Newsletter / Blog
2011-06-24 The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to spend on migratory bird conservation and habitat restoration.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has announced more than $4.3
million in grants for 34 projects that will support neotropical
migratory bird conservation throughout the Western Hemisphere.
Matched by more than $15.1 million in additional funds from partners,
the projects will support habitat restoration, environmental education,
population monitoring, and other priority activities within the ranges
of neotropical migratory birds in the United States, Canada, Mexico and
13 Latin American and Caribbean countries. “These grants bring together
partners to achieve conservation on a far greater scale than would
otherwise be possible” said Acting Service Director Rowan Gould.
There are more than 340 species of neotropical migratory bird,
including plovers, terns, hawks, cranes, warblers, and sparrows. The
populations of many of these birds are presently in decline, and several
species are currently protected as threatened or endangered under the
Endangered Species Act.
Three of the grants have been awarded to BirdLife International and
its Partners. The first, to BirdLife International itself, aims to
advance the conservation of critical migratory habitats throughout the
Western Hemisphere with conservation action at sites in Argentina and
Chile linked by shared migratory species of concern. Species and site
monitoring will continue, and partners will support education and
outreach campaigns and local conservation groups.
Another of the grants has been awarded to Bird Studies Canada
(BirdLife co-Partner). This project focuses on the long term recovery of
Bicknell’s thrush, a species that breeds in Canada. The main objective
is to partner with forestry companies and other relevant agencies to
develop and implement a strategy for collaborative conservation of this
species.
Last of the three BirdLife-related grants was received by Grupo
Jaragua (BirdLife Partner in the Dominican Republic). The
Jaragua-Bahoruco-Enriquillo Biosphere Reserve is among the most
biodiverse areas of the Dominican Republic and the Caribbean, hosting
more than 30 neotropical migratory bird species. Grupo Jaragua, with the
support of the Forest of Hope Programme of BirdLife International, will
maintain, manage, protect and hopefully restore bird habitat and
conduct law enforcement in Jaragua National Park and its buffer zone.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with
others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their
habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. |