About JV8

Eight Joint Ventures Conserving the Central Grasslands

The JV8 Central Grasslands Conservation Initiative is a long-term collaborative effort by eight Migratory Bird Joint Ventures (JVs) working together to implement grassland conservation from Mexico to Canada. JVs achieve more through collaboration than they can accomplish acting alone. JVs specialize in fostering partnerships that provide resources, science-based knowledge, and long-term conservation planning to land stewards. This focused effort enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of on-the-ground conservation, benefiting people and wildlife.

JV8 is one of multiple efforts in the Central Grasslands working to address the loss of grassland habitat and wildlife species, and the associated impacts to the communities and economies needed to maintain this iconic biome. Our collaboration helps us work at high levels and at broad scales, while also catering our expertise, relationships, and work to the local needs and unique species and circumstances within each Joint Venture region.

Northern Great Plains Joint Venture
Prairie Pothole Joint Venture
Oaks & Prairies Joint Venture
Rainwater Basin Joint Venture
Playa Lakes Joint Venture
Rio Grande Joint Venture
Prairie Habitat Joint Venture
Sonoran Joint Venture

Learn more about the eight JVs that are part of JV8 by clicking on their logos or by visiting this storymap.

A United Vision

Our VISION is that the Central Grasslands from Canada to Mexico support stable and thriving communities of birds, other wildlife, and people into the future.

Our MISSION is to engage and expand Migratory Bird Joint Venture (JV) partnerships across North America for the stewardship of healthy grassland ecosystems.

Wind Ranch tour

Background

In 2020, the Management Board Chairs of eight JVs realized they had a shared goal of conserving and restoring North America’s Central Grasslands. Currently, the most endangered terrestrial habitat on Earth, less than 40% of the 550 million acre Central Grasslands remain unplowed, and only 4% of those remaining intact grasslands are protected from conversion.

To address this critical issue, the participating JVs united across JV boundaries, scaling up successful efforts and providing opportunities to share experiences and expertise. This new coalition expanded the network of partnerships from the local to the international, setting the stage for vast, landscape-level change. With more than 100 federal, state, provincial, non-profit, academic, and industry partners across three countries, the JV8 is poised to go to work to conserve our iconic grasslands.

Photo Credits
  • PPJV Chiefs Meeting 2012:Photo: Kurt Forman
  • NGPJV Wind Ranch tour: Photo: Dan Casey
  • Pheasants Forever: Photo: Pheasants Forever