The ranchers stewardship alliance (RSA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a long-standing record of community-based conservation, will collaborate with the U.S. Fish and wildlife service to implement…

The ranchers stewardship alliance (RSA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with a long-standing record of community-based conservation, will collaborate with the U.S. Fish and wildlife service to implement grazing system improvements across blaine, phillips, and valley counties in north central montana. This landscape includes some of the most intact grassland and sagebrush habitats in the nation, supporting high-priority federal trust species such as grassland songbirds, sage-grouse, migratory waterfowl, and ungulates. The project aims to restore and enhance at least 360 acres of habitat through improved grazing systems that promote riparian and mesic area health, suppress invasive species, and or transition marginal cropland back into sustainable rangeland. These practices will benefit both wildlife and ranching livelihoods while fostering next-generation ranching opportunities. RSA will lead outreach, coordination, and implementation, while the service will provide permitting, technical assistance, and monitoring support. Each project will be implemented under 10-year private landowner agreements, ensuring long-term conservation outcomes. This effort strengthens conservation partnerships, advances landscape-scale habitat goals, and demonstrates the power of rancher-led stewardship in delivering durable conservation results on private working lands.