Across western Oklahoma, the landscape is changing. Trees like eastern redcedar and other invasive woody species are steadily expanding across grasslands, crowding out native vegetation, reducing available forage, increasing wildfire risk, and placing added pressure on already-limited water resources. Left unmanaged, these changes can reshape entire ecosystems and make it more difficult for producers to keep working lands productive.
A new collaborative effort is working to change that. Through a grant awarded to the Oklahoma Conservation Commission under the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s America’s Ecosystem Restoration Initiative, conservation partners are joining forces to help producers address invasive woody plants before they become costly problems. The project brings together the Oklahoma Conservation Commission, Ducks Unlimited, PLJV, and a growing network of partners with a shared goal of creating healthier, more resilient grassland, wetland, and riparian ecosystems across Oklahoma and Kansas.
“By making outreach part of this project, we’re giving conservation professionals the tools they need to build stronger relationships with landowners and share clear, practical information that helps producers take action before invasive woody plants become a bigger problem.”
While on-the-ground conservation remains the ultimate goal, the project recognizes that lasting change begins with education. Over the next three years, PLJV will lead the communications and outreach component of the project by developing training, messaging, and outreach tools that equip conservation professionals to better connect with producers. Building on previous social science research into conservation messaging, the project will help partners communicate the benefits of early invasive woody plant management, highlight available technical and financial assistance, and encourage greater participation in conservation programs before small issues become large ones.
“Communication and outreach are often overlooked, but they’re essential to successful conservation,” said Maria Regueiro, PLJV Marketing Manager. “By making outreach part of this project, we’re giving conservation professionals the tools they need to build stronger relationships with landowners and share clear, practical information that helps producers take action before invasive woody plants become a bigger problem.”
By combining science, partnerships, and effective communication, the initiative aims to ensure Oklahoma’s working lands remain productive, resilient, and sustainable for generations to come.
This project and other conservation work in Oklahoma will also be supported by Hailey Blackwell, PLJV’s new Conservation Delivery Manager for the southern region. She will work closely with conservation partners across western Oklahoma, the Texas Panhandle, and eastern New Mexico to strengthen partnerships and help deliver conservation projects that benefit both working lands and wildlife.
“One of the greatest opportunities we have is helping landowners address challenges before they become much more difficult and expensive to manage,” Blackwell said. “By working together to restore and protect grasslands and riparian areas, we can improve the health of these landscapes while supporting the producers and communities that depend on them. I’m excited to be part of a partnership that’s focused on practical, science-based solutions that will have lasting benefits for Oklahoma’s working lands.”