Speak Up: Conservation Policy

North Dakota's Outdoor Heritage Fund, established in 2013, funds conservation efforts around the state by providing grants to state agencies, nonprofit organizations and Tribal and local governments. The fund was created to benefit public and private lands by expanding wildlife habitat, improving water quality, building soil health and enhancing outdoor recreation opportunities.

Achieving the clean energy build-out necessary to reach carbon emissions goals will require quadrupling our renewable energy capacity in the United States by 2050. In North Dakota, we have plenty of opportunity to lead on energy development for the future—but how we do it matters. Our Site Renewables Right tool shows where renewable energy can be developed while still conserving important wildlife habitats and natural areas at the same time. 

Biodiversity refers to the vast array of life all around us, from the microscopic to the megafauna. From the food we eat to the air we breathe, our way of life depends on the interplay of millions of organisms in diverse ecosystems. This variety of life, the communities they form and the habitats in which they live comprise the extraordinary biodiversity of our planet.  Watch this short video to learn more.

Weather changes over the next century will likely include overall drier weather with severe drought conditions, and with frequent intense rain and flooding when precipitation does occur. Severe droughts can increase livestock feed costs by up to 50%, pressuring ranchers to sell off portions or even the entirety of their herds. And increased occurrences of heavy rain or snow events and ensuing flooding could cause widespread damage to infrastructure around the state.

Biological carbon capture leverages biological mechanisms that process and store carbon and other greenhouse gases, most notably through photosynthesis. North Dakota’s grasslands, forests and farms capture and store carbon as they grow, in a process called biological carbon capture. Read our report to learn about the conservation, restoration and improved management actions that can offset nearly a third of the state’s carbon emissions.

The value of North Dakota’s agricultural production has exceeded $18 billion in recent years, supporting tens of thousands of jobs on more than 26,000 farms. A strong agriculture industry is key to maintaining the health of the state’s economy, and regenerative land management practices can help protect our investments and our way of life.

Healthy soil is not a given. Without proper management, soil can become degraded, leading to unproductive fields and diminished profitability. Soil health practices—like planting cover crops, minimizing tillage, rotating crops and improving nutrient management through precision technology—are critical to making crop land more resilient and productive.

North Dakota’s grasslands are at risk of being lost to conversion and poor management, but regenerative grazing can help restore them. Managing rangelands through strategies like rotational grazing can mimic historic cycles of disturbance while improving water quality, creating habitat for wildlife and storing more carbon in the soil. These practices make a big difference, and local ranchers are already leading the way.