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Private Lands Conservation
Our biologists and conservation staff help private landowners improve wildlife habitat, support working lands, and connect with voluntary conservation programs. Through local expertise and trusted partnerships, we provide technical assistance that turns conservation goals into on-the-ground results.
Helping Landowners Deliver Conservation on Private Lands
Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever conservation staff work directly with private landowners to improve wildlife habitat, support working lands, and connect conservation goals with voluntary state and federal conservation programs.
Our biologists provide science-based technical assistance, habitat planning, and one-on-one support to help farmers, ranchers, and private landowners navigate conservation opportunities that benefit wildlife, soil, water, and rural communities.
Farm Bill Biologists & Conservation Staff
Local Conservation Experts. Trusted Advisors. Habitat Practitioners.
Farm Bill Biologists are one of several biologist and field staff roles within PF & QF's private lands conservation delivery model. They work directly with private landowners to develop habitat-focused conservation solutions tailored to local landscapes, working lands, and landowner goals.
Working together with partners at USDA, state wildlife agencies, conservation organizations, and local communities, PF & QF biologists help deliver voluntary conservation through programs such as:
Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)
Helping landowners establish long-term habitat practices that support wildlife, water quality, and soil health.
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
Supporting working lands conservation through habitat management, grazing systems, prescribed fire, forestry, and other conservation practices.
Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)
Helping producers enhance existing conservation systems and implement advanced conservation management practices.
Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP)
Supporting the protection and restoration of wetlands, grasslands, and working agricultural lands through voluntary easement programs.
State and Local Conservation Initiatives
Connecting landowners with additional conservation funding and habitat opportunities available through state agencies and partner organizations.
Our field staff serve as a “one-stop-shop” for conservation assistance by helping farmers, ranchers, and private landowners understand program options, develop habitat plans, navigate applications, and implement practices on the ground.
Our staff live and work in the communities they serve, building trusted relationships that help conservation succeed at the local level.
How We Deliver Technical Assistance
Technical Assistance That Turns Conservation Goals Into On-the-Ground Results
PF & QF biologists and field staff provide a wide range of technical assistance services to private landowners, including:
Habitat Planning
Wildlife habitat evaluations
Site visits and resource assessments
Conservation and grazing plans
Pollinator and grassland habitat recommendations
Forest and woodland habitat guidance
Conservation Program Assistance
CRP enrollment assistance
EQIP and CSP application support
Program eligibility guidance
Practice design and planning
Coordination with USDA Service Centers
Habitat Implementation Support
Native grass and pollinator establishment
Prescribed fire planning
Grazing systems and working lands conservation
Invasive species management
Wetland and upland habitat restoration
Partnership & Coordination
Connecting landowners with local conservation partners
Coordinating with USDA agencies and state partners
Supporting habitat-focused conservation initiatives
Delivering landscape-scale conservation outcomes
Technical assistance is the bridge between conservation programs and meaningful habitat outcomes on the ground.
A History of Conservation Delivery
Building a Model for Private Lands Conservation
Pheasants Forever was founded in 1982 by hunters and conservationists responding to widespread habitat loss across America’s uplands. During the organization’s early years, habitat work was driven largely through local chapters and volunteers working on public lands and private properties important to their communities.
As conservation challenges grew, so did the recognition that lasting habitat impact would require engaging private landowners directly. With much of the nation’s landscape in private ownership, PF & QF began developing a new conservation delivery model focused on technical assistance and voluntary conservation programs.
In 2002, the first Farm Bill Biologist positions were established in eastern South Dakota. Those early positions laid the foundation for what would become a nationwide network of conservation professionals working directly with landowners, USDA agencies, state partners, and local communities.
Today, PF & QF’s private lands conservation delivery model includes hundreds of biologists and field staff working across dozens of states to help private landowners improve wildlife habitat, soil health, water quality, and working lands through voluntary conservation.
Program Timeline
1982 — Pheasants Forever founded
1980s–1990s — Chapter-led habitat delivery expands
2002 — First Farm Bill Biologists hired in South Dakota
2003–2010 — Rapid expansion of private lands technical assistance
2010s — Expansion into western and eastern focal landscapes
Today — Nationwide technical assistance network supporting private lands conservation
Conservation Impact
Delivering Habitat Conservation at Scale
Through partnerships, local relationships, and science-based technical assistance, PF & QF’s private lands conservation delivery model has helped deliver conservation across millions of acres.
Historical Impact
31+ million acres impacted
Hundreds of thousands of habitat projects completed
Conservation delivery across 40+ states
Hundreds of field staff supporting private lands conservation
More than $1 billion invested in habitat conservation initiatives
Beyond benefiting wildlife, these projects support:
Clean water
Healthy soils
Pollinator habitat
Working lands resilience
Rural economies
Outdoor recreation opportunities
Why the Model Works
Local Relationships Drive Conservation Success
PF & QF's conservation delivery model is successful because it is built around local relationships, trusted technical guidance, and strong partnerships.
Working Lands Focus
We help private landowners integrate conservation into productive agricultural landscapes.
Local Staff
Our biologists live and work in the communities they serve, building long-term trust with landowners and partners.
Partnerships
We work alongside USDA agencies, state wildlife agencies, NGOs, local chapters, and conservation partners to maximize conservation impact.
Adaptability
The model can be tailored to diverse landscapes and conservation priorities across the country.
This approach allows conservation to happen where people live, work, and manage the land every day.
Find a Biologist
Connect With a Local Conservation Professional
PF & QF biologists work across the country to provide technical assistance and conservation support to private landowners.
(Search by state, county, or region.)
Careers
Join the Next Generation of Conservation Professionals
PF & QF biologists and field staff play a critical role in delivering conservation on private lands across the country.
PF & QF offers opportunities for individuals interested in:
Wildlife habitat management
Private lands conservation
Technical assistance delivery
Partnership coordination
Working lands conservation
Landscape-scale habitat restoration
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