JOINT VENTURES 1987-2012Celebrating 25 Years of Bird Conservation

What are Joint Ventures? Cooperative, regional partnerships working

under the guidance of national and international bird conservation plans to protect and restore landscapes that…

support healthy bird populationssustain livelihoodsprovide nature’s benefits to people &

wildlife.

Vision JVs share a vision of a landscape where native birds thrive.

JVs: Partnerships that Work

Federal, state, and local government agencies

Non-profit organizations Corporations Tribes Individuals and private landowners Universities

Model for Collaborative Conservation

JV actions include: Biological planning, conservation design,

and prioritization. Project development and implementation. Monitoring, evaluation, and research. Communications, education, and outreach. Funding support for projects and activities.

The Evolution of Joint Ventures

Waterfowl Habitat Areas of Major Concern in 1986 NAWMP document

In the Beginning…

The Bird Conservation Initiatives

Continued Expansion of Joint Ventures

USFWS 2005 Director’s Order 146

Defines Joint Ventures. Identifies essential JV functions and responsibilities. Identifies role of Management Board and

JV Coordinator. Provides guidelines for FWS roles and

responsibilities. Establishes implementation plan approval process. Part of USFWS Policy.

Joint Venture Map, 2011

Joint Venture Partner Contributions

18.5 million acres of habitats 35:1 leverage of Congressional funds > 5,700 partners Wetland birds rebound, show amazing

resiliency

Strategic Habitat Conservation

JVs: An Investment in Our Future Protected habitats provide safe

environment. Controlling floods Buffering coastal erosion Recharging groundwater Promoting carbon sequestration Filter pollutants/enhance water quality

Reduce impacts of climate change.

JVs: An Investment for Our Children

Protect habitats as places for Children to connect with the natural world. Hunting and fishing. Birdwatchers and photographers. All outdoor enthusiasts.

JV and State Wildlife Action Plans JVs and States collaborate on

Leveraging funds Assembling partnerships Monitoring, evaluation, and research Achieving common goals and objectives

Coordination = Efficiency

Examples of JV ActivitiesFostering partnerships Applied science Species recovery Habitat conservation Education and outreach

Ideas for individual JVs and Activities

Mission, Vision, Strategies How old is your JV and how far has it

come? Map of boundaries (alongside national

2011 map) Example of significant project, species

that will benefit and partners involved Include contact information

Adaptive Management: Responding to Gulf Crisis Gulf Coast JV responds to Deepwater

Horizon Spill. Developed models identifying habitat

needs for migrating waterfowl and shorebirds.

Partners enhanced most appropriate shallow water wetlands to provide alternative habitat.

Adaptive Management: Modeling Land Use Impacts Energy development can result in

fragmentation of forest blocks. Appalachian Mountain JV modeled

cumulative impacts of energy development on PA’s forest-interior birds.

Securing funding to assess potential impacts across entire region.

Species Recovery: Improving Land Management Intermountain West JV partnering with

NRCS on Sage-Grouse Initiative. Fostering sustainable ranching at

landscape scale by working with ranchers.

750,000 acres of sagebrush habitat strategically targeted for improvement.

Species Recovery:Creating Decision Support Tools

Playa Lakes JV developed mapping tool to guide Lesser Prairie-Chicken habitat conservation.

Fostering partnerships: Mexican Regional Alliances Sonoran and Rio Grande JV partners

support creation of 8-state ecoregional partnership to conserve Chihuahuan desert grasslands of northern Mexico.

Habitat Conservation: Protection and Restoration Pacific Coast JV partners helped add

more than 92,000 acres to National Wildlife Refuges in Oregon and Alaska.

Protected key sites for migratory birds. Estuary restoration will help wildlife

adapt to impacts of climate change and sea level rise on critical coastal habitats.

Education and Outreach: Strategic Communications Playa Lakes JV grant helped TX partner

educate local communities about the value of playas.

Birds and other wildlife benefit from playa conservation.

Recharge for the Ogallala Aquifer.

JV Celebrate 25 years of Bird Conservation: Challenges Remain

Climate change/sea level rise Energy development Incompatible land use practices Invasive/exotic species Development Pollution Unsustainable grazing and fishing Detrimental national policies

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How You Can Help Get involved – offer your skills to the partnership. Find out what the Joint Venture partnership can

offer your organization or cause. Support Joint Venture funding. Spread the word –

Birds and healthy landscapes are important to our quality of life.

Joint Ventures are making a positive difference for birds across the landscape.