The heart of Audubon’s mission is to protect birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. The Audubon Conservation Ranching (ACR) program delivers on our mission by partnering with experts and land managers to design and implement regenerative grazing practices specifically tailored to each property. These practices, called Habitat Management Plans (HMP), are created through a detailed and collaborative process aimed at effectively balancing habitat conservation and agricultural productivity.
Landowners voluntarily enroll in this 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 three million acres have earned status as Audubon Certified bird-friendly land.
In addition to certification, Audubon provides ongoing stewardship support to help participating landowners further enhance their lands. This includes guidance on accessing additional funding opportunities, enabling landowners to implement further conservation and restoration efforts.
Consumers with an appetite for conservation can support these bird-friendly habitats. A special designation on packaging – the Audubon Certified bird-friendly seal – lets shoppers know if the beef or bison products came from lands managed for birds and biodiversity.
Audubon Washington is now expanding the ACR program to the Columbia Plateau, bringing regenerative grazing practices and bird-friendly land certification to this ecologically significant region. This effort aims to support sustainable land management while enhancing critical shrub-steppe habitat for birds and other wildlife.
Some of the Conservation Actions We Work On:
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Program Outreach and Enrollment: Promote the ACR program at local events, and enroll landowners who meet the regional requirements for regenerative grazing practices.
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Private Land Stewardship Support: Provide technical assistance to private landowners by identifying and securing funding through federal and state conservation programs, such as the Enviornmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), and the Volunteer Stewardship Program (VSP), to promote habitat restoration and their land management goals.
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Monitoring and Evaluation: Implement soil, vegetation, and bird monitoring on participating properties to assess the ecological benefits of sustainable ranching and track progress over time.
