According to Audubon’s highly anticipated North American Grasslands and Birds Report, there is little debate that grasslands like we have in Nebraska are one of the most imperiled ecosystems in North America. With temperate grassland regions projected to have some of the highest rates of climate change among biomes on Earth, our native prairies are in trouble and so are the birds and wildlife that depend on them.

Grassland bird conservation is inextricably linked to management practices on millions of acres of rangelands, the vast majority of which are privately owned. Because of this, partnering with ranchers is our best hope for conserving these birds.

Audubon’s Conservation Ranching Program uses an innovative, market-based approach to connect conservation-conscious consumers to ranchers who employ bird-friendly management practices in raising their livestock. The program addresses loss in ecosystem function and health through the conservation of at-risk bird species and the habitat they depend upon. It incentivizes bird-friendly livestock management practices, emphasizing regenerative grazing approaches that improve soil health, diversify habitat structure, and ensure environmental sustainability that benefits pollinators and other grassland wildlife.

Audubon Conservation Ranching is making its way to Nebraska ranchers, retailers and consumers. To learn more about the program, visit audbuon.org/ranching. You can also find the Grasslands and Birds Report here: www.audubon.org/conservation/working-lands/grasslands-report.