Landowners on the East Coast brought about a major success today with their voluntary conservation efforts for the New England cottontail. Partners announced that foresters and farmers have helped prevent the need to list the New England cottontail under the Endangered Species Act.

A new bi-partisan commentary came out yesterday in Roll Call by Bruce Knight and Dave White, both former chiefs for the Natural Resources Conservation Service. These two conservation experts agree that voluntary programs–like the Sage Grouse Initiative–that improve water, soil, and wildlife habitat are programs that unite Republicans and Democrats.