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.

From Dust to Ducks From Dust to Ducks
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
Mesquite Model Helps New Mexico Partners Treat Millions of Grassland Acres
Mesquite Model Helps New Mexico Partners Treat Millions of Grassland Acres

For more than a decade, the Restore New Mexico partnership has worked to remove mesquite and improve grassland conditions in southeast New Mexico for Lesser Prairie-Chickens and other wildlife. This partnership works together to prioritize areas for aerial herbicide treatment and enroll landowners and lessees in multi-year agreements to treat the land they operate. The result is tens of thousands of acres of mesquite-invaded woodland being treated every year. 

Invasive Woody Plant Management Literature Review Available
Invasive Woody Plant Management Literature Review Available

Playa Lakes Joint Venture staff recently finished a social science literature review focused on the motivations, barriers, and future needs of producers to combat invasive woody plant encroachment on their rangelands. It is part of a three-year Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Innovation Grant focused on integrating social science insights into targeted strategic communications that increase brush management and prescribed fire on rangelands.

Is Removing Mesquite Good for Bobwhite?
Is Removing Mesquite Good for Bobwhite?

If we remove mesquite, are we destroying habitat for Northern Bobwhite? That’s an important question for hunters, wildlife biologists, and anyone generally concerned with grassland bird conservation. Biologists at the Matador Wildlife Management Area (WMA) have been working hard to remove mesquite from the WMA for many years and while they think that’s the right thing to do for birds, they wanted to make sure.