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(M) Philadelphia Vacant Land Management & Reclamation
- Room 120 - 9:30 AM
A half-century of divestment and
depopulation has resulted in 40,000 abandoned and derelict parcels of land in Philadelphia.
In 1995, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society partnered with city agencies and community
organizations to create a system for addressing the social, environmental, and economic impacts
inflicted by vacant land in the urban environment. With support from city, state and federal
governments, as well as private foundations over the past decade, this vacant land management
project has achieved significant accomplishments, demonstrating an innovative approach to
cooperative conservation in an urban setting.
“We at Wharton are excited about the ability to identify how greening
investments, and the partnerships to make them happen, matters to the revitalization of America’s
cities.”
Susan M. Watchel, University of Pennsylvania
Top of page
(M) Chicago Wilderness and Calumet Initiatives
- Room 131 - 9:30 AM
Chicago Wilderness is a consortium of more
than 180 public and private agencies working together to protect and restore globally significant
ecosystems stretching from southeastern Wisconsin to northwestern Indiana. The Calumet Initiative
has similar goals for the rustbelt landscape of southeast Chicago and NW Indiana, and also seeks to
bring environmentally clean jobs back to the region. The session will highlight how these two
related partnerships have transcended political and geographic boundaries to enhance the region's
ecological assets while also strengthening the economy.
“The Calumet Initiative demonstrates the great strides that can be
made by working together – not just between different levels of government, but
with community members, industry, and the research community. One Calumet Initiative
success story is the new Ford Manufacturing Campus which provides new jobs, cleaner industry, and
rehabilitated habitat.”
Lynne M. Westphal, PhD, USDA Forest
Service
“Chicago Wilderness – we kid you not!- is a
regional consortium of more than 180 public and private organizations working together to protect,
preserve, restore, and manage the globally significant communities of the greater Chicago
metropolitan area.”
Debra Shore, Director of Development, Chicago Wilderness
Top of page
(M)
Collaboration in the Great Lakes: Metropolitan Detroit Conservation Partnerships
- Room 132 - 9:30 AM
The Detroit River Watershed, traditionally know for automobile
manufacturing, steel making and heavy industry, offers world-class water, wildlife, heritage and
recreational opportunities. It is no secret that Southeast Michigan has suffered from pollution
and other negative impacts of global industrialization. However, there’s a change happening,
due to innovative partnerships, the region is becoming a model for preserving and enhancing quality
of life by protecting regional resources. This session highlights how unique cross-border
partnerships established North America's only international wildlife refuge. This project is a
prime example of locally led partnerships within the broader context of the Great Lakes Regional
Collaboration effort.
“The Detroit River is now home to North America’s only International
Wildlife Refuge, made possible by many cooperative conservation initiatives that are not only
improving the quality of life here, but are also giving businesses a competitive advantage by
helping them attract and retain employees.”
Mary Bohling, Environmental Planner at DTE Energy
Top of page
(R) Malpai Borderlands Partnership
- Room 260 - 9:30 AM
The Malpai Borderlands is an area of a million acres of private,
state-owned and federal land along the Arizona and New Mexico border. Led by ranchers committed
to protecting and restoring ecological diversity and the productivity of the Borderlands, the
partnership has protected 77,000 acres of privately owned land through conservation easements,
grass-banking and wildlife habitat restoration. As a result, the partnership has improved
rangeland conditions and promoted sustainable ranching, preserving a working landscape as an
alternative to subdivision and development of agricultural land.
Top of page
(R) Missouri Watershed Research Assessment and Stewardship Project and the Iowa Buffer Team
- Room 263 - 9:30 AM
Home to numerous crop and livestock farms, Northern Missouri is a productive agricultural
region. Over time, high levels of agricultural pesticides have resulted in local reservoirs being
listed as “impaired water-bodies”. With the support of landowners, this project has
collected water data and promoted best management practices as a way of reducing pollution and
raising farmers’ profits. Also learn how this innovative and unique team in Iowa used a
unique number of strategy strategies to encourage farmers to install conservation buffers
statewide. This progressive public/private partnership worked with used education, research,
the media and employed financial incentives to negotiate a staggering 41,064 contracts for
over 330,715 acres of buffers.
“As a nonprofit organization, Trees Forever has leveraged public
funds with private, involved volunteers of all ages and promoted research-based conservation
with farmers and landowners – an outstanding example of cooperative conservation.”
Shannon Ramsay, President Trees Forever
“The Watershed Research Assessment and
Stewardship Project (WRASP) is an unique partnership of federal, state, and local government,
private industry and non-profit organizations which proved to be a great success for all
involved.”
Steve Taylor, CEO, Environmental
Resources Coalition
“This successful conservation buffer
partnership relied upon effective education, promotion and outreach, coupled with technical and
financial assistance and the common goals of many organizations, agencies and individual
producers.”
James Gillespie, Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship
Top of page
(R) Community-Based Sustainable Wine Grape Growing in California
- Room 275 - 9:30 AM
California winegrowers have a long history of proving that economic
gain need not compromise environmental conservation. With practices including placing lands in
conservation easements, replanting eroded riparian areas and native oaks, encouraging migratory
bird habitat, and providing for endangered species, their model for community-based environmental
stewardship is a fine contribution to the wine industry nationally and internationally. Through
shared partnerships with Federal, state and local organizations, the California wine industry is
influencing and advancing environmental practices, not only for their industry but for agriculture
as a whole.
“Our Sustainable Winegrowing Program provides
validation that self-governance, education and an open dialogue with neighbors, communities and
other stakeholders will enhance the economic viability of the California wine community and protect
precious natural resources for generations to come.”
Karen Ross, President, California Association of Winegrape Growers
“The primary reason for our success is that
the program is voluntary: Farmers are doing it because it’s the right thing to do – it helps their
production, it provides good will with the community and consumers, and it works for the
species!”
Karen Ross, President, California Association of Winegrape Growers
“The ‘human’ elements are very important to
the achievement of our environmentally-friendly and sustainable approach to business. The
involvement and passion of people at all levels – from top down and bottom up – are crucial
to enable success in conservation.”
Dr. Ann Thrupp, Manager of Organic
Development of Fetzer Vineyards
“The goal of our cooperative conservation
agreement is to sustain the viability of all the stakeholders, the land owner and the California
Tiger Salamander.”
Pete Downs, VP Government Relations,
Kendall-Jackson Win Estates
Top of page
(R) Blackfoot Challenge
- Room 276 - 9:30 AM
Popularized by the movie
A River Runs Through It, communities in
western Montana's rural Blackfoot River Valley are working to balance protection of natural
resources and rural lifestyles with increasing demands of destination recreation, floating,
fishing and vacationing. To address these growing impacts, private landowners, federal and
state land managers, local government officials, and corporate landowners created the Blackfoot
Challenge that along with over sixty public and private partners collaborate on cooperative
conservation. This diverse group seeks common ground to address issues such as subdivision,
weeds, water quality and quantity, drought, wildlife management, and sustainable agriculture.
By squarely confronting these issues and engaging all stakeholders in an open forum, solutions
have evolved where problems once loomed.
“Popularized by the movie A River Runs Through It,
communities in western Montana’s rural Blackfoot River Valley are working to balance protection
of natural resources and rural lifestyles with increasing demands on destination recreation,
floating, fishing and vacationing through the Blackfoot Challenge, a grassroots landowner-based
watershed group that has 500 landowners and 160 partners at the table and collaborating on
large landscape conservation projects.”
Tina Bernd-Cohen, Executive Director of Blackfoot Challenge.
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(W)
Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation
Program
-
Room 274 - 9:30 AM
In addition to being rich with biodiversity,
the Lower Colorado River provides water and power
to over 20 million people in the states of California, Arizona,
Nevada and Colorado. To protect and enhance this resource, a diverse coalition
of more than 50 partners work to implement a
conservation plan for habitat restoration to benefit 26 species and
create 8,100-plus acres of riparian, marsh and backwater habitat. The 9 year-old
partnership features a 50-year commitment, with
costs shared equally between Federal and nonfederal
partners.
“Clearly the Colorado River is important to Arizona – which is
why it is essential that we undertake a proactive program like the Lower Colorado River
Multi-Species Conservation Program to protect its resources.”
William Werner, AZ Department of
Water Resources
“The key to building an effective cooperative
conservation program is finding individual member goals that can play an important part in the
overall conservation effort. This way everyone has an important stake as well as an important
part to play in cooperative conservation efforts.”
“Our success in protecting the critically
endangered Alabama cave shrimp show the importance of effective cooperative conservation projects
to endangered species management.”
Daniel J. Dunn, US Army Garrison – Redstone
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(C)
Onslow-Bight Conservation Forum
- Room 123 - 9:30 AM
Mix explosive coastal population growth, military bases, national
forest and refuges, fishermen, hunters, farmers, and foresters and you have land use conflicts
and environmental degradation. The Forum is rewriting this recipe by helping diverse interests
mutually benefit from better environmental stewardship. Over 7,500 acres of land has already
been protected.
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(C) Washington
State Olympia Oyster Restoration
- Room 130 - 9:30 AM
More than 100 partners, including private landowners,
Tribes, States and Counties, the shellfish industry, community organizations, schools and the
U.S. Navy, have joined forces to restore the Olympia oyster, the only native oyster of the
Pacific Northwest coast. By leveraging federal funds, 5 million oysters have been spread at
80 sites in a community-based effort to restore an essential component of the marine ecosystem
and an icon of Washington State history.
“This oyster is an integral species in the nearshore ecosystem with
a rich history that has touched the lives of tribal members, shellfish growers and residents for
many generations. By working collaboratively, it’s possible to bring this oyster back within our
lifetime.”
Betsy Peabody, Executive Director, Puget Sound Restoration Fund
Top of page
(R)
Nisqually River Watershed, Olympia Washington: A Balanced and Inclusive Approach
to Stewardship
- Room 120 - 12:30 PM
The Nisqually River Task Force was created in 1985 as a vehicle
for implementing a locally based approach to the protection and betterment of this unique area.
The resulting Nisqually River Management Plan convened the Nisqually River Council. Over nearly
two decades, the Council and its many partners have achieved tremendous results through a number
of collaborative programs to address timber harvest and land use issues, species recovery and
allocations of water for people and fish throughout the watershed. This unique partnership is
now undertaking the creation and implementation of a sustainable approach to development and
economic vitality that supports continued investment in the watershed ecosystem.
Top of page
(M) Phalen Corridor, A Comprehensive Rebuilding of the Urban Environment on A Massive Scale, St. Paul MN
- Room 123 - 12:30 PM
Abandonment of industrial sites, disinvestment of housing,
neglect of commercial properties and degradation of natural lands affects cities and towns of all
sizes across the country. This session will highlight how a diverse coalition of citizens,
corporations, government agencies and developers have realized a $600 million collective vision
to restore jobs, introduce sustainable housing, build bike trails and a road and reclaim the
natural environment in four diverse communities.
Top of page
(M) New York City
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program
- Room 263 - 12:30 PM
Watersheds surrounding the metropolitan area supply drinking water to
over 9 million New York City and State residents. This session will highlight how a unique
coalition of landowners, farmers and government agencies are working collaboratively to protect
stream corridors, enhance the quality of life and greatly reduce the costs associated with
providing quality drinking water to the people of New York City.
“The implementation of USDA’s Conservation Reserve Enhancement
Program in the New York City Watershed is a wonderful example of how cooperation between rural
and urban interest groups and the combination of federal and local programs can be successful,
in this case by protecting the drinking water supply of nearly 9 million New York City residents.”
Gary Lamont, NRCS Watershed Project Coordinator
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(R) Southwest Collaborative Forest Restoration
- Room 131 - 12:30 PM
This session features one Healthy Forest Initiative andone
Healthy Forest Restoration Act project in the American Southwest; the White
Mountain Stewardship project in Arizona and the Thunderbird/Tajique
Watershed project in New Mexico. Both have overcome
significant cultural and institutional barriers in pursuit of their mission.
This case study presentation will highlight the innovative tools
and approaches being used to enhance forest
and watershed health, reduce fuel loads contributing to high fire risk, and
create jobs in nearby communities.
Top of page
(R) Northwest Florida Greenway Project
- Room 132 - 12:30 PM
Northwest Florida is one of the most biologically diverse
regions in the nation. The area also serves as the home to five major military installations
and the Joint Gulf Range Complex, which represent the nation’s largest military test and
training complex. Incompatible development and the loss of open natural lands threaten the region's
military mission, unique biodiversity, silviculture industry, and recreational opportunities.
This presentation will illustrate how the Northwest Florida Greenway Project partnership is
working to protect the valuable environmental, military, recreational and economic values
of this region.
“In the future, nature will function and provide it’s wonder,
diversity and sustenance to our planet only if we are able to protect sustainable ecosystems.
In the Florida Panhandle, a partnership of agencies grows and when they finish the Northwest
Florida Greenway, a corridor 300 miles long, connecting over 3 million acres of conservation
lands, waters and the species that thrive there will be protected. This is the vision of our
cooperative conservation project.”
Deborah Keller, NW Florida Greenway Project Coordinator
Top of page
(R) Northern Forest
Partnership
- Room 274 - 12:30 PM
Most of Northern Maine forests have been privately owned and
managed for decades for timber production, while providing access for hunting, fishing and
outdoor recreation. Recently much of this land has been sold to investors whose financial
interests promote both timber and real estate valuations. Current forest development pressures
breed forest fragmentation and undermine natural resource values underpinning rural economies.
The Pingree Forest Partnership and the Downeast Lakes Forestry Partnership have protected
1.1 million acres in the past five years by protecting working forest lands through removing
developing rights and bolstering the emerging economy for natural resource dependent communities.
Top of page
(W) Wetlands,
Birds, and Bears – A Louisiana Happening
- Room 260 - 12:30 PM
The indigenous hardwood forests of the Lower Mississippi River
have been called North America's rain forest. It was a rich diverse ecosystem home to resident and
migrant species alike. Over 90 percent of the forest in Louisiana has been converted to cropland,
much of which was submarginal to marginal at best. Various programs, initiatives, and partnerships
have developed to help landowners convert these marginal croplands back to their natural state.
Numerous species from waterfowl to neotropical songbirds to the endangered Louisiana black bear
are favorably responding to the restoration activities. Public agencies working with private
landowners and conservation organizations are establishing and expanding tens of thousands of
acres of habitat.
“The partnerships working to restore habitat for the federally
threatened Louisiana black bear will continue to produce dramatic results that will have long
term implications on all fish and wildlife resources, water quality, atmospheric carbon, and
local economies.”
Paul Davidson, Executive Director of
the Blackbear Conservation Committee
“Wetlands, Birds, and Bears…Louisiana
Happening” is cooperative conservation personified. It is happening because the people on the land
and people concerned about the land are working together to successfully reconnect America’s Rain
Forest as a part of the working fields and farms of the Lower Mississippi Valley. As a result,
the critters that have been displaced are coming home again.”
Donald W. Gohmert, State
Conservationist, NRCS, Louisiana
“Partnerships as described in the case
study entitled, ‘Wetlands, Birds, and Bears – A Louisiana Happening’ have a high degree of success
because of the mission fit. This partnership accomplishes the goals and objectives of the agencies
and the partners involved. This is a great example of different programs working together to
achieve a common mission. Conservation is all about what is good for people – so helping the land,
birds and bears benefits us today as we prepare the landscape for those who will follow us.
Remember, we are only temporary custodians of this great land.”
Curtis R. Hopkins, Director of
Conservation Programs, Southern Region, Ducks Unlimited
Top of page
(W) Conserving Prairie Ranches, Ranchers, and Grassland Birds
- Room 275 - 12:30 PM
The grassland and wetland complexes of the prairie pothole
region are critical habitat for numerous species of waterfowl, shorebirds and songbirds. Most of
the land in the region is privately owned and managed by descendants of the ranching families who
homesteaded the area in the 1800’s. Today these families face numerous financial challenges
which prevent them from keeping the native rangeland intact. To address this challenge, more
than 1,400 ranch families have partnered with wildlife conservationists to protect over 522,000
acres of wetland and grassland habitat in Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.
“Ranchers and grassland birds have much in common,” says
Dr. Jim Ringelman, a Ducks Unlimited biologist and organizer of the panel on preserving ranches,
ranchers, and grassland birds. “Fundamentally, both require healthy grasslands and wetlands to
survive. That’s why this came about.”
“Partnerships on the prairies have been a
great success with over 1,000,000 acres conserved and both ranchers and wildlife reaping a
reward.”
Harvey Wittmier, Chief, Division of
Realty, Region 6, FWS
Top of page
(W) Partnerships To Protect Cave Habitats
- Room 276 - 12:30 PM
Cave habitats are home to some of the Nation's most
interesting, valuable and imperiled species. This session highlights two sites where innovative
partnerships are conserving these underground ecosystems: Texas' Bracken Bat Cave, which shelters
the largest remaining concentration of mammals on Earth, and two caves systems in Madison County,
Alabama, where the Alabama cave shrimp is teetering on the brink of extinction.
“The mission
of the Geological Survey of Alabama to investigate and document Alabama’s natural resources has
been greatly enhanced through cooperative efforts between the Survey and the U.S. Army Garrison
at Redstone Arsenal, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Speleological Society, the
University of Alabama at Huntsville, Huntsville City Schools, and numerous other entities during
the life of our project studying the Alabama Cave Shrimp and its habitats in north Alabama.”
Stuart McGregor, Biologist at
Geological Survey of Alabama
“A decade of Bat Conservation International
partnership with federal agencies and the mining industry has protected over 1,000 abandoned mines
as sanctuaries for millions of American bats, magnified federal dollars by at least a 10:1 ratio,
saved private companies more than half of their anticipated costs for mine safety closures,
generated excellent publicity for much maligned industries, and played a key role in helping
endangered species.”
Merlin Tuttle, Founder/President,
Bat Conservation International
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(C) Hawaii Coral Reef and Native Algae Restoration
- Room 130 - 12:30 PM
Hawaii’s coral reefs and other near-shore marine
ecosystems have a formidable foe: alien marine algae. But a coalition of local residents,
organizations and government agencies at several levels launched a community-based effort
to restore these areas. Through cleanups and monitoring, community members learn about reef
ecology, alien species’ impacts and resource stewardship.
“The Hawaii Coral Reef and Native Algae restoration project is a tremendous example
of how many different partners can combine their unique skills and expertise to make a difference.
For example, we have University scientists training school kids, neighborhood boards, and other
community volunteers to identify different types of algae, so that they can remove the alien algae
and transport it to local taro farmers who use it for fertilizer, while local community members
grow native algae to outplant in the areas where non-native algae has been removed.”
Kim Hum, Coastal Marine Program Director of the Nature Conservancy
Top of page
(M) Sonoita Valley Planning Partnership
- Room 120 - 2:30 PM
The Sonoita Valley is an ecologically unique area of desert grasslands and
riparian areas east of Tucson, Arizona. This session will highlight how a diverse coalition of
volunteers, government agencies and private organizations overcame seemingly insurmountable
obstacles to enable establishment of a National Conservation Area for the protection of this
invaluable resource. In addition, the Sonoita Valley Planning Partnership negotiated a long-range
plan of occupancy and use of connected watersheds that strives to preserve ecological and
environmental values to assure equitable and healthful occupancy over generations.
Top of page
(M) Lower Bronx River (NY): A Community
Led Restoration Initiative
- Room 123 - 2:30 PM>
Due to channelization and bank armoring, the inter-tidal
portion of the Bronx River exhibits little of the vegetation that once dominated its shores.
Long stretches of bulkhead and sheet piling provide little or no habitat for marine and estuarine
fish and dumping and filling in tidal wetlands has raised elevations and contaminated the soil.
This diverse partnership is committed to restoring the riparian and tidal area on the west bank
of the river at the site of an abandoned cement plant. Their work involves removing large blocks
of concrete and debris, re-grading the banks, removing invasive plant species and replacing the
riparian zone with native plants.
“An extraordinary partnership of more than 70 community organizations, public agencies,
businesses is working together to restore the Bronx River to its potential as a natural and
community resource. Our success in transforming a derelict concrete plant into a prized
community asset exemplifies the progress we are making and the powerful effect that partnerships
grounded in communities can have.”
Linda Cox, Executive Director of the
Bronx River Alliance and Bronx Alliance and Bronx River Administrator for City of New York Parks &
Recreation
Top of page
(R) Central Texas
Sustainability Partnership
- Room 132 - 2:30 PM
The project establishes a successful model of cooperation
among private landowners for landscape-level recovery of listed species and the restoration of
historic plant communities. Central Texas Cattlemen's Association, U.S. Army (Ft Hood, TX),
The Nature Conservancy, Environmental Defense, Texas Department of Agriculture, Texas Wildlife
Association, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, assisted
by the Leon River Restoration Project, Natural Resources Conservation Service and
Texas A&M University, launched this cooperative effort to balance the training demands at
Ft. Hood with the need to sustain the natural resources of Central Texas. Ranchland habitat is
being restored and enhanced for the endangered Black-capped vireo and Golden-cheeked warbler.
Top of page
(C) Northwest Straits
Marine Conservation Initiative
- Room 130 - 2:30 PM
Research surveys and studies have shown that Puget Sound is
facing rapid degradation. Threats to marine species and habitat have deep ramifications in adjacent
communities. Since its inception in 1998, the Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative has
achieved tremendous results for the betterment of Puget Sound. With the support of Congress, seven
citizen-led groups and a coordinating commission have established marine protected areas, conducted
inventories seminal to the conservation of key salmon species, restored native oysters and
succeeded in removing enormous quantities of fishing debris from the ocean floor.
“It’s very exciting to develop governmental partnerships with
citizens and tribes who are empowered to set priorities for restoration and conservation in their
communities.”
Tom Cowan, Director of the Northwest
Straits Commision
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(R) Partners Restore Glacial Ridge Tallgrass Prairie
- Room 260 - 2:30 PM
In October of 2004, Glacial Ridge became the Nation's 545th
National Wildlife Refuge. At its core is 24,000 acres that form the largest prairie and wetland
reconstruction project in the country. Here more than 30 partners have played an active role in
returning the land to its pre-settlement condition. When fully restored, the lands will provide
tremendous habitat for moose, gray wolf, waterfowl, prairie chickens and other upland game birds,
and a host of other prairie species.
“Partnerships are the key to doing conservation work at the right
scale. Due to the efforts of the Glacial Ridge partners thousands of acres of marginal farmland
will abound with grama and bluestem grasses. Spring will arrive with the song of booming prairie
chickens and the restored wetlands and marshes will echo with the cries of the sandhill cranes,
marbled godwits and northern harriers.”
Ron Nargang, State Director of MN,
The Nature Conservancy
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(W) White Mountain Apache Tribe
- Room 276- 2:30 PM
The White Mountain Apache Tribe strives to protect the land and
all the resources it supports. Proactive resource management integrates the sustainable protection
of sensitive species with inherent cultural values and primary economic benefits for present and
future generations. Logging, ranching, world-class trophy elk hunting and a thriving outdoor
recreation program co-exist with successful management programs for Spotted Owls, Mexican Wolves
and Apache Trout.
“Through the White Mountain and Thunderbird/Tajique Case Study we have
been able to involve many and a diverse group of partners in improving forest health and reducing
fire risk across multiple land ownerships.”
Vicky Estrada, USDA Forest
Service
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(W) Return of the Wild Turkey in North America
- Room 131 - 2:30 PM
Due to restoration efforts by state and provincial wildlife
agencies, which were accelerated by the NWTF and its partners, nearly 7 million wild turkeys
inhabit North America. Since 1985, the NWTF and its cooperators have spent $202 million dollars
on projects benefiting wild turkeys and other wildlife, including $11.5 million on projects within
the National Forest System.
“The restoration of the wild turkey to nearly every state in the
nation is one of the greatest cooperative conservation success stories of all time and is due in
large part to forward thinking hunters, wildlife agencies, landowners, timber companies, and
volunteers with the National Wild Turkey Federation.”
James Edmunds, Edmunds Farms
“The comeback of the wild turkey is one of America’s great
wildlife success stories. It would not have been possible without the cooperation of many
stakeholders including state and federal wildlife agencies, The Wild Turkey Federation,
private landowners and the forest products industry. By pooling their resources this great
game bird was brought back from oblivion and now is commonplace throughout temperate North
America.”
Robert C. Maddrey, Division Wildlife
Biologist, Georgia Pacific Corporation
Top of page
(W) Presidential
Bobwhite Initiative in Conservation Reserve Program
- Room 263 - 2:30 PM
Populations of northern bobwhite quail and other grassland birds
have declined dramatically over the past 40 years as a result of habitat loss. The "Northern
Bobwhite Conservation Initiative" charts an ambitious path to restore quail to their 1980
levels across the species' range. In August 2004, President Bush announced a major bobwhite
habitat initiative to help launch the NBCI restoration process. The Initiative partnership,
which is fueled by a 250,000-acre enrollment authority under the Conservation Reserve Program,
has already protected about 35, 000 acres for bobwhites and other birds.
“The Continuous Conservation Reserve Program practice, Habitat Buffers For Upland Birds (CP##), is an
outstanding example of a cooperative effort involving private landowners and federal, state and
private conservation organizations to restore habitat on working farms for bobwhite quail,
grassland songbirds, and a variety of other wildlife species that are in serious decline.”
Stephen J. DeMaso, CWB, Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department
Top of page
(W) Enlisting
Private Landowners and the Army for Endangered Species
- Room 275 - 2:30 PM
Conservation of the red-cockaded woodpecker has challenged
both private landowners and the Army in the Southeast. Initiatives on and off Army bases,
including novel safe harbor agreements and Army compatible use buffers with private landowners,
are helping this endangered species recover. Those efforts have become models for conservation
efforts elsewhere.
“In the early 1990’s, the red-cockaded woodpecker was one of the
‘poster species’ for everything that was perceived wrong with the Endangered Species Act and
protecting federally listed species, particularly on military and private lands. The U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service refused to accept that perception as reality and in full partnership with
many willing, interested and affected parties in the state, military, NGO, and private landowner
sectors took on the challenge of finding creative, ecologically sound, economically viable, and
logistically feasible solutions. Today, we have flexible military RCW guidelines and safe harbor
programs throughout the southeast, with growing military RCW guidelines and safe harbor programs
throughout the southeast, with growing RCW populations on military and private lands, excellent
examples of cooperative conservation at its finest.”
Ralph Costa, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service
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(R) Water Without War: Cooperative Salmon Restoration
- Room 274 - 2:30 PM
This presentation will highlight a comprehensive cooperative
conservation project that involves local, state, Federal, environmental, agricultural and Tribal
entities who are working together for the recovery and protection of salmon, steelhead and bull
trout populations and the quality of their habitat in the Walla Walla Basin in southeast Washington
and northeast Oregon while also preserving local agricultural economies and tribal
customs.
“The Walla Walla Way partnership with leaders from
irrigated-agriculture, Tribal, Federal, state and local governments is the best there is because
it has already restored stream flows to the dry river bed, allowing the Confederated Tribes of the
Umatilla Indian Reservation, Oregon and Washington to reintroduce Spring Chinook Salmon back in
the river. This approach will result in a strong irrigation economy, a restored river system and
salmon fishery for both Tribal and non-tribal people.”
N. Kathryn Brigham, Confederated
Tribes of Umatilla Indian Reservation, Board of Trustees
“The Walla Walla Way, rooted in a trusting
belief that cooperation gets things done, is making a healthy river the foundation for the
development of a Basin-wide Bi-state Habitat Conservation Plan. ‘Water Without War’ in the
Walla Walla Watershed of Washington and Oregon is our basin-wide collaboration to restore
threatened fish with partnerships and projects, while sustaining multi-generational family
farms and vibrant urban communities.”
Cathy LaRoque, Director of
Walla Walla County Watershed
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