An Issue of Scale: Building Coalitions to Address Wetland Habitat Connectivity Challenges in the Great Plains Using a Flagship Species

March Speaker Series

An issue of scale: building coalitions to address wetland habitat connectivity challenges in the Great Plains using a flagship species with Andrew J. Caven, Vice President – North America Programs, International Crane Foundation

March 13th at 2 p.m. – Free and open to the public!

 “We find ourselves in the midst of the 6th major extinction in world history notwithstanding significant investments in native species conservation. One of the major drivers of this decline is a reduction in the extent and quality of habitat for native wildlife and vascular plant species. The Great Plains of North America are no exception and represent one of the most transformed landscapes in the world. The region is facing sustained developmental pressure that is leading to the continued loss of herbaceous wetlands and grasslands. Moreover, surface and groundwater resources in the region continue to be divided and over appropriated further degrading wetland ecosystems, and climate change has an exacerbating effect on these drivers. The Whooping Crane is one of the most iconic endangered species in North America and with intensive and targeted effort the Aransas Wood Buffalo Population has recovered from a low of 16 individuals in the winter of 1941 to an estimated ~540 individuals today. Nonetheless, we are seeing signs of stress in this population as indicated by altered behavior and movement patterns in migration. Protecting the integrity of the Whooping Crane migration corridor can benefit a host of other species such as other migratory waterbirds including the Red Knot as well as aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates such as the Regal Fritillary. We have used Whooping Crane habitat needs to direct restoration work at the stopover and flyway scale with broad coalitions, which have included >10 organizations at times for individual projects. It is very challenging for a single conservation NGO, state agency, federal agency, or well-meaning private interest to affect habitat conditions at the scale necessary to ensure resilience and connectivity across wetland and grassland communities in the Great Plains. However, together we can significantly scale up our impacts. Nonetheless, it will be important to prioritize and focus gains in the areas that have the most impact for the greatest number of imperiled species. We contend that the WHCR migration corridor can serve as a starting point in the Great Plains.”

Explore our full list of March Speakers below!

March 6th at 10 a.m.- Private Lives of Sandhill Cranes with Keanna Leonard
March 7th at 10 a.m.- Stories for the Virtual Stream with Kylee Warren, Virtual Programs Producer at Crane Trust
March 7th at 1 p.m.- Segments from The Americas 45 min showing and talk about filming with Alex Wiles
March 8th at 10 a.m.- Crane Counting with Bethany Ostrom, Lead Biologist at Crane Trust
March 8th at 2 p.m.- The World of Cranes: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow with George Archibald
March 11th at 2 p.m.- Wild Cranes in Art and History with Andrew Peters
March 12th at 2 p.m.- BIRDWATCH: Bioinformatic Risk Detection & Waterfowl Assessment for Tracking, Control, & Health with Lisa Kercher
March 13th at 2 p.m.- An issue of scale: building coalitions to address wetland habitat connectivity challenges in the Great Plains using a flagship species with Andrew J. Caven, Vice President – North America Programs, International Crane Foundation
March 15th at 10 a.m.- Science Snippet: Crane Trapping with Abraham Kanz, Director of Conservation Research at Crane Trust
March 15th with three shows at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., & 3 p.m.- Remember the Way with Heather Henson
March 18th at 2 p.m.- Art and Conservation with Linda Syverson Guild
March 21st at 2 p.m.- Raptorology Demonstration with Deb Miller and live birds from Edgerton Explorit Center
March 22nd at 2 p.m.- Raptorology Demonstration with Deb Miller and live birds from Edgerton Explorit Center
March 22nd at 10 a.m.- Pawnee Nation: Past and Present with Matt Reed from Pawnee Nation
March 28th at 2 p.m.- Nebraska Big Year: Chasing 350 with Tobin Brown, Birder and Software Developer
March 29th at 10 a.m.- Science Snippet: Crane Tracking with Bethany Ostrom, Lead Biologist at Crane Trust