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Our Goals
Audubon’s Conservation Ranching certification is a collaboration with beef and bison grazers that utilizes rotational and regenerative grazing practices to manage grasslands and increase declining grassland bird populations.
What We’re Doing
We work alongside beef and bison grazers to develop habitat management plans that assist expansion of bird-friendly grassland management practices on private lands, enhancing and restoring habitat for declining grassland birds.
Grassland birds have suffered an unparalleled decline over the past half century, stemming from widespread development of North America’s grasslands.
Millions of acres across the hemisphere support bird-friendly agriculture and provide important breeding and migratory habitat for hundreds of bird species. Audubon works with landowners and land managers to adopt regenerative land-management practices through our Wings Over Working Lands Initiative.
Why farmers and ranchers? The majority of the declining grassland birds inhabit privately owned land. Working collaboratively with private landowners is key to scale positive impact for birds.
Through this market-connected approach, Audubon is connecting conservation-conscious consumers to farmers and ranchers that employ bird-friendly management practices in raising their livestock.
Financial Assistance
We proudly offer financial assistance and direct payments to producers for land management practices benefitting grassland-dependent wildlife while supporting regenerative grazing practices, thanks to our generous partners:
- US Department of Agriculture Natural Resources and Conservation Science (USDA NRCS): Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) and Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP)
- National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
- Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund
Learn more about our state-based opportunities for producers of Audubon Certified Bird-Friendly Land:
Bird-friendly practices supported:
- Fence and watering infrastructure
- Prescribed fire
- Brush management
- Native pasture and hay planting
Participating farms are eligible to receive bird occupancy payments based on the presence of target bird species. Producers can earn up to $5,000 in a breeding season, or $10,000 for two years.
This work is supported by the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) though its Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) funding.
Bird-friendly practices supported:
- Fence and watering infrastructure
- Herbaceous weed treatment
- Brush and tree removal
- Range and riparian plantings
- Stream crossings
- Pumping plant
If certified, properties are also eligible to receive soil monitoring, fully financially covered by Audubon.
Funding for MO financial assistance is supported by USDA’s Regional Conservation Partners Program.
Project Team
Krysten Zummo
Grassland Ecologist
Sarah Hewitt
Senior Conservation Manager
Alex Wardwell
Prairie Project Specialist
Contact Us
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