RIO GRANDE VALLEY, Texas – The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) has awarded a $260,000 grant to The Peregrine Fund to restore critical habitats in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. Partnering with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and National Park Service, the project will target invasive vegetation on 1,400 acres of public land, including Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge and Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Park.
The funding aims to expand grassland habitats for endangered and threatened species such as the Northern Aplomado Falcon, Eastern Black Rail, and Texas Botteri’s Sparrow. “Removing invasive vegetation helps rebuild entire ecosystems vital to South Texas biodiversity,” said Brian Mutch, Peregrine Fund Aplomado Falcon Program Director.
The Peregrine Fund will monitor bird populations before and after restoration to assess the impact. The Lower Rio Grande Valley, recognized globally for its ecological importance, faces ongoing habitat degradation…