Conservation Ranching Program Described at 2025 Annual Meeting

The CCLC annual meeting was well attended on Tuesday evening April 15th, 2025. Grassland ecologist Ashly Steinke of the Audubon Society gave a noteworthy and thought provoking program. Ashly described his work with the Audubon Society’s Conservation Ranching program.  This program aims to stabilize declining grassland bird populations in partnership with farmers and ranchers. 

The majority of grassland birds – whose populations have declined by more than 50 percent in the last 50 years often inhabit privately owned land. This is where farmers and ranchers can make a big impact by utilizing the Conservation Ranching program.

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

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