National Audubon Society

The nonprofit National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow, throughout the Americas, using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. This grant supports ongoing education of the public and policymakers about sagebrush and the greater sage-grouse, a bird that is recognized as an indicator species of the ecological integrity of the sagebrush ecosystem. Consistent with the Western Conservation grantmaking strategy’s attention to the biodiversity of the North American West, conserving the sagebrush ecosystem, which spans 14 states, benefits more than 350 species of plants and animals. (Substrategy: Advance Conservation Protections)

This proposed general support grant to the National Audubon Society is in recognition of the outstanding work Susan Bell performed while vice president of the Hewlett Foundation. With a passionate interest in bird conservation, Susan is now a highly effective Audubon board member. This grant would support its advocacy efforts on behalf of bird conservation.

Sage grouse populations have been declining across the intermountain West due to new energy development and poor livestock grazing practices. This grant would support the Society’s work to protect sage grouse habitat in a 60 million-acre area encompassing parts of six western states.