ConocoPhillips SPIRIT of Conservation Program
The ConocoPhillips SPIRIT of Conservation Program is a public-private partnership focused on improving habitat quality and quantity for both migratory and non-migratory bird populations. Within landscapes heavily dominated by working grasslands, wetlands, and sagebrush habitats, the program places a high priority on partnering with ranchers, farmers, and other private and public land managers to help improve landscape connectivity and habitat quality for birds dependent on these habitats. The program awards grants to protect, restore, or enhance grassland, wetland, sage-steppe, and coastal habitats for birds and to conduct identified priority avian research or monitoring in focal geographies.
Partners
Since 2005, the ConocoPhillips SPIRIT of Conservation Program has awarded 114 grants worth more than $13.9 million to conservation groups in 13 states and five countries. Grantees matched this funding with an additional $30.5 million, for a total conservation investment of $44.4 million. As a result of these investments, more than 503,000 acres of fish and wildlife habitat have been conserved, restored or enhanced.
Current funding priorities for this program include the following strategies:
- Restore or enhance grassland, sagebrush, wetland, and coastal habitats for birds: conduct restoration activities to expand or improve habitat patch size, connectivity, and quality; remove encroaching woody vegetation that negatively impacts grassland-nesting or sage-steppe habitat nesting birds; reduce invasive species’ impact on bird habitats; restore wetland function more beneficial to birds; and restore important breeding, wintering or stopover sites.
- Protect key habitats for birds: Support fee title or conservation easement acquisitions for parcels with important habitat linkage/connectivity functions, or important breeding, wintering or stopover sites.
- Conduct identified priority research or monitoring: Increase the quality or quantity of bird population data that can be used to inform current and future habitat management decisions. Data should be useful at specific sites or in assessing bird use of habitats across breeding, wintering, or stopover ranges.
| 04/13/2021 | 2020 Grant Slate | Download the PDF |
| 12/03/2019 | 2019 Grant Slate | Download the PDF |
| 12/03/2019 | 2018 Grant Slate | Download the PDF |
| 12/03/2019 | 2017 Grant Slate | Download the PDF |
Program Director, Central Region Working Lands
Senior Coordinator, Regional Programs
Related Species
Roseate spoonbill
The striking roseate spoonbill is found in tropical and subtropical wetlands throughout the Americas. In the United States, it is found within the Gulf states where it remains uncommon and local.
Whooping crane
The whooping crane is the tallest and one of the most threatened birds in North America. The only wild population winters along the Texas coast and migrates up to 2,500 miles to breed in or near Wood Buffalo National Park, Canada
Pronghorn
Pronghorn, also known as "antelope," are sagebrush-dependent ungulate known for their incredible speed. They are the sole-surviving member of their taxonomic family. With an evolutionary history rooted in open-grasslands, pronghorn are reluctant to leap over fences that have been constructed across the west for rangeland management, causing disruptions of their ancient migration routes and reducing access to high-quality habitat.
Mule deer
Mule deer are a social, migratory ungulate who are named for their large ears that resemble a mule's ears. An iconic species of the western United States, habitat loss and increased fragmentation of the landscape have caused localized declines in mule deer populations and reduced the function of critical migration paths.
