Grasslands, one of the largest, most vital and threatened ecosystems on the planet, provide critical support for agriculture, food security, biodiversity, and the economy

The Department of the Interior National Park Service awarded a $1,100,000 Cooperative Agreement under the Cooperative Research and Training Programs - Resources of the National Park System (CFDA 15.945) to the Board of Regents of the University of Nebraska. This award supports a 5-year project to address the critical issue of grassland loss in North America. Key objectives include: increasing cooperation among federal land managers to address woody encroachment, improving the performance of on-the-ground conservation investments, and enhancing grasslands education through America's National Parks. The University of Nebraska, a public land-grant research institution, will lead this collaborative effort focused on strategic partnerships, scientific research, and public outreach to mitigate grassland loss and preserve this vital ecosystem.

In north america, the central grasslands support environmental functions including soil health, climate resiliency, carbon sequestration, avoidance of natural disasters (e.g., wildfire), and other ecosystem services vital to the general public. As grasslands continue to be rapidly lost to row crop conversion and woody encroachment, there is pressing need to increase awareness, access, and communication on the importance of grasslands to the general public. Grassland losses can be mitigated with strategic and thoughtful planning, especially across network of smaller but numerous public land sites, and through increased collaborative efforts among private landowners in working landscapes. Keystone initiative funding specifically geared to the development of a cross-agency pilot program, that increases cooperation among federal land managers to address grassland loss to woody encroachment, improve the performance of on-the-ground conservation investments, and enhance education through americas national parks will enhance strategic partnerships across agencies and improve overall grassland conservation efforts.