The Second Century Habitat Fund is partnering with South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks to scale up statewide habitat restoration through voluntary 10-year landowner agreements. Enrolled producers will secure technical guidance, planting aid, and annual rental payments while preserving agricultural utility via managed grazing and haymaking. Beyond curbing soil loss and improving moisture retention, the effort establishes vital habitat corridors for ground-nesting birds. Applications will be competitively ranked based on wildlife benefits and land suitability.
Key points
Producers retain full property ownership while transitioning marginal acres into managed…: Producers retain full property ownership while transitioning marginal acres into managed grazing and haying land.
Restoration efforts specifically target saline or wet soils to curb wind and water erosio…: Restoration efforts specifically target saline or wet soils to curb wind and water erosion while boosting water retention.
Applications will undergo competitive evaluations focused on land suitability, wildlife e…: Applications will undergo competitive evaluations focused on land suitability, wildlife enhancement, and existing grassland connectivity.
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Thousands of acres of less productive farmland in South Dakota could soon look very different, with a new federal conservation initiative aiming to bring them back to grassland without taking them out of agricultural use. The Second Century Habitat Fund has secured $7,979,420 from the US Department of Agriculture's Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) for its Working Lands Grassland Recovery Initiative. The project, also reported by KOTA Territory News and Nrcs, is among 42 conservation projects selected across the country. The plan is to convert 7,500 acres of marginal cropland into diverse perennial grasslands through voluntary agreements with landowners lasting 10 years. Importantly, farmers and ranchers will not have to give up using the land altogether. Once restored, the enrolled areas will remain available for managed grazing and haymaking, allowing livestock producers to continue using them while creating better conditions for wildlife.
Why the project is focusing on marginal cropland
The initiative is aimed at farmland that is difficult to cultivate or does not produce reliable crop yields. This can include areas with wet or saline soils, field edges and…
Pre-winter weather conditions have trapped emissions across northern India and Pakistan, creating severe public health risks from hazardous seasonal smog. In response, regional officials are restricting industrial activity, penalizing agricultural burning, and limiting festive firework displays to control escalating particulate levels.
Spending watchdog Audit Wales found that mounting political and financial strains have pushed decarbonisation down the agenda for public bodies across the nation. The absence of formal targets, penalties, or financial incentives has created widespread confusion regarding how organisations should balance carbon cuts against statutory duties. Without clearer guidance and substantial capital investment, broader sustainability goals remain out of reach.
Justices MM Sundresh and PB Varale directed Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati to examine market non-compliance after reports revealed unchecked distribution of unauthorized inventory. The bench criticized local authorities for failing to implement prior regional directives ahead of Diwali. Stricter oversight is now targeted at protecting designated sensitive areas while limited seasonal exemptions remain in effect.