Kansas whooping crane, bison benefit from new round of federal funds

TOPEKA (KSNT) - Federal officials announced on Monday that Kansas will receive part of a huge disbursement of grant cash to help improve the state's natural landscape and waterways.

The U.S. Department of the Interior (DOT) announced on Dec. 2 that Kansas is one of 42 states due to receive more than $122 million to improve habitat for native wildlife. The 61 new grants were unveiled this week as part of a joint announcement from the Biden-Harris Administration and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF).

The newly released grant money was made possible through the America the Beautiful Challenge (ATBC) that was launched in 2021. The ATBC aims to conserve at least 30% of the nation's lands and waters by the year 2030.

“President Biden’s America the Beautiful initiative has been truly transformative," Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland said. "By working together across the federal family, and through private-public partnerships, we have built an enduring path to support hundreds of locally led collaborative conservation projects across the country.”  

Kansas will receive part of this grant cash through the Southern Great Plains Wetlands and Prairie Collaborative along with the Native-Led Restoration and Stewardship of Bison-Grazed Land projects. Both projects amount to more than $5 million when including the initial grant amounts and matching funds. Species like bison and the endangered whooping crane are expected to benefit from these programs.

“Through these awards, and in partnership with Tribes, NGOs, state partners, and others, USDA will continue to build on its critical work – from voluntary conservation efforts to safeguard our forests and grasslands to increasing access to climate-smart practices and mitigating the risk posed by dangerous wildfires," United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said.

• Southern Great Plains Wetlands and Prairie Collaborative.
  • Kansas and Oklahoma.
  • Create grassland and wetland in the Southern Great Plains through the removal of invasive species across 10,000 acres, prescribed burning of 30,000 acres and the restoration of 1,000 acres of wetlands to help whooping cranes. The project also seeks to decrease wildlife risks, increase water availability and improve livestock production.
  • Total project amount - $4,444,800.
• Native-Led Restoration and Stewardship of Bison-Grazed Land.
  • Kansas, Minnesota, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Texas.
  • Assist buffalo-producers on bison-grazed lands across Indian Country. This project will use Working Lands for Wildlife frameworks and Traditional Ecological Knowledge to develop both preparedness and conservation plans for more than 30 native buffalo producers. It will also increase access to farm bill programs and climate-smart practices, strengthen resilience and enhance biodiversity on Native-managed grasslands, prairies and savannas.
  • Total project amount - $662,300.

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