Policy is a Conservation Tool  

Biodiversity is the variety of life on Earth, including species, their communities, and the ways they connect. When species or habitats are lost, those connections can be disrupted, affecting the health of the whole system. Watch this short video to learn why protecting biodiversity matters.

In a land protection agreement, a landowner voluntarily chooses to enter into an agreement to sell or donate certain rights associated with their property–often the right to subdivide or develop. Typically, a private organization or public agency accepts responsibility to uphold the terms of the agreement. Voluntary land protection agreements conserve natural lands while allowing owners to retain many private property rights, including living on and using their land for ranching or recreation, for example. In some cases, these agreements also provide landowners with tax benefits.

South Dakota’s grasslands provide clean water, wildlife habitat, and naturally productive grazing lands for our state’s cattle ranching industry. But sound conservation strategies require long-term thinking and sustainable funding. In South Dakota, we support ranchers who are doing right by nature by advocating for increased support of state and federal agencies who work alongside producers to make their operations work better for nature and their bottom lines.

Nature-based solutions are strategies that leverage our lands and waters to help mitigate and adapt to issues like water and food security, biodiversity loss, health and extreme weather events. Examples include restoring native plant communities, wetlands and soil health.

Yes. Temperatures have risen, particularly in winter, and extreme precipitation is becoming more common. Looking ahead, warmer temperatures could intensify drought by increasing soil moisture loss, while heavier precipitation could increase the risk of flooding. These changes are affecting South Dakota’s farms, ranches, wildlife habitats and communities.

Renewable energy offers an important pathway for tackling climate change and building a sustainable future for all. But how we do it—and where we put all those wind turbines and solar panels—is important. The Clean Energy Compass is a tool developed by The Nature Conservancy to help guide clean energy planning toward outcomes that maximize benefits to climate, conservation and communities.

Grasslands need periods of both disturbance and rest to be their most healthy and productive. In the absence of natural cycles of disturbance historically caused by bison grazing and grassland fires, cattle can provide part of this essential disturbance in the form of regenerative grazing. By prioritizing native species, following rotational grazing schedules and allowing periods of recovery, ranchers can help restore and improve grasslands while keeping them just as—if not more—productive and resilient to drought.

Agriculture is big business in South Dakota, accounting for nearly 30% of the state’s economic output and, in all, contributing about $32 billion to the economy. 

How we use our land directly impacts our water quality. Regenerative farming practices like planting cover crops and reducing tillage, as well as regenerative ranching practices like rest and rotational grazing, are all important actions producers can take to improve the health of their lands, and in turn, the health of South Dakota’s waters.