The Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Fish & Wildlife has secured funding to contribute to a new grassland and pollinator habitat development program that will benefit private landowners.

The Grasslands for Gamebirds & Songbirds initiative, or GGS, will employ three full-time grassland biologists who will provide technical and financial assistance to private landowners hoping to improve their properties by developing grassland and pollinator habitat. This habitat development will benefit species such as bobwhite quail, ring-necked pheasant, Henslow’s sparrow and loggerhead shrike.

The state was selected for the funding through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. Once implemented, it will total $1 million. The total budget of the GGS initiative is $1.83 million. Other funding for the initiative has been contributed from the initiative’s 33 partners.

Landowners interested in participating in the initiative or anyone would like to support the effort, may visit wildlife.IN.gov/ 9467.htm.

For information, contact Josh Griffin, private lands program manager with DNR Fish & Wildlife, at 317-234-9737 or [email protected].