The pastures for upland birds (PUB) program will provide incentives to texas landowners whose goal is to convert exotic grass sites to native bunchgrasses and forbs

The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) will receive $150,000 through September 1, 2022 to August 31, 2027 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Region 2 under the Partners for Fish and Wildlife cooperative agreement program. TPWD will collaborate with USFWS to enroll private landowners in the Partners for Fish and Wildlife program by executing sub-recipient landowner agreements. The goal is to provide incentives for Texas landowners to convert exotic grass sites to native bunchgrasses and forbs to improve habitat for upland birds and other wildlife. Habitat improvements will be accomplished through science-based land and water management practices. TPWD and landowners will work to create recreational opportunities and promote conservation stewardship on enrolled properties over the five-year period. This award supports the USFWS mission to deliver conservation priorities through the Partners for Fish and Wildlife program, classified as CFDA 15.631.

Texas parks & wildlife department (tpwd and recipient) will work collaboratively with the U.S. Fish & wildlife service (USFWS) to enroll private landowners into the partners for fish & wildlife program via sub-recipient landowner agreements. This program fills a niche for landowners that may not qualify for other cost-share programs supporting native grass restoration. Additionally, properly managed native warm season grasses may provide suitable forage production and protein levels required for livestock. This program benefits landowners whose goals include habitat improvement for butterflies, quail, turkey, migratory songbirds, white-tailed deer, pollinators, texas horned lizard, other nongame wildlife, wildlife tax valuation, sustainable forage production, or preserving texas' native prairie legacy. The broader public benefits from native prairie restoration through improved water quality, groundwater recharge, carbon sequestration, erosion control, outdoor education, and recreational opportunities. The PUB program will promote a conservation stewardship ethic through sub-recipient landowner agreements with private landowners directed at improving habitat for migratory wildlife and resident game and non-game species using areas enrolled in PUB. Habitat improvements are accomplished through conservation science which determine the best practices to manage land and water resources and determine adept management actions. The project supports tpwd and private landowners in improving the overall texas landscape to create outdoor recreational opportunities. Finally, through being a better neighbor with those closest to our resources the project helps to promote the efforts of our other conservation partners.