Conservation Ranching

Working with landowners to support better bird habitat.
Photo: Stacy Steinke

̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ Certified Bird-Friendly Lands

̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ Conservation Ranching aims to stabilize declining grassland bird populations in partnership with farmers and ranchers. 

Why farmers and ranchers? The majority of grassland birds – whose populations have declined by more than 50 percent in the last 50 years – inhabit privately owned land. This is where we scale our impact.

Landowners voluntarily enroll in our program, and when they meet requirements centering on habitat management, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare, they earn the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ bird-friendly land certification. Nationwide, more than 100 ranches and nearly 3 million acres that have earned status as Ì½»¨¾«Ñ¡ Certified bird-friendly land. 

Consumers with an appetite for conservation support these bird-friendly habitats. A special package designation – the Ì½»¨¾«Ñ¡ Certified bird-friendly seal – lets shoppers know which beef or bison products come from these lands managed for birds and biodiversity. 

About Conservation Ranching
For Retailers and Institutions
For Retailers and Institutions

Learn why you should carry products that meet the desires of your eco-conscious customers.

Our Team

Melinda Cep

Vice President, Natural Solutions and Working Lands

Christopher Wilson

Program Director, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ Conservation Ranching

Farley Green

Marketing Manager, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ Conservation Ranching

Anthony Hauck

Communications Manager, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ Conservation Ranching

Thomas Schroeder

Senior Partnerships Manager, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ Conservation Ranching

̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ Launches Conservation Ranching Program in Wisconsin to Support Declining Grassland Bird Populations
June 27, 2024 — Bird-friendly certification aims to improve bird habitat & connect consumers to conservation
̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ and Grassroots Carbon Announce First-of-its-Kind Partnership to Reward Landowners for Improving Habitats for Birds while Building Healthy Soils
June 18, 2024 — This innovative partnership creates new income opportunities for landowners through soil drawdown carbon credits to reward them for regenerative land stewardship practices
Prairie-to-Plate Philosophy Drives Bird-Friendly Management at North Dakota’s Paul Ranch
May 16, 2024 — David and Denver Paul launch Wild Prairie Beef business from ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ Certified lands
North River Ranch Notches Bird-Friendly Certification from the ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡
April 15, 2024 — Rotationally grazing cattle herd helping grassland birds at northeast Missouri ranch
Birds That Depend on Grasslands
! Priority Bird
Bobolink
Blackbirds and Orioles
Chestnut-collared Longspur
Longspurs and Snow Buntings
Greater Prairie-Chicken
Pheasants and Grouse
American Golden-Plover
Plovers