US MEXICO GRASSLAND BIRD CONSERVATION XV

BCR will continue work funded by the NMBCA since 2002 to conserve high-priority and declining grassland bird species of western North America.

The project builds on broad scientific foundation and capacity established by BCR and partners over two decades to conserve and enhance habitat for grassland birds across their range.

Since 2012, BCR has engaged landowners in northern Mexico to build the Sustainable Grazing Network (SGN) to protect critical wintering habitat and increase abundance and survival of priority grassland birds.

In this phase partners will 1) expand the SGN to enroll and protect another 10,000 acres, 2) enhance 10,000 acres of SGN grasslands through improved grazing management, 3) restore at least 100 acres of degraded grasslands through shrub control or other intensive restoration techniques, 4) monitor grassland birds on SGN lands to assess impact, 5) expand outreach efforts to maximize landowner and other conservation partner engagement in the 1st Encuentro Ganadero in Chihuahua), 6) assist in developing a Bird Conservation Business Plan for Chihuahuan grasslands, and 7) permanently protect 160 acres of grasslands in Larimer County, Colorado from exurban development and assist local governments in conserving grassland birds through monitoring populations on over 25,000 acres of protected open space lands.