Phillips 66 Teams with Texan by Nature and Oaks and Prairies Joint Venture to Save Grassland Birds

Houston, TX Phillips 66 has generously supported grassland bird restoration. The funds from Phillips 66 support a Texan by Nature Conservation Wrangler Project, the Oaks and Prairies Joint Venture GRIP program, and their work restoring and revitalizing critical grassland habitat across the Edwards Plateau and the Oaks and Prairies ecoregion. This donation will support 1,875 acres of habitat restoration, which is enough territory for 75 breeding pairs of Northern Bobwhite Quail, in addition to immense benefit to a multitude of other grassland bird species, such as Scissortail Flycatcher, Painted Bunting, Dickcissel, and many more.

 “Texan by Nature’s Conservation Wrangler Projects highlight the very best in Texan-led conservation, and OPJV is no exception. Their focus on collaborative efforts that match natural resource goals with prosperous land use for private landowners highlights how conservation can and should always be for the benefit of the people and prosperity of Texas, as well as our natural resources. Those elements, working together, create a climate ripe with successes, rather than conflicts, when it comes to creating a better future for our state. We are thrilled to have Phillips 66 as a partner in this initiative and look forward to amplifying our impact through their support.” – Jenny Burden, Texan by Nature

There are over 3 million acres of Oaks and Prairies grasslands across Texas and Oklahoma in need of restoration. The Grassland Restoration Incentive Program (GRIP) is a voluntary, landowner cost-share incentive program that pairs landowners with wildlife biologists and land management experts to develop efficient, effective, and long-term solutions to creating healthier grassland habitat. This provides resources to aid in population stabilization for grassland birds. Additionally, the projects provide improved habitat for monarch butterflies and other pollinators, as well as ecosystem services benefits such as carbon sequestration and stormwater management.

Over the past century, no other group of birds in North America has shown a greater and more consistent decline than those associated with grassland shrub and savannah habitats. GRIP’s work is vital. Since 2014, OPJV has restored 75K acres of grassland habitat. In partnership, OPJV and TxN have set a goal to increase GRIP’s annual reach.

About Phillips 66

Phillips 66 is a diversified energy manufacturing and logistics company. With a portfolio of Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties businesses, the company processes, transports, stores and markets fuels and products globally. Phillips 66 Partners, the company’s master limited partnership, is integral to the portfolio. Headquartered in Houston, the company has 14,400 employees committed to safety and operating excellence. Phillips 66 had $58 billion of assets as of June 30, 2019. For more information, visit http://www.phillips66.com/ or follow us on Twitter @Phillips66Co.

ABOUT Texan by Nature:

Texan by Nature (TxN) unites business and conservation leaders who believe Texas’ prosperity is dependent on the conservation of its natural resources. TxN amplifies projects and activates new investment in conservation which returns real benefits for people, prosperity, and natural resources. Texan by Nature achieves mission goals through the Texan by Nature Certification program, Conservation Wrangler program, Symposia Series, and the Texan by Nature 20. Get involved and learn more at www.texanbynature.org and follow on Facebook @TexanbyNature, Twitter @TexanbyNature, and Instagram @texanbynature.

About OPJV

OPJV is a regional, self-directed partnership of organizations working across administrative boundaries to deliver landscape-level planning and science-based conservation. The OPJV mission is to plan for and facilitate bird habitat conservation, research, and outreach in an effort to ensure sustainable populations of priority bird species in the Edwards Plateau and Oaks and Prairies Bird Conservation Regions in Oklahoma and Texas.  The Oaks and Prairies Joint Venture developed the Grassland Restoration Incentive Program (GRIP). GRIP is a voluntary, landowner cost-share incentive program that pairs landowners in target counties with wildlife biologists and land management experts to develop efficient, effective, and long-term solutions to creating healthier grassland habitat. These projects vary widely, from prescribed fire, prescribed grazing management plans, brush management, or planting native grasses and forbs, and are tailored to complement an individual landowner’s land use objectives with wildlife habitat needs.