White House Hosts Conference on Cooperative Conservation
Several PLJV board members and staff recently attended the White House Conference on Cooperative Conservation, which took place Aug. 29-31 in St. Louis, Missouri. The event, the first national conservation conference called for by a U.S. President in 40 years, brought together federal and state agencies, non-profit groups, businesses, tribes and private citizens to strengthen commitment, share strategies and advance opportunities for working together to conserve the nation's natural resources.
Oklahoma Alliance Launches Wildlife Trail, Rolling Museum
Western Oklahoma is now an even greater draw for wildlife enthusiasts thanks to two new projects spearheaded by the Oklahoma Wildlife and Prairie Heritage Alliance (OWPHA). The Great Plains Trail of Oklahoma, which officially launched this summer, is a highway-based wildlife viewing trail showcasing western Oklahoma's best public and private wildlife viewing sites. Local communities worked alongside state wildlife agency representatives, conservation groups, private landowners and area businesses to develop trail loops under the leadership of the OWPHA and Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. The trail features 13 driving loops encompassing more than 100 sites, including everything from buffalo to prairie-chicken viewing.
KAWS to Host Second "CPR" for Wetlands and Streams Conference
The Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams (KAWS) will host the "CPR for Wetlands and Streams II - more practical tools and strategies to Create, Protect, and Restore Kansas wetlands, streams and riparian areas" conference September 27-29, 2005 at the Marriott Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Building on the success of the first CPR conference held in August 2003, this year's event will feature speakers, projects and prospects for expanding the scope of wetland, stream and riparian area conservation across Kansas. Topics addressed will include the latest technologies and practices in stream, riparian and wetland management, Geographic Information Systems and salt cedar control and strategies for fundraising and building partnerships for projects. The deadline for early registration is September 5th for the discounted price of $150, after that the cost is $195.
North American Waterfowl Management Plan Releases Technical Guide
The companion technical document for the 2004 update to the North American Waterfowl Management Plan is now available online. Implementation Framework (PDF file) provides a more detailed discussion of the Plan's themes and includes supporting technical information on strategic planning and evaluation, species prioritization, and monitoring needs. A limited number of copies have been printed for distribution to joint ventures and the NAWMP's National Scientific Support Team, the online PDF version was made available to meet the needs of additional waterfowl conservation partners. Spanish and French versions of Implementation Framework are still in translation and will become available shortly.
Happenings Around the PLJV:
> Sept. 5: Playa exhibit debuts at River Valley Pioneer Museum in Canadian, TX; contact Paul Katz.
> Sept. 11-16: Annual meeting of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies in Nashville, TN.
> Sept. 19: Playa Management Workshop hosted by the Ogallala Commons at the Lubbock Lake Landmark Museum in Lubbock, TX; contact Darryl Birkenfeld.
> Sept. 26-29: Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams hosts its 2nd annual CPR for Wetlands and Streams conference in Wichita, KS; contact Tim Christian.
> Sept. 30: Deadline to submit speaker abstracts for the Texas Colonial Waterbird Society Symposium taking place November 4 and 5 at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute at Port Aransas, TX; contact David Newstead.
Several PLJV board members and staff recently attended the White House Conference on Cooperative Conservation, which took place Aug. 29-31 in St. Louis, Missouri. The event, the first national conservation conference called for by a U.S. President in 40 years, brought together federal and state agencies, non-profit groups, businesses, tribes and private citizens to strengthen commitment, share strategies and advance opportunities for working together to conserve the nation's natural resources.
In August 2004, President Bush signed the Executive Order, Facilitation of Cooperative Conservation, that called for this conference which was organized by the Departments of Interior, Defense, Agriculture, Commerce and the Environmental Protection Agency. The heads of each department - Interior Secretary Gale Norton, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, and EPA Director Stephen Johnson (Secretary of Commerce Carlos Gutierrez was unable to attend as he and other U.S. Cabinet Secretaries were called away on the final conference day for an emergency meeting with the President concerning hurricane Katrina), addressed the entire assembly, and Sec. Norton took part in most of the entire conference proceedings.
During the conference, PLJV partners were able to share their collective, longstanding experience in cooperative conservation efforts in the High Plains with other conservation organizations and partnerships from across the U.S. More than 1,200 participants attended the conference, which featured presentations on projects focused on protecting wildlife, land, water and other natural resources in rural, urban and coastal environments. For examples of projects, visit the Cooperative Conservation America website.
Oklahoma Alliance Launches Wildlife Trail, Rolling Museum
Western Oklahoma is now an even greater draw for wildlife enthusiasts thanks to two new projects spearheaded by the Oklahoma Wildlife and Prairie Heritage Alliance (OWPHA). The Great Plains Trail of Oklahoma, which officially launched this summer, is a highway-based wildlife viewing trail showcasing western Oklahoma's best public and private wildlife viewing sites. Local communities worked alongside state wildlife agency representatives, conservation groups, private landowners and area businesses to develop trail loops under the leadership of the OWPHA and Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. The trail features 13 driving loops encompassing more than 100 sites, including everything from buffalo to prairie-chicken viewing.
Also this summer, OWPHA is putting the final touches on the High Plains Rolling Museum, an five-ton army vehicle converted into a mobile, learning machine featuring hands-on exhibits on the plants, animals and other natural resources of the High Plains. The museum will be rolling into schools, festivals and events throughout western Oklahoma starting this fall. For more information, contact OWPHA Coordinator Trapper Heglin.
KAWS to Host Second "CPR" for Wetlands and Streams Conference
The Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams (KAWS) will host the "CPR for Wetlands and Streams II - more practical tools and strategies to Create, Protect, and Restore Kansas wetlands, streams and riparian areas" conference September 27-29, 2005 at the Marriott Hotel in Wichita, Kansas. Building on the success of the first CPR conference held in August 2003, this year's event will feature speakers, projects and prospects for expanding the scope of wetland, stream and riparian area conservation across Kansas. Topics addressed will include the latest technologies and practices in stream, riparian and wetland management, Geographic Information Systems and salt cedar control and strategies for fundraising and building partnerships for projects. The deadline for early registration is September 5th for the discounted price of $150, after that the cost is $195.
North American Waterfowl Management Plan Releases Technical Guide
The companion technical document for the 2004 update to the North American Waterfowl Management Plan is now available online. Implementation Framework (PDF file) provides a more detailed discussion of the Plan's themes and includes supporting technical information on strategic planning and evaluation, species prioritization, and monitoring needs. A limited number of copies have been printed for distribution to joint ventures and the NAWMP's National Scientific Support Team, the online PDF version was made available to meet the needs of additional waterfowl conservation partners. Spanish and French versions of Implementation Framework are still in translation and will become available shortly.
Happenings Around the PLJV:
> Sept. 5: Playa exhibit debuts at River Valley Pioneer Museum in Canadian, TX; contact Paul Katz.
> Sept. 11-16: Annual meeting of the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies in Nashville, TN.
> Sept. 19: Playa Management Workshop hosted by the Ogallala Commons at the Lubbock Lake Landmark Museum in Lubbock, TX; contact Darryl Birkenfeld.
> Sept. 26-29: Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams hosts its 2nd annual CPR for Wetlands and Streams conference in Wichita, KS; contact Tim Christian.
> Sept. 30: Deadline to submit speaker abstracts for the Texas Colonial Waterbird Society Symposium taking place November 4 and 5 at the University of Texas Marine Science Institute at Port Aransas, TX; contact David Newstead.
PLJV Region Sweeps Private Stewardship Grants
Partnerships from five PLJV states were awarded seven Private Stewardship Grants with a total value of more than $700,000. Projects awarded funds include: native prairie and playa restoration in eastern Colorado, enhancing mixed-grass prairie habitat in south central Kansas, restoration of riparian habitat along the Canadian River and its tributaries in the Texas Panhandle and eastern New Mexico, removing and marking of fences for Lesser Prairie-Chicken protection in western Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandle, establishing Gunnison's prairie dogs to northeastern New Mexico, removing invasive salt cedar and eastern red cedar along the Canadian River and its tributaries in western Oklahoma, and the facilitation of prescribed fires in the Packsaddle Conservation Area and Four Canyon Preserve in Oklahoma to improve habitat for grassland birds. Organizations that received awards include PLJV partners: Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Oklahoma Wildlife and Prairie Heritage Alliance and The Nature Conservancy.
Now in its third year, the Private Stewardship Grants Program (PSGP) provides federal grants on a competitive basis to individuals and groups engaged in voluntary conservation efforts on private lands that benefit federally listed endangered or threatened species, candidate species or other at-risk species. Under this program, private landowners as well as groups working with private landowners submit proposals directly to the Service for funding to support these efforts. For more information about the program, contact the PSGP coordinator in your USFWS region. For Region 2 (New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma), contact at Mike McCullum (817) 277-1108; for Region 6 (Colorado, Nebraska and Kansas), contact Pat Mehlhop at (303) 236-7400.
Follow the Money:
> PLJV/ConocoPhillips Grants: The Playa Lakes Joint Venture, in conjunction with ConocoPhillips, administers an annual grant program that awards up to $25,000 per project for habitat conservation, research and outreach/education projects within the PLJV's six-state region. Proposals for the 2006 grant cycle are due Nov. 15, and funds will be awarded during the winter PLJV board meeting in January. The 2006 proposal guidelines will be made available on the PLJV web site on Sept. 15. In the meantime, check out last year's Request for Proposals (this link will update Sept. 15).
> Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act Grants: Proposals are being accepted now through December 1st for the 2006 Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act grant program. The program funds projects that promote the conservation of these birds in the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Projects may include activities to benefit bird populations and their habitats, research and monitoring, law enforcement, and outreach and education. Congress appropriated $4 million for the program in 2006.
> New Mexico Wildlife and Land Conservation Funding: The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish is inviting interested New Mexicans to help identify important ways to use $5 million appropriated by the 2005 Legislature for a variety of wildlife and land conservation projects statewide. Persons or groups with suggestions about potential projects are invited to send brief project descriptions to the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish, Attn: Conservation Services Division, P.O. Box 25112, Santa Fe, NM 87504; or email Lisa Kirkpatrick or fax to (505) 476-8128.
> National Fish and Wildlife Foundation General Matching Grants Program: Pre-proposals are due Sept. 15 for the NFWF general matching grants program which awards grants between $10,000-$150,000 for projects that address priority actions promoting fish and wildlife conservation and the habitats on which they depend, work proactively to involve other conservation and community interests, leverage Foundation-provided funding, and evaluate project outcomes.
> Laura Jane Musser Fund: The Laura Jane Musser Fund awards grants up to $35,000 to promote collaborative process in environmental decision making. The fund assists public or not-for-profit entities to initiate or implement projects in rural areas to undertake consensus-based activities in environmental stewardship or dispute resolution. Applications are due September 30, 2005.
> Department of Defense Legacy Fund: The Legacy Fund assists the Dept. of Defense in protecting and enhancing resources while supporting military readiness. Any individual or organization can apply for a Legacy grant, which awards funds for projects involving regional ecosystem management initiatives, habitat preservation efforts, archaeological investigations, invasive species control, Native American consultations, and/or monitoring and predicting migratory patterns of birds and animals. Successful proponents are usually in contact with military installations prior to submitting an application, and projects that target multiple installations are preferred. Pre-proposals are due Sept. 30.
> Webless Migratory Game Bird Research (WMGBR) Program: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Division of Migratory Bird Management administers the WMGBR program which awards grants for projects that address webless migratory game bird research needs listed in national, regional or state management plans, the 1994 book entitled Migratory Shore and Upland Game Bird Management in North America, or a regional Flyway technical committee priority list. Proposals are due November 15, 2005. For more information, contact David Dolton.
Playa Post ©2003, 2004, 2005 Playa Lakes Joint Venture. Submission deadlines are the 15th of each month for publication the following month. Send press releases, comments and subscription inquiries to Debbie F. Slobe.