JV8 Central Grasslands Conservation Initiave | Eight Migratory Bird Joint Ventures Unified for Conservation of the Central Grasslands

Saving an Iconic American Landscape

Central Grasslands are one of North America’s largest and most vital ecosystems. Rich with cultural and ecological diversity, these lands support economies, ways of life, and native wildlife. Stabilizing Central Grasslands provides a wide range of benefits.

Strengthening Agricultural Economies

Supporting Indigenous Knowledge & Cultural Traditions

Enhancing Wildlife Habitat

Promoting Climate Resilience

A Critical Ecosystem in Collapse

North American Central Grasslands once covered over 550 million acres, stretching from southern Canada through the central U.S. into northern Mexico, and including the lands of many Indigenous Nations. More than 60% of Central Grasslands have been lost over the past 200 years. They are among the most endangered terrestrial ecosystems on Earth. Economic pressures related to the competition for grassland resources are the biggest threat to grasslands.

Recovering Central Grasslands – Together

JV8 has developed a business plan to stem grassland loss and slow bird population declines.

The goal:

No net loss of Central Grasslands by 2044.

To reach our goal, we must expand resilient and connected habitat through strategic conservation actions.

Protection

Maintaining large blocks of grasslands

Restoration

Reestablishing healthy habitat on altered lands

Enhancement

Improving damaged grasslands

Persistence/Retention

Keeping working intact grasslands healthy

Protection in Action

McIntyre Ranch in Alberta encompasses more than 55,000 acres of critical prairie grassland and wetland habitat. A monumental conservation easement on the ranch is the largest such agreement in Canadian history Partners include: Government of Canada, Nature Conservancy of Canada, Ducks Unlimited Canada and the land trust community.

Restoration in Action

Two and a half million acres of grasslands in Nebraska’s Sandhills region are threatened by encroachment by trees. Partners are working with private landowners through cost-share programs to eliminate Eastern Red Cedar seed sources and establish intact grassland cores.

Enhancement in Action

The Sustainable Grazing Network is a collaboration between Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, Evaluación Integral y Restauración de Hábitat, A.C., Rio Grande JV, andnorthern Mexican landowners. The goal is to conserve and enhance wintering habitat for migratory grassland birds. The SGN currently involves 31 properties encompassing over 600,000 acres. Landowners participate voluntarily. RGJV and EIRHA, with additional support from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are measuring habitat results by implementing the Grasslands Effectiveness Monitoring protocol.

Persistence/Retention in Action

The younger generation of a 12,000-acre Montana family ranch is taking over the operation. Ranch managers are working with several NGOs to finance enhancements to improve infrastructure and grazing management. The goal is to build drought resiliency and long-term persistence of intact, sustainable rangelands.

We must scale up capacity to steward working grasslands

200 Habitat Conservation Staff by 2027

Conservation Actions on 19.5 Million Acres by 2034

375 Million Activity Acres by 2044

Get Involved

JV8 brings together landowners, farmers and ranchers, policy makers, funders, conservationists, and others who are committed to conserving North America’s Central Grasslands.

Join us!