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Washington, DC – The U.S. House of Representatives' passage of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (Farm Bill) earlier today includes critical support for voluntary, science-based conservation programs that help farmers, ranchers and foresters steward working lands. These programs, championed by the ̽����ѡ, are key for helping reverse the decline in bird populations across the country, a decrease of 3 billion since 1970, incorporating proven practices that are already helping farms and forests be more productive and resilient, while supporting the recovery of birds as diverse as the Cerulean Warbler and Northern Bobwhite. 

Statement from Marshall Johnson, ̽����ѡ Chief Conservation Officer: 

“By investing in voluntary conservation programs, the House is supporting rural communities while helping ensure the long-term resilience of our food systems and the habitats that birds need to survive. Voluntary conservation helps producers keep lands working while improving ecosystem health, from healthier soils to better-managed grazing systems, delivering real benefits for both agriculture and birds.  

“We now urge the Senate to build on this momentum by strengthening and modernizing critical conservation programs, including supporting efforts to restore productive pasture and accelerate grassland restoration. We have a unique opportunity to build on proven efforts at the state level, such as North Dakota’s Conservation Forage Program, which has proven to deliver measurable benefits for landowners.”  

About ̽����ѡ

The ̽����ѡ is a leading nonprofit conservation organization with 120 years of science-based, community-driven impact, dedicated to protecting birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Birds are powerful indicators of our planet’s health, acting as sentinels that warn us of environmental change and inspire action. ̽����ѡ works across the Western Hemisphere, driven by the understanding that what is good for birds is good for the planet. Through a collaborative, bipartisan approach across habitats, borders, and the political spectrum, ̽����ѡ drives meaningful and lasting conservation outcomes. With 800 staff and over 1.9 million supporters, ̽����ѡ is a dynamic and ever-growing force committed to ensuring a better planet for both birds and people for generations to come. Learn more at www.audubon.org and on Facebook and Instagram @audubonsociety. 

Media Contact: Jeff Billington, jeff.billington@audubon.org