Harney County is set to enhance its conservation efforts with an $18.4 million grant awarded to the High Desert Partnership (HDP) from the NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). This funding will support collaborative projects focused on tackling water scarcity, wildfire risk, and drought, bolstering the resilience of the county’s agricultural landscapes and unique wildlife habitats. With nearly 20 years of experience, HDP and its partners will implement initiatives like water conservation, wetland restoration, invasive species control, and conservation easements to support local ecosystems and communities.

WildLandscapes International is honored to receive the NLC Catalyst Fund award for our Green Heart of the Everglades project, in partnership with the Miccosukee and Seminole Tribes of Florida. This initiative secures mineral rights across 447,417 acres in Big Cypress National Preserve and Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, protecting a critical part of the Everglades and addressing historical injustices. With this funding, we’ll build a co-management framework to support Indigenous stewardship and strengthen ecological resilience in the Everglades for both nature and local communities.