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national wildlife federation

CLIMATE CHALLENGE: Human Responses

GRANT AWARD: $236,330; YEAR AWARDED: 2020

The unique subtropical ecosystem of the Lower Rio Grande Valley supports exceptional biodiversity, including many endemic species. However, 95% of this ecosystem was cleared for development during the past century, resulting in highly fragmented habitat that is now more vulnerable to climate-driven drought and warming. National Wildlife Federation will restore 75 acres of climate-resilient native wildflower and grassland habitat on urban land. These plant communities will support wildlife impacted by warming, alleviate fragmentation, increase rainwater infiltration to ameliorate drought, and serve as a prototype for future climate-adaptive urban-greening projects.