Conservation Capacity: Contagious Conservation Equals Contiguous Conservation—Q & A with Seth Gallagher, Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory

The Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (RMBO) is spreading the conservation word and they hope it’s contagious. Seth Gallagher, RMBO Stewardship Division Director, recently talked to the Playa Post about “Contagious Conservation” and how it can affect future generations.... (MORE)

Science Update: Not Easy Being Green—A Report on Wind Energy’s Implications on the Lesser-Prairie Chicken Population

A new report released by the Sutton Avian Research Center at the University of Oklahoma outlines the reality of rapid wind power development and its negative impact on the lesser-prairie chicken population. Compiled after years of research... (MORE)

Policy News: PLJV Signs Agreement With Farm Services Agency

The Playa Lakes Joint Venture has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Farm Service Agency (FSA), which details how PLJV and FSA will cooperate to enroll more playas into the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CCRP).... (MORE)

Mapping Programs: How CRP Expirations Will Open Up County Caps

The PLJV is seeking proposals for the ConocoPhillips Grant Program for habitat, research and education/outreach projects that address stated priorities of the Joint Venture and the PLJV mission...(MORE)

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PLJV Hires New Conservation Science Director

Anne Bartuszevige, PhD, joined the PLJV in 2008 as Conservation Science Director and brings a wealth of experience focused on grassland ecosystems, avian science and private lands conservation. Anne most recently worked at Oregon State University’s Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center in Union, Oregon. There, she studied the change in territory occupancy of red-tailed, ferruginous and Swainson’s hawks on a northeast bunchgrass prairie known as the Zumwalt.

Anne earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Hope College in Holland, MI and a master’s degree in biological sciences with a conservation biology emphasis from Illinois State University (ISU). While at ISU she studied pesticide contamination in grassland songbirds in Illinois. After completing her master’s degree, Anne attended Miami University in Ohio and received a PhD in botany in 2004. During her PhD she studied the spread of an invasive shrub to new forest fragments. Anne also has extensive experience working with PLJV partner organizations such as the USDA Forest Service, USDA Farm Service Agency and USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and The Nature Conservancy. She also has already published a dozen scientific publications in her young career.

PLJV Hires New Communications Director

Michael Soloway joined the PLJV in 2009 as Communications Director and brings more than 14 years of nonprofit marketing and communications experience, supporting vital missions, such as promoting public health, advocating for alternative energy and preventing juvenile delinquency.

Michael’s many responsibilities have included writing press releases, managing web content and speaking to reporters and community civic groups as organizations’ community outreach liaison. In 1999, Michael designed the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches’ specialty license plate and developed the "Tag, you're it!" advertising campaign. As an accomplished editor, he has also directed the editorial and artistic content for a variety of print and Web publications. In 2002, Michael was recruited by NASA Headquarters in Washington to serve in the Internal News & Communications Office. As team lead—material design and development, he was responsible for writing and editing many of the space agency’s communications tools, and served on the communications crisis team that formed in the aftermath of the Space Shuttle Columbia accident.

Michael earned a bachelor’s degree from Florida State University in 1992 and has taken master’s level creative writing classes. Michael has also won multiple awards for his work, including three CASE Awards for design and excellence in photojournalism.

Rainwater Basin Joint Venture Names New Coordinator

Andy Bishop of Grand Island has been selected as the Rainwater
Basin Joint Venture’s new Coordinator, beginning February 1. In his new
role, Bishop will facilitate the cooperative efforts of landowners,
conservation groups, government agencies and others to protect and restore
migratory bird habitat in south-central Nebraska’s Rainwater Basin region.
           
A native of Kearney, Bishop earned Bachelor’s and Master’s
degrees in biology at the University of Nebraska-Kearney. Since 2003 he
worked for the Rainwater Basin Joint Venture, and then for the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service. Much of his work during that time involved developing
biological and geographic models that help quantify the habitat needs of
waterfowl migrating through this region, and target locations that will
provide the greatest habitat value.
           
Bishop replaces Steve Moran, who retired in early January.
Moran remarked that Bishop’s scientific knowledge and biological planning
expertise will help Joint Venture partners make good decisions in their
habitat planning and projects. “Informed decisions by everyone involved in
conservation create the strong foundation that we need to progress,” Moran
said.
           
As a Nebraskan, Bishop said he feels fortunate to be able to
work for conservation in his home state. “The Rainwater Basin Joint Venture
is a unique partnership,” he said. “It provides partners with opportunities
to be successful through collaboration and cooperation with multiple
agencies.” He said he hopes to forge new partnerships and to continue the
tradition of finding “win-win” solutions that help partners maximize their
conservation potential.

The Rainwater Basin Joint Venture, through partners in
south-central Nebraska, works to conserve wetland habitat for waterfowl and
other birds in the Rainwater Basin region, which stretches from Gosper
County in the west to Butler, Seward and Saline Counties in the east. For
more information about the Joint Venture, visit www.rwbjv.org.

Also in the News:

• The Nature Conservancy Protects Habitat for Threatened Species in Southeast New Mexico.
• "We Are Wetlands" Campaign Seeks 80,000 Signatures for 80,000 Acres.
• 2009 Colorado Waterfowl Stamp Art Contest Underway.
• Fences Putting Imperiled Western Birds at Greater Risk.

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