Corteva Agriscience, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have formed a new partnership that aims to improve plant and wildlife biodiversity within energy rights-of-way, roadsides and other noncrop areas.
Corteva Agriscience has announced a three-year partnership with the nation’s leading upland habitat conservation group, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, to enhance habitat within various noncrop areas and improve plant and wildlife biodiversity throughout the United States. Structured to strengthen the Rights-of-Way & Energy (ROWE) Habitat Program launched by Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever, the partnership is dedicated to assessing and measurably improving habitat, biodiversity and conservation throughout electric and solar corridors, as well as transportation, railway, oil and gas ROW, across the country.
“Corteva Agriscience shares common goals with Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever,” said Damon Palmer, Marketing Leader, U.S. Specialties, Corteva Agriscience. “We want to improve land stewardship to create healthier, diverse ecosystems that connect fragmented landscapes for significant habitat benefits. Together, we’ll work to help industry professionals enhance everything from biodiversity and conservation efforts to cost efficiency, community engagement and ESG actions.”
By pairing the knowledge of conservation experts and wildlife biologists with solutions and strategies recommended by Corteva Agriscience Vegetation Management Specialists, the partnership is expected to outline a balanced approach to creating sustainable, integrated habitat management plans for the potential improvement of up to 5 million ROW and energy acres nationwide.
“There are plenty of reasons for focusing on rights-of-way and energy as an untapped habitat resource,” said Michael Retterer, National Rights-of-Way and Energy Coordinator with Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. “But this incredible opportunity also resonates deeply for partner industries who want to lower their maintenance costs, provide a service to customers, promote biodiversity and ultimately, change landowner perceptions of rights-of-way usage.”
This isn’t the first time Corteva, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have worked together to enhance the development of biodiverse wildlife habitat. Both groups previously collaborated with the National 4-H Council in 2018 to expand the Corteva Agriscience Grows Pollinator Habitat Program, which supports monarch butterfly and pollinator habitat creation across the U.S.
Herbicide applications have played a key role in this work to date, as selective herbicide applications can promote native prairie-type ground cover when combined with other vegetation management methods. In turn, these integrated treatment methods can impede the growth of incompatible plants and improve habitat development for various wildlife species.
As Corteva works to equip vegetation managers with the chemistries, strategies and solutions needed to keep harmful plants from encroaching natural areas, this expanded work with Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever strengthens the organization’s commitment to environmental safety and sustainability. To learn more about environmental benefits provided by selective herbicide treatments, application site considerations and results from long-standing research studies that support the Corteva commitment to advancing environmental sustainability, click here.
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