Bird Researcher Marisa Lipsey poses at The Nature Conservancy's Matador Ranch in Eastern Montana. The “grass bank" is an innovative way to leverage conservation gains, in which ranchers can graze their cattle at discounted rates on Conservancy land in exchange for improving conservation practices on their own “home” ranches. In 2002, the
Conservancy began leasing parts of the ranch to neighboring ranchers who were suffering from severe drought, offering the Matador’s grass to neighboring ranches in exchange for their participation in conservation efforts. The grassbank has helped keep ranchers from plowing up native grassland to farm it; helped remove obstacles to pronghorn antelope migration; improved habitat for the Greater Sage-Grouse and reduced the risk of Sage-Grouse colliding with fences; preserved prairie dog towns and prevented the spread of noxious weeds. (Photo By Ami Vitale)
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