North Dakota Governor to Launch Habitat Expansion Pilot

Program aims to create more land for wildlife through public-private partnerships

Jan. 28, 2026 at 6:31pm

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North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong announced plans to introduce a new pilot program approved through the state's Outdoor Heritage Fund. The program will work with farmers and agriculture groups to create more habitat land on private property, after the loss of Conservation Reserve Program land and the impact of harsh winters on the land. The goal is to eventually expand the program statewide to create 500,000 acres of new habitat.

Why it matters

North Dakota has limited public land, so expanding habitat on private property is crucial for increasing wildlife populations like deer and pheasants. This public-private partnership approach could serve as a model for other states looking to boost habitat and biodiversity.

The details

The Outdoor Heritage Fund receives up to $40 million per biennium from oil and tax revenue to provide grants to state agencies, tribal governments, local governments and non-profits to enhance conservation. Governor Armstrong said he has been working with farmers and agriculture groups to find ways to create more habitat on private land, after the loss of Conservation Reserve Program land and the impact of harsh winters.

  • Governor Armstrong will introduce the pilot program on Thursday, January 29, 2026.

The players

Governor Kelly Armstrong

The governor of North Dakota who is launching the new habitat expansion pilot program.

Outdoor Heritage Fund

A North Dakota state fund that receives up to $40 million per biennium from oil and tax revenue to provide grants for conservation efforts.

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What they’re saying

“The first way you solve that before you ever get into access, before you get into everything else is have more deer. Have more pheasants. You can't do that if you can't have habitat.”

— Governor Kelly Armstrong

What’s next

If the pilot program is successful, Governor Armstrong wants to figure out how to bring it statewide to create 500,000 acres of new habitat land.

The takeaway

This public-private partnership approach to expanding wildlife habitat on private property could serve as a model for other states looking to boost biodiversity and support local hunting and outdoor recreation economies.