The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) today announced
$22.8 million in grants to protect vital grassland habitat in the
Northern Great Plains while also strengthening ranching operations
and communities. The 27 grants announced today are the largest
grant slate in the program’s history, and will leverage $42 million
in matching contributions to generate a total conservation impact
of $64.8 million and benefit iconic wildlife species such as
pronghorn, Sprague’s pipit, chestnut-collared longspur, Baird’s
sparrow and greater sage-grouse.
“Grasslands in the Northern Great Plains support a broad suite
of wildlife species found nowhere else in the world,” said Jeff
Trandahl, executive director and CEO of NFWF. “These systems are
threatened by conversion to other land uses, development and the
spread of invasive species, but thanks to the incredible work of
our partners, including Indigenous-led organizations, ranchers,
state and local partners, and other nonprofits, we are working to
preserve these iconic landscapes.”
The grants were awarded through the Northern Great Plains
Program, a partnership between NFWF and the U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S.
Forest Service, the Bezos Earth Fund, Margaret A. Cargill
Philanthropies, Burger King, Capri Holdings Ltd, Cargill, Marathon
Oil, Nestlé, Oxy and Sysco. This year’s record-breaking funding
level builds on a long-standing public-private funding partnership
and includes a major contribution from the Bezos Earth
Fund.
The Northern Great Plains Program works on a voluntary basis
with private landowners and local partners to conserve and restore
native prairie and wildlife populations while also benefiting local
ranching operations and tribal communities. The projects supported
by these grants will tackle several conservation obstacles
including encroachment of invasive species, human development and
land use conversion, poor grazing practices, and conservation
capacity.
This year’s awards include projects in Montana, Nebraska, North
Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming and the Canadian provinces of Alberta
and Saskatchewan. These 27 grants will contribute to the goals of
the Northern Great Plains Business Plan by:
- Restoring 123,300 acres
- Improving management on more than 1.3 million acres
- Improving 277 miles of fencing
- Protecting 101,400 acres via conservation easements
“The Northern Great Plains are a national treasure – and they
deserve more attention,” said Cristián Samper, Managing Director
and Leader for Nature Solutions, Bezos Earth Fund. “We’re thrilled
to partner with NFWF to support the ranchers, Indigenous leaders,
and community groups working to safeguard this precious ecosystem.
Their vision of thriving, intact grasslands spanning Canada, the
US, and Mexico is one worth fighting for.”
“As a native North Dakotan, I deeply value Marathon Oil’s
partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s
Northern Great Plains Program,” said Zac Weis, Government and
Community Relations Manager with Marathon Oil. “This program’s
focus on habitat restoration, innovative livestock management and
community education is vital for conserving North Dakota’s
grasslands. These efforts ensure the preservation of our natural
heritage and support sustainable agricultural practices, benefiting
local wildlife and communities alike.”
A complete list of the 2024 grants made through the Northern
Great Plains Program is available here.
About the National Fish and Wildlife
FoundationChartered by Congress in 1984, the National Fish
and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) protects and restores the nation’s
fish, wildlife, plants and habitats. Working with federal,
corporate, foundation and individual partners, NFWF has funded more
than 6,800 organizations and generated a total conservation impact
of more than $10 billion. NFWF is an equal opportunity provider.
Learn more at nfwf.org.
About the Natural Resources Conservation
ServiceAs the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s primary
private lands conservation agency, the Natural Resources
Conservation Service (NRCS) helps America’s farmers, ranchers, and
forest landowners make investments in their operations and local
communities to keep working lands working, boost rural economies,
increase the competitiveness of American agriculture, and improve
the quality of our air, water, soil, and habitat. Through
one-on-one, personalized and voluntary assistance, NRCS works with
producers and communities to find the best solutions to meet their
unique conservation and business goals to ensure the health of our
natural resources and the long-term sustainability of American
agriculture.
About the U.S. Forest ServiceThe mission of the
USDA Forest Service is, “To sustain the health, diversity, and
productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the
needs of present and future generations.” The Forest Service
manages 193 million acres of forest lands with tribal governments,
state and private landowners, and maintains the largest forest
research organization in the world.
About the Bezos Earth FundThe Bezos Earth Fund
is helping transform the fight against climate change with the
largest ever philanthropic commitment to climate and nature
protection. Jeff Bezos has committed $10 billion in this decisive
decade to protect nature and address climate change. By providing
funding and expertise, we partner with organizations to accelerate
innovation, break down barriers to success and create a more
equitable and sustainable world. Join us in our mission to create a
world where people prosper in harmony with nature.
About BURGER KING®Founded in 1954, the Burger
King® brand is a global quick service hamburger chain known for
food quality and value and as the only place guests can get the
iconic flame-grilled Whopper® sandwich. The Burger King system
operates more than 19,000 locations in more than 120 countries and
U.S. territories. Nearly all Burger King® restaurants are owned and
operated by independent franchisees, many of them family-owned
operations that have been in business for decades. To learn more
about the Burger King brand, please visit the official brand
website at http://www.bk.com/ or the newsroom
at news.bk.com, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X and
TikTok.
About CargillCargill is committed to providing
food, ingredients, agricultural solutions, and industrial products
to nourish the world in a safe, responsible, and sustainable way.
Sitting at the heart of the supply chain, we partner with farmers
and customers to source, make and deliver products that are vital
for living. Our 160,000 team members innovate with purpose,
providing customers with life’s essentials so businesses can grow,
communities prosper, and consumers live well. With 159 years of
experience as a family company, we look ahead while remaining true
to our values. We put people first. We reach higher. We do the
right thing—today and for generations to come. For more
information, visit Cargill.com and our News
Center.
About Marathon OilMarathon Oil is an
independent exploration and production company based in Houston
focused on the most significant oil-rich U.S. unconventional
resource plays. Marathon Oil’s multi-basin portfolio includes the
Eagle Ford in Texas, Bakken in North Dakota, STACK and SCOOP in
Oklahoma, and Permian in New Mexico and Texas. The company has a
long-standing commitment to environmental stewardship and believes
that protecting the environment is a direct and critical outcome of
operational excellence. Its stock trades under the ticker symbol:
MRO. For more information, please visit the company’s website
at www.marathonoil.com.
About Oxy Occidental (Oxy) is an
international energy company with assets primarily in the United
States, the Middle East and North Africa. We are one of the largest
oil and gas producers in the U.S., including a leading producer in
the Permian and DJ basins, and offshore Gulf of Mexico. Our
midstream and marketing segment provides flow assurance and
maximizes the value of our oil and gas. Our chemical subsidiary
OxyChem manufactures the building blocks for life-enhancing
products. Our Oxy Low Carbon Ventures subsidiary is advancing
leading-edge technologies and business solutions that economically
grow our business while reducing emissions. We are committed to
using our global leadership in carbon management to advance a
lower-carbon world. Visit oxy.com for more
information.
About SyscoSysco is the global leader in
selling, marketing and distributing food products to restaurants,
healthcare and educational facilities, lodging establishments and
other customers who prepare meals away from home. Its family of
products also includes equipment and supplies for the foodservice
and hospitality industries. With more than 74,000 colleagues, the
company operates 334 distribution facilities worldwide and serves
approximately 725,000 customer locations. For fiscal year 2023 that
ended July 1, 2023, the company generated sales of more than $76
billion. Information about our Sustainability program, including
Sysco’s 2022 Sustainability Report and 2022 Diversity, Equity &
Inclusion Report, can be found at https://www.sysco.com/.
Rob Blumenthal
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
(202) 857-0166
rob.blumenthal@nfwf.org