AN “EPIC” EMERGING COALITION FOR METROPOLITAN ALLIANCE AND LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION

Kristin Shaw, USFWS ETPBR LCC

Roadmap of the Presentation

Introduction to Landscape Conservation Cooperatives and the ETPBR LCC

Midwest Urban Conservation Workshop Overview and Outcomes

Creation of Ecological Places in Cities (EPIC)

Introduction to Landscape Conservation Cooperatives

The story of the ETPBR LCC

Steering Committee• Strategic direction • Organizational oversight• Funding decisions • Implementation authority

Management community• Conservation agencies• Private landowners• Business community• NGOs with on-the-ground

interests• Communicate priority

Science Needs from the field • Test research outcomes in

management context

LCC Staff• Organizational development & operations • Communication across groups & outreach• Share resources & concepts through FWS

Region 3 Science Advisory Team & National LCC Network

Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs)• Refine strategic plan; develop science

agenda• Propose targeted RFPs or project scopes

of work; proposal review

Proposed ETPBR LCC TAGs• Prairie Restoration (share with UMGL &

PPP)• River Restoration (share with PPP)• Agroecology (share with PPP and GCPO

LCC)• Urban Watersheds (share with UMGL)• Regional Conservation Design (shared

with UMGL & PPP) – delivery through SWAPs, NGO plans, etc.

• Information & Technology Transfer • P-BRAT: Prairie-Big Rivers Advisory Team

(staff liaisons to US FWS programs)

Research Community• Universities & Business R&D• Agency & NGO research

scientists• Forecast future challenges• Bring cutting edge ideas&

tools• Conduct applied research• Describe management

implications of research outcomes

ETPBR LCC STRUCTURE

Process & Tasks for Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs)

1) Clarify the Problem Statement (decision context)

2) Set Fundamental Objectives (outcomes)

3) Impact Models relate objectives to decisions (tradeoffs between management actions)

4) Identify stakeholders & decision-makers

5) Identify key uncertainties (Science Needs) – gaps in knowledge and resources

6) Recommend criteria for prioritizing needs

7) Guidance for project review & evaluation

8) Develop portfolio of desired science projects for RFP

Build on re-orientation of cities to their waterfronts to promote local wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation.

Utilize river systems as the foundation for incorporating functional wildlife corridors in green infrastructure plans.

Design urban, suburban and small estate developments to accommodate conservation of prairie and river systems in urban green spaces.

Enhance viability of small towns in rural areas by attracting tourists and businesses to recreational activities at local prairie and river restoration sites.

Focal Area 4. Urban WatershedsMeans Objectives

The Midwest Urban Conservation Workshop

Midwest Urban Conservation Workshop Overview

• 46 participants

• States Represented: Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Minnesota

• Entities represented: City, State, and Federal Employees, Nonprofits, Private Sector

Workshop Planning Process

Urban TAG Planning

Committee Selection

Topic Selections Speakers? Who to invite? Collective Impact

Brainstorming day

Goals of the Workshop

Understand the status of Urban Conservation Establish science needs and introduction to new topics

Understand the management practices being used. Establish avenues for collaboration.

Create an opportunity for networking and relationship building

Create a collective impact through establishment of working groups and cooperatives.

Kids playing outdoors near St. Louis, Missouri. Photo by Ashley Spratt/USFWS

Summary of Presentations

April 29th: • Ecological

Homogenization• Green Infrastructure• Large Landscape

Conservation• Social Hour- Poster

Presentations

April 30th:• Biophilic Cities• Collective Impact• Establishing Collaboration • Community Outreach• Public Keynote

May 1st: • Creation of Collective

Impact

Ecological Places in Cities -- EPICPicture: Leiden, The Netherlands Street divided by natural vegetation. -Kristin Shaw

Collective Impact Framework of EPIC

1. Common Agenda We are a network that reconnects (integrates) people

and nature in Midwestern cities, their surrounding working landscapes, and natural areas.

2. Shared Measurement To be determined as thematic areas are established

3. Mutually Reinforcing Activities Based on programs that participants are interested in

4. Continuous Communication Provided by staff of the LCC and Collaborative

Working Space Website 5. Backbone Support

ETPBR LCC & UMGL LCC

Backbone Support and Common Agenda

ETPBR LCC/ UMGL LCC

Communication Funding Network

Capabilities/Tools

Creation during Workshop Vision: We are a

network that reconnects (integrates) people and nature in Midwestern cities, their surrounding working landscapes, and natural areas.

Process of Crafting/ Refining

Backbone Support Common Agenda

Functions of EPIC

Education and train the trainer  Wildlife conservation Habitat restoration  Community revitalization  Landscape planning 

Encompass city plans into the landscape scale 

Research 

Themes

Who is involved?

ETPBR LCC&

UMGL LCC

Federal Agencies

Not for Profit

Universities

States

Cities

EPIC Next Steps

Analysis of available resources from EPIC Members (area of

expertise, projects,

etc.)Where they

fit in to topics

Based on tools

available and

interests of EPIC

Members- narrow down

themes

Based on themes

target core team

members for creation of mission,

goals, and solidifying

vision

Outreach to subregional

hubs - subject to

change based on how we

divide the region (HUCs,

migratory bird,

population)

Strategic plannning workshop - lead to 5

year strategic plan and

guidance on the creation

of tools

Interested in being a part of the process?Contact Kristin Shaw, Urban Watersheds TAG

Coordinator ETPBR LCCEmail: Kristin_Shaw@fws.gov

812-334-4261 x1209 (o)712-294-4585 (c) 

QUESTIONS?

http://exploreportlandnature.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/cartoons-about-children-and-nature/