OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – A grant from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will help northwestern Oklahoma farmers and ranchers protect the habitat of the Lesser Prairie Chicken.

The $90,000 grant was recently awarded to the Oklahoma Association of Conservation Districts. Sarah Pope, programs director for the conservation group, says the funding will help provide new technical assistance to landowners working to protect the threatened Lesser Prairie Chicken on private land.

Pope says the money will help build programs that not only help landowners undertake work to protect wildlife habitat but also help them promote good natural resource stewardship.

Staff members hired with the grant will also monitor participation in state and federal programs designed to protect habitat. They also will further develop and implement the wildlife credit program at the state conservation organization.