South Dakota's Second Century Habitat Fund Receives Nearly $8 Million in Federal Funding: 7,500 Acres of Marginal Cropland to Become Perennial Grassland
The Second Century Habitat Fund in South Dakota is receiving nearly $8 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to advance its Working Lands Grassland Recovery Initiative, restoring grasslands statewide while supporting livestock producers, according to a statement from South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks reported by South Dakota Public Broadcasting on November 2.
The initiative aims to convert 7,500 acres of marginal cropland to perennial grasslands through voluntary 10-year agreements; enrolled acres can still be used for managed haying and grazing. 'What's good for the bird is good for the herd,' said Elysabeth Kierl, the fund's executive director, noting that healthy grasslands provide nesting cover for birds and forage for cattle and give producers flexibility to retain or rebuild their herds.
The initiative is open to landowners and agricultural producers across South Dakota. The fund and Game, Fish and Parks will coordinate applications, administer financial assistance and work with producers; applications will undergo eligibility review and a competitive ranking process weighing site suitability, restoration benefits and opportunities to expand or connect existing grasslands. The fund is in the final steps of grant implementation, with further details to be published by the fund.
(Source: South Dakota Public Broadcasting)
Source: South Dakota Public Broadcasting
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：南达科他州草原湿地景观。美国鱼类及野生动物管理局山地草原区 摄，公共领域，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: A prairie pothole landscape in South Dakota. By USFWS Mountain Prairie, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
