Bird-Friendly Orvis Cattle Company
August 08, 2023 — Rotational grazing works for grassland birds in the Audubon Conservation Ranching program
Working Lands
National Audubon Society Names Krysten Zummo its Grassland Ecologist for Minnesota
August 04, 2023 — Will build landowner relationships that help the Audubon Conservation Ranching program grow
Working Lands
A streaky brown bird with a large beak and yellow face perches on a fence post with its feathers fluffed up against a blurred yellow and blue background.
Prairie Birds 101
June 22, 2023 — Five prairie prizes to look for when grassland birding
Working Lands
Diggin’ Deeper into the Underworld of Grasslands
June 14, 2023 — Unearthing the importance of native plants and root systems in grassland ecosystems
Working Lands
Grazing Gone Wild
June 08, 2023 — Grassland terms of endearment that define when grazing is good for birds and wildlife
Working Lands
Five Facts about Grasslands that Will Blow You Away
June 01, 2023 — Join the National Audubon Society in celebrating National Prairie Day on Saturday, June 3
Working Lands