Approval of Dakota Grasslands Conservation Area Proves a Win for Sportsmen

With the help of numerous conservation groups and more than 800 landowners, valuable wetlands are on their way to receiving the conservation measures they need. Photo by Phil Hoon.

Last month, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service decided to formally establish the Dakota Grassland Conservation Area. TRCP partner Ducks Unlimited strongly supports the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's decision because this area is part of an initiative to protect almost 2 million acres of critical wetlands and grasslands in North and South Dakota.

"Ducks Unlimited has been supporting the process of establishing the Dakota Grassland Conservation Area for some time and we are thrilled that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is moving forward with this project," DU CEO Dale Hall said. "However, to move forward with this initiative and ensure this area is conserved, we must now focus on securing the proper funding."

The purpose of the Dakota Grassland Conservation Area is to provide a voluntary and financially feasible way for ranchers and other private landowners to conserve native grasslands and wetlands. This program also is designed to be economically feasible for the federal government because it will be funded with dollars already dedicated to conservation through the Land and Water Conservation Fund and through the revenue generated from federal duck stamp sales.

Upon approval, this project is expected to conserve up to 240,000 acres of wetlands and 1.7 million acres of grasslands in the Dakotas through conservation easements. Under the proposal, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will seek to acquire voluntary easements from willing sellers on approximately 2 million acres of native prairie habitat to benefit wildlife and support traditional economic activities, specifically livestock production.

The TRCP supports this increase in conservation as a crucial step forward for our wetland initiative as many factors are leading to loss of habitat and remaining native prairie in the region.  With the help of numerous conservation groups and more than 800 landowners, these valuable lands are on their way to receiving the conservation measures they need.

Learn more about the TRCP’s work to conserve wetlands.