Photo courtesy of National Audubon Society
By the Conservation Committee
“We are a local, grassroots environmental organization with a mission to conserve and restore natural ecosystems focusing on birds and other wildlife.”
On October 9th members of our Conservation Committee joined leaders from the 25 Washington Audubon Chapters at the Washington State Audubon Conservation Committee (WSACC) to discuss statewide conservation priorities and advocacy efforts. One of the sessions highlighted the Audubon Conservation Ranching program, which partners with farmers and ranchers to reverse grassland bird declines.
With more than 40% of grassland bird populations lost in the past 50 years, privately owned lands are essential to conservation efforts. Landowners who meet Audubon’s standards for habitat management, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare earn Audubon Certified Bird Friendly Land status. Today, more than 100 ranches encompassing nearly 3 million acres nationwide are certified.
Consumers can support these efforts by choosing beef and bison products bearing the Audubon Certified Bird Friendly seal, which identifies products sourced from lands managed to support birds and biodiversity.
What can you do? As you shop for your needs, consider supporting brands and stores that align with your conservation values and goals. Check the link below for local stores that participate in the program - and consider letting your grocery store know about your preferences and this opportunity to offer certified products.
https://www.audubon.org/marketplace/conservation-ranching-products
We learned about this program with Audubon Washington and how it is bringing together ranchers and conservationists to find common ground. Let’s all think about areas where we can find common ground that helps conservation. As one of the leaders at the conference shared, “In a world where caring deeply often divides us, Audubon chooses a different path: we build bridges – across perspectives, generations, and communities – uniting people in purposeful action that delivers measurable, lasting impact.”
Learn more about Audubon Certified Products here: https://www.audubon.org/our-work/prairies-and-forests/ranching
Learn other ways you can “Take Action” for conservation here: https://www.pilchuckaudubon.org