Researcher Marisa Lipsey works with The Nature Conservancy in Eastern Montana  at the Matador ranch &quot;grass bank&quot;. The &ldquo;grass bank&quot; is an innovative way to leverage conservation gains, in which ranchers can graze their cattle at discounted rates on Conservancy land in exchange for improving conservation practices on their own &ldquo;home&rdquo; ranches. In 2002, the <br /> Conservancy began leasing parts of the ranch to neighboring ranchers who were suffering from  severe drought, offering the Matador&rsquo;s grass to neighboring ranches in exchange for their  participation in conservation efforts. The grassbank has helped keep ranchers from plowing up native grassland to farm it; helped remove obstacles to pronghorn antelope migration; improved habitat for the Greater Sage-Grouse and reduced the risk of Sage-Grouse colliding with fences; preserved prairie dog towns and prevented the spread of noxious weeds. (Photo By Ami Vitale)
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