Washington, DC – On April 11, a coalition of conservation organizations announced the launch MapforGrasslands.Org to illustrate the need for the North American Grasslands Conservation Act.
The first-of-its-kind website documents the loss of grasslands in North America, the subsequent impact on iconic wildlife species, and the need for grassland legislation – the North American Grasslands Conservation Act – to address the loss of upland habitat.
The up-to-date website highlights the significant loss of America’s prairies, savannas, glades and sagebrush over a 30-year period (since 1992). The project also identified fifteen individual species, highlighting the decline of some iconic American wildlife species, including the northern bobwhite quail, monarch butterfly, and bobolink.
MORE OUTDOOR NEWS COVERAGE:
Q&A with Patrick Berry of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers before the North American Meet in Minneapolis
Conservation groups in Minnesota will provide input on the Duck and Pheasant Action Plan on April 30
Environmental legislation passes in the Minnesota House of Representatives and Senate
Produced by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in partnership with the coalition, the project is a tool for policymakers, hunters and conservationists to better understand habitat and species loss in their own backyards while empowering individuals to take action.
“Grasslands across the United States and the species that call them home are suffering dramatic losses. To get the message out about grasslands in trouble and inspire action, we saw a need to highlight all of these losses in one place, using the most reliable evidence available,” said Wenfei Tong, science editor at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. “The value of this tool is that it summarizes published data to demonstrate the link between large-scale biodiversity declines and the loss of our native grasslands.”
“The Map for Grasslands tool truly shows the scale of grassland habitat loss across the country and the devastating impact these lost ecosystems have on the birds, insects, mammals and even fish species that live there,” said Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever presidents and CEO Marilyn Vetter. “This is a great example of how science can help justify critically important grassland law legislation.”
“It’s hard to imagine massive grassland loss in our vast prairie ecosystems, but thanks to Map for Grasslands we can now see it,” said Ted Koch, executive director of the North American Grouse Partnership. “In two centuries, we have gone from endless “seas of grass” full of wildlife like the prairie sage grouse, to postage stamp-like grasslands and increasingly endangered species. Americans have previously saved other endangered ecosystems. It is time to save the prairies with the North American Grassland Conservation Act.”
“Meadows are the most endangered ecosystem in North America. This mapping tool confirms that we must take coordinated, collective steps to protect and restore this landscape, which is essential for wildlife, water and our way of life across the country,” said Aviva Glaser, senior director of agricultural policy at the National Wildlife Federation. “We need our leaders to unite around solutions like the North American Grasslands Conservation Act to ensure this great American landscape endures for future generations.”
“All wildlife, from grasslands to forests, depends on healthy habitats to thrive, and it is critical that we equip landowners with the resources to protect and manage habitats,” said Ben Jones, president and CEO of the Ruffed Grouse Society and the American Woodcock Society .
“Millions of acres of grasslands and sagebrush habitat are rapidly disappearing from the North American landscape, and the loss of key habitats impacts a wide range of species, including pronghorn and red quail,” said Patrick Berry, president and CEO of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. “When combined with significant policies like the North American Grasslands Conservation Act, innovative resources like the Grasslands Map will help identify strategic projects to protect shrinking landscapes.”
The Grasslands Act is modeled after the successful North American Wetlands Conservation Act to provide American landowners with voluntary conservation tools to lend a hand protect grasslands, prairies, savannas and sagebrush lands. The program would operate within the U.S. Department of the Interior and complement farm bill programs at the USDA. Similar to NAWCA, the coalition is seeking approval of the Grasslands Act for $60 million per year, an escalate of $7.5 million per year.
In July 2022, leading U.S. conservation groups touted the introduction of the Grasslands Act by U.S. Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon, co-sponsored by Senators Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Michael Bennet of Colorado. Coalition partners are currently working with elected officials on revised language in the bill in hopes of reintroducing it.
To learn more about the North American Grasslands Conservation Act or to take action on behalf of this historic legislation, visit www.ActforGrasslands.Org
