In this virtual Coffee Break, SIA Wildlife Program Manager Eamon Harrity and Mexico Program Manager Zach Palma share latest news with our new project bridging grassland bird conservation and regenerative ranching in Sonora.
The Sky Island region is home to priority grassland areas that are increasingly important habitat for neotropical migratory birds. These birds, especially those with threatened populations, depend on high-quality, intact grassland for wintering. But much of these areas of the Sky Island region are also dedicated to cattle ranching, specifically in Sonora. This presents a potential conflict of interests when managing these grasslands on a large scale.
Since 2024, SIA has integrated this important work into our Ranchos Regenerativos program by building on our existing relationships with ranches and ejidos. This project’s goals are to train local biologists and conduct winter grassland bird monitoring, to educate on the importance of grassland habitat and sustainable rangeland management techniques, and to implement restoration activities together with ranches to increase habitat for threatened birds while creating more resilient and productive ranches. We are always excited to find new ways to continue our important stewardship work with Sonoran ranchers!
