Collaborative Management for Success A Collaborative, Science-based Vision for Conservation Success

Transcription

1 Collaborative Management for Success A Collaborative, Science-based Vision for Conservation Success Presentation to the Joint Services Environmental Management Conference Columbus, OH 22 May 2007 Gary Belew Land Conservation Ecologist Training Support Division, U.S. Army Environmental Command 1of 24 22MAY07

2 Purpose Provide an overview of a collaborative/ cooperative process where conservation success is directly linked to mission support in a win-win program 2of 24 22MAY07

3 1. The Problem 2. Need and Opportunity Outline 3. Collaborative Vision and Goals 4. Ecological Relevance of DoD Installations 5. Shortgrass Prairie Partnership Working for On-the-ground Results 6. Why You Should Care 3of 24 22MAY07

4 Need and Opportunity for Grassland Conservation NEED: Temperate grasslands: the most threatened yet least conserved habitat on Earth OPPORTUNITY: 60% of Colorado s shortgrass prairie remains intact 4of 24 22MAY07

5 The Problem Conflicting Land Use 5of 24 22MAY07

6 Securing Our Borders 6of 24 22MAY07

7 Conserving Our Resources 7of 24 22MAY07

8 El Paso County, Colorado Growth El Paso County Growth , , , , , ,108 8of 24 22MAY07

9 Pueblo County, Colorado Population Pueblo County Growth , , , , , ,880 9of 24 22MAY07

10 Increasing Threats Rapidly growing population Increasing development Declining water supplies 10 of 24 22MAY07

11 How Do We Get There? 11 of 24 22MAY07

12 Collaborative Vision Promote and support long-term survival of all native species, communities, ecological systems, and processes through design and conservation of network of areas 12 of 24 22MAY07

13 A Collaborative Partnership Effort 13 of 24 22MAY07

14 Assessment Goals Set regional conservation priorities based on best science Provide tools, data, and analyses to guide collaborative conservation 14 of 24 22MAY07

15 Assessment Process 1. What needs to be conserved? 2. Where is it and how is it doing? 3. How much is enough? 4. What places contribute to goals? 5. What is needed for conservation? 15 of 24 22MAY07

16 What Needs to be Conserved? Terrestrial Ecological Systems-21 Aquatic Ecological Systems-80 Plant Communities-117 Species of 24 22MAY07

17 Regional Biological Data Sets Species and Communities Terrestrial Ecological Systems Playa Lakes 17 of 24 22MAY07

18 Ecological Condition Long-term potential of an area to support viable examples of species and systems Ecological Integrity = high = low 18 of 24 22MAY07

19 Ecological Importance of DOD Installations 19 of 24 22MAY07

20 Management Guidance Templates for Species at Risk Ecology, goals, threats Identify conservation actions to abate threats Tool to initiate coordinated management and conservation 20 of 24 22MAY07

21 Rare Plants 21 of 24 22MAY07

22 Strategies: 4 Key Elements 1. Create network of conserved working landscapes 2. Identify cooperative strategies to conserve prairie and sustain economies 3. Address policies and programs -- Farm Bill 4. Raise public and private funding 22 of 24 22MAY07

23 Peak to Prairie The Next Step 23 of 24 22MAY07

24 Questions? Gary L. Belew Phone: of 24 22MAY07