NFWF Announces $22.8 Million in Grants to Support Conservation on Working Lands throughout the Northern Great Plains

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 31, 2024) – 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 Foundation
Chartered 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 Service
As 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 Service
The 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 Fund
The 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 Cargill
Cargill 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 Oil
Marathon 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 Sysco
Sysco 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/. 

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Contact:

Rob Blumenthal, 202-857-0166, rob.blumenthal@nfwf.org