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> Agenda > Monday Resources Monday, August 31, 2005 Resources |
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Daily Conference Newsletter (PDF 4 pages) |
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Case Study Themes |
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| 8:00 AM Welcome and Plenary Session |
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Jim Connaughton, Chairman, White House Council on Environmental Quality
Mayor Francis Slay, St. Louis
Senator Jim Talent, United States Senator from Missouri
Secretary Norton, Department of Interior
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| 9:30 AM Concurrent Sessions |
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(M) Philadelphia Vacant Land Management & Reclamation - Room 120
| Description | Presenter Quotes | Photos |
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(M) Chicago Wilderness and Calumet Initiatives - Room 131 |
Description | Presenter Quotes | Photos |
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(M) Collaboration in the Great Lakes: Metropolitan Detroit Conservation Partnerships - Room 132 |
Description | Presenter Quotes | Photos |
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(R) Malpai Borderlands Partnership - Room 260 |
Description | Photos |
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(R) Missouri Watershed Research Assessment and Stewardship Project and the Iowa Buffer Team - Room 263 |
Description | Presenter Quotes | Photos |
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(R) Community-Based Sustainable Wine Grape Growing in California - Room 275 |
Description | Presenter Quotes | Photos |
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(R) Blackfoot Challenge - Room 276 |
Description | Presenter Quotes | Photos |
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(W) Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program - Room 274 |
Description | Presenter Quotes | Photos |
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(C) Onslow-Bight Conservation Forum - Room 123 |
Description | Photos |
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(C) Washington State Olympia Oyster Restoration - Room 130 |
Description | Presenter Quotes | Photos |
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| 11:00 AM Luncheon Plenary Session |
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Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Department of Defense
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| 12:30 PM Concurrent Sessions |
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(R) Nisqually River Watershed, Olympia Washington: A Balanced and Inclusive Approach to Stewardship - Room 120 |
Description | Photos |
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(M) Phalen Corridor, A Comprehensive Rebuilding of the Urban Environment on A Massive Scale, St. Paul MN - Room 123 |
Description | Photos |
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(M) New York City Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program - Room 263 |
Description | Presenter Quotes | Photos |
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(R) Southwest Collaborative Forest Restoration - Room 131 |
Description | Photos |
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(R) Northwest Florida Greenway Project - Room 132 |
Description | Presenter Quotes | Photos |
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(R) Northern Forest Partnership - Room 274 |
Description | Photos |
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(W) Wetlands, Birds, and Bears – A Louisiana Happening - Room 260 |
Description | Presenter Quotes | Photos |
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(W) Conserving Prairie Ranches, Ranchers, and Grassland Birds - Room 275 |
Description | Presenter Quotes | Photos |
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(W) Partnerships To Protect Cave Habitats - Room 276 |
Description | Presenter Quotes | Photos |
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(C) Hawaii Coral Reef and Native Algae Restoration - Room 130 |
Description | Presenter Quotes | Photos |
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| 2:30 PM Concurrent Sessions |
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(M) Sonoita Valley Planning Partnership - Room 120 |
Description | Photos |
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(M) Lower Bronx River (NY): A Community Led Restoration Initiative - Room 123 |
Description | Presenter Quotes | Photos |
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(R) Central Texas Sustainability Partnership - Room 132 |
Description | Photos |
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(C) Northwest Straits Marine Conservation Initiative - Room 130 |
Description | Presenter Quotes | Photos |
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(R) Partners Restore Glacial Ridge Tallgrass Prairie - Room 260 |
Description | Presenter Quotes | Photos |
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(W) White Mountain Apache Tribe - Room 276 |
Description | Presenter Quotes | Photos |
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(W) Return of the Wild Turkey in North America - Room 131 |
Description | Presenter Quotes | Photos |
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(W) Presidential Bobwhite Initiative in Conservation Reserve Program - Room 263 |
Description | Presenter Quotes | Photos |
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(W) Enlisting Private Landowners and the Army for Endangered Species - Room 275 |
Description | Presenter Quotes | Photos |
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(R) Water Without War: Cooperative Salmon Restoration - Room 274 |
Description | Presenter Quotes | Photos |
| 4:30 PM Plenary Session |
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Secretary Mike Johanns, Department of Agriculture
Chuck Leavell, Rolling Stones
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| Case Study Themes |
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(M) Cooperative Conservation in Metropolitan Areas and Towns: Integration and Innovation
Growing populations, depleted resources, economic challenges, and environmental degradation create a wealth of opportunity for cooperative conservation projects in metropolitan communities and similar settings. These case studies will highlight outstanding collaborative approaches being applied by organizations and individuals in cities, towns, and metropolitan regions across the country. The presentations will serve to illustrate how these efforts protect and improve human health and the environment while concurrently advancing economic vitality. From these presentations, conferees will achieve a fuller understanding of the tools and processes available for meeting community goals through cooperative conservation.
(R) Cooperative Conservation in Rural America: Healthy Lands and Healthy Communities
America's rural communities exist within a vast private and public land base that includes cropland, rangeland, pastureland and forestland. Sessions will showcase a broad spectrum of premier cooperative conservation projects in the rural setting. The case studies will highlight the tools and processes available for cooperatively conserving natural resources in an economically sustainable way resulting in both healthy landscapes and thriving communities.
(W) Cooperative Conservation of Wildlife and Habitats: Partnering to Sustain Nature's Legacy
Due to multifaceted, incentive-based partnerships, new and effective strategies are emerging for the conservation of species in new places and at scales unattainable in the past. These case studies will illustrate how partners are using cooperative approaches, a variety of incentive-based tools and creative strategies in diverse settings to achieve environmental, recreational, cultural and economic objectives in the conservation of plants and animals and their habitats.
(C) Cooperative Conservation of Coastal and Marine Habitats
Activities in coastal watersheds, estuaries, and oceans affect the health of coastal and marine ecosystems that contribute to the nation's economy. These case studies will identify challenges to maintaining the health of these systems and explore opportunities for cooperative approaches to restore and maintain their ecological function and the economic value provided by fisheries, tourism, recreation, and transportation.
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| Descriptions |
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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
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(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
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(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
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(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.
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(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
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(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
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(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
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(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.
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(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.
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(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 and one 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.
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(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
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(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.
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(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
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(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
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(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
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(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.
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(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
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(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.
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(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
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(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
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(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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