tammy VerCauteren

Bird Conservancy of the Rockies

Grasslands have captured my heart along with the communities that are tied to this system. All measures from grassland birds to aquifers to acres of grassland are in decline. We need a paradigm shift in how we conserve our grasslands, elevate their importance and relevance to our future and the policies that foster conversion versus stewardship. A collaborative approach is required to address the leading threats from conversion to woody encroaching to degradation. Threats also include a disconnect from place and intrinsic values for forests over grasslands. The conservation community needs to think broader, innovative and more inclusive on how we change the paradigm for grasslands. We need to ensure current generations care and relate to our grasslands and future generations are connected and inspired. We have unprecedented opportunities with current funding and need to collaborate to inspire a movement for grasslands.