The Nature Conservancy’s Post

📢 LITIGATION NEWS: Today, conservation groups represented by Earthjustice—including the Florida Wildlife Federation, American Bird Conservancy, Center for Biological Diversity, and ENVIRONMENTAL CONFEDERATION OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA INC—filed a motion in federal court to defend the endangered Florida scrub-jay. At the heart of this case is a lawsuit filed by Pacific Legal Foundation on behalf of a landowner challenging both federal Endangered Species Act protections and Charlotte County’s habitat conservation plan that requires fees from developers to fund habitat restoration and protection for the scrub-jay. If this challenge succeeds, not only could the scrub-jay lose its safeguards, but hundreds of state-specific species—like the Florida panther and Key deer—could also face devastating consequences. 💬 “Florida’s diverse ecosystem is home to many plants and animals found nowhere else in the world. Targeting Charlotte County’s proactive effort to protect the Florida scrub-jay’s habitat from uncontrolled growth is a threat to all of Florida’s unique species,” said Sarah Gledhill, FWF President and CEO. We’re standing firm to ensure this cherished bird and Florida’s biodiversity remain protected. 📖 Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/d4P2DUEc

Great work by the Miles Queensland Government, Bush Heritage Australia (BHA) and Bidjara Traditional Owners in reaching agreement to preserve an 8000 hectare property, Edgbaston near Longreach in Central Queensland, as the second special wildlife reserve established in this state. Edgbaston Reserve is home to the most significant natural springs for global biodiversity in the entire Great Artesian Basin and one of the most important in the world. it provides critical habitats for 26 plant and animal species found nowhere else in the world. This environmentally-significant property, owned by BHA, will be safeguarded against commercial activity under Queensland law for future generations. Such significant environmental leadership by these three stakeholders which significantly increases previous legal protections for this land, waterways and species.

Good news from Capitol Hill yesterday for nature: approval of the new U.S. Foundation for International Conservation.   To quote World Wildlife Fund's policy lead Alejandro Perez: "Natural security is national security. By investing in international conservation and stopping the illegal trafficking of wildlife, fish, and other natural resources, the U.S. is helping combat organized crime, promote regional food and water security, and prevent scarcities that disrupt social stability and sustainable supply chains.”   Many countries rich in biodiversity, carbon stores, and other natural resources lack funding to support the capacity for long-term conservation. The environmental measures passed as part of yesterday’s defense bill help to change that.

Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) proposed new protections for the monarch butterfly. In the press release, Dave Tenny, President and CEO of NAFO, stated: “The members of the National Alliance of Forest Owners use sustainable forest management to provide forest products and jobs in a way that cleans our air and water and provides abundant wildlife habitat for the long term. Sustaining wildlife is as foundational to the modern culture of private forest owners as sustaining rural communities. We need both, and we view them as mutually dependent. This stewardship ethic is especially beneficial to monarch butterflies and other pollinators, because we intentionally provide the habitat they need as an essential part of our businesses. By managing our forests in this way, we do our part to help monarchs thrive while helping people take pride in knowing they are part of a conservation solution." Read the full USFWS press release here: https://lnkd.in/ez2GaJ3G

Big news for farmers and wildlife! 🐦🌾🦌 Today NFWF awarded $14.7 million in new grants to help agricultural producers implement voluntary conservation practices on farms and ranches across the country. These efforts will help farmers and ranchers improve soil health, water quality, carbon storage and wildlife habitat. Good for communities and wildlife! The grants were awarded through the Conservation Partners Program, a partnership between NFWF and USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, and The J.M. Smucker Co., with additional support from General Mills, Walmart and Sam's Club. Special thanks to our partners for their support on the largest slate for the program to date! Read more >> https://loom.ly/vNb3q8M 📷: Deer in soybean field

This week I attended the annual meeting of Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) Supervisors across North Carolina. I continued to hear how all SWCDs and our federal partner -- the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) -- struggle to fulfill the technical assistance needs of working landowners. 🥳 GOOD NEWS! Today the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and its partners announced the release of $14.7 million to narrow that technical assistance need across the country. 👏 "Grants will fund technical assistance to agricultural producers to plan and implement a range of practices such as cover crops, conservation tillage, grazing management, irrigation improvement, riparian habitat enhancements and conservation easements. Collectively, projects will develop at least 3,000 management plans to improve conservation on more than 700,000 acres nationwide." Developing conservation management plans is the first step for both SWCD and NRCS staff when farmers and ranchers request conservation assistance on their property. Once the landowner and SWCD and/or NRCS staff identify environmental issues that warrant attention on the property, all parties sign off on how to resolve those issues. Over time, the landowner is then able to apply for financial assistance through the SWCD and/or NRCS to implement best management practices linked to the conservation plan. To learn more about the 9-step conservation planning process, visit https://lnkd.in/e8eUwqei. Although this NFWF grant program benefits NRCS directly, it is a blessing for all entities that work with NRCS to safeguard soil, water, wildlife, and aquatic resources on farm and ranch lands. 🤠

Thanks to Blue Mountain Land Trust and Featured, I had the opportunity to share my thoughts on an article called "How Do You Balance the Needs of Wildlife Conservation With Human Interests?" Check out the rest of the article below. https://lnkd.in/gk72AtYg

Check out this article from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, featuring HVA's Conservation Director Tim Abbott, about the Highlands Conservation Act, its 20 years of successes, and beyond! https://lnkd.in/gzdZMqE4

🌳 This #WorldWildLifeConservationDay we’re spotlighting the critical role of private landowners in #WildLifeConservation. 🏡 At our recent Advancing Stewardship conference, Dr. Liz Rutledge of the North Carolina Wildlife Federation and Brian Yablonski of PERC emphasized how private landowners can be exceptional stewards of environmental conservation. Both have dedicated their careers to conservation, and spent years working with landowners to incentivize habitat improvements. 🐺 Rewilding success stories like the reintroduction of gray wolves to Yellowstone remind us of what’s possible when ecosystems are restored. In Yellowstone, other species rebounded and flora flourished with the reintroduction of gray wolves. In line with this biodiversity win, conservation leaders in North Carolina are working to bring back the red wolf. Today, the last remaining wild red wolves roam Eastern North Carolina after their population was decimated in the 20th century due to hunting and habitat loss. This critically endangered species is vital to the local ecosystem, which is why conservation groups, like North Carolina Wildlife Federation, work with private landowners and citizens to ensure the successful reintroduction and protection of the species. 🤝 Without the collaboration and cooperation of private landowners, wildlife conservation becomes nearly impossible. Private landowners are vital to the conservation of natural habitats by maintaining migration corridors, understanding how to interact with endangered species, and implementing sustainable land use practices. 🌎 Engaging private landowners, paired with raising awareness and understanding of how to cohabit with critical species, creates a win-win scenario where both nature and communities thrive. ✨Share your favorite #WildLifeConservation story below! #EnvironmentalStewardship #HabitatConservation #SabinCenterWFU #EnvironmentalConservation

"These trends and events, once they reach a certain threshold, cannot be undone. No amount of funding will bring back a species once it’s extinct. But we have an opportunity – and effective policy – that will prevent this threshold from being reached for so many of the species that are central to our American heritage." - Bill Frist, M.D., The Nature Conservancy Global Board Chair Legislation protecting biodiversity is a necessity, particularly now that "over a third of America’s fish and wildlife species are at risk of extinction." (TNC). Missouri Prairie Foundation's recent article 'Grassland Dependency & Prairie Dependency' further explains how vital habitat protection is: "...Even 30 acres of original prairie remnant in Missouri can support more than 300 plant species, including many with high CC (coefficient of conservatism) values..." Learning about the biodiversity around you is essential in understanding the intricate and essential systems that make up our world. Researching and supporting policies that ensure conservation and restoration of this biodiversity is how we take action.