CONSERVATION
THROUGH
PARTNERSHIPS

Partnerships are the key to our success. We facilitate cooperation among a broad coalition of partners — on the national, regional, state and local levels — to fund and implement on-the-ground habitat
conservation projects.

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CONSERVATION
THROUGH DESIGN

Effective conservation — from planning to implementation to monitoring — relies on having accurate, informative maps and spatial data. We create geospatial tools and data products, including interactive maps, source code for geospatial models, and downloadable data, to help guide conservation efforts within our region.

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CONSERVATION ON
WORKING LANDS

In our region, agricultural producers have the ability to effect the biggest change on the landscape and, therefore, provide the greatest benefit to birds and bird habitat through their conservation efforts. We are deeply invested in helping to make sure producers stay on the landscape so this stewardship may continue.

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CONSERVATION ON
PUBLIC LANDS

While public lands, managed for the public good, are used differently than working lands, managers often need the same conservation tools developed for private landowners. We work with public land managers to maximize benefit on lands that often act as anchors for large blocks of habitat that is important for many species.

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CONSERVATION FOR
ENERGY
DEVELOPMENT

Many of the same tools we use for biological planning can be adapted to help energy developers site new projects to minimize impacts to birds and their habitats. We believe a proactive and collaborative approach is the best way to share knowledge and guide energy development for long-term wildlife conservation.

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Habitat Conservation that Benefits People

Our purpose is to find solutions to address habitat conservation challenges in the western Great Plains so that birds and other wildlife, agricultural producers, and local communities all prosper and thrive in this landscape.

BIRD DATA

BIRD DATA

We collect information about bird species, and the habitats they use, to inform habitat goals and evaluate conservation strategies. LEARN MORE >>

PLANNING TOOLS

PLANNING TOOLS

Our Implementation Plan and other tools guide the partnership’s conservation strategies and develop projects to meet our habitat goals. LEARN MORE >>

HABITAT WORK

HABITAT WORK

We help partners and producers do habitat conservation work by providing science-based information, funding, and other resources. LEARN MORE >>

Why Playas Are Important

Learn why agricultural producers and rural communities are restoring and preserving their playas. These videos feature farmers, ranchers, and community members talking about the benefits they receive by enrolling their playas in conservation programs — from financial returns, hunting habitat, and groundwater recharge to preserving history and leaving a legacy for future generations.

Restoring Playas for a Better Future Restoring Playas for a Better Future
How Playas Work How Playas Work
Restoring Playas for a Better Future Restoring Playas for a Better Future
Preserving a Working Ranch Preserving a Working Ranch
Playas Support Water Sustainability for Community Playas Support Water Sustainability
From Dust to Ducks From Dust to Ducks
Water for Communities Water for Communities
All Sorts of Wildlife All Sorts of Wildlife
Putting Money in My Pocket Putting Money in My Pocket
Making a Difference for Future Generations Making a Difference for Future Generations
Leaving a Legacy Leaving a Legacy
Texas Playa Conservation Initiative Texas Playa Conservation Initiative
Steps to Water Stability in Western Kansas
Steps to Water Stability in Western Kansas

In western Kansas, water isn’t a background issue. It’s the issue. It determines whether crops can be grown, whether livestock operations can operate or even expand, and whether small towns can count on a reliable drinking water supply. And for a region with limited surface water, it also determines what the next generation inherits. In this series, learn how communities in Kansas GMD1 are working together to address water challenges and protect this critical resource for future generations.

Irrigation Planning: A Collaborative Path to Tomorrow’s Water in Kansas
Irrigation Planning: A Collaborative Path to Tomorrow’s Water in Kansas

The Irrigation Planning for Western Kansas project, funded through a Conservation Collaboration Grant Agreement with Kansas Natural Resources Conservation Service, was designed to try and answer why producers weren’t connecting with available water conservation tools. The project’s focus was on understanding the gap between conservation programs and the producers they were designed to serve.

Stacking Solutions to Tackle Water Conservation from Every Angle
Stacking Solutions to Tackle Water Conservation from Every Angle

On any given agricultural operation, water conservation can look very different. That flexibility is exactly the point of the Groundwater Recharge and Sustainability Project (GRASP) in Wichita and Greeley counties, Kansas. This project is part of the NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) which funds solutions to natural resource challenges.