Partners In Flight
Management Steering Committee Meeting
1-2 April 2002
Fort Hood, Texas
Monday, April 1
Welcome and Field Trip Logistics
John Cornelius, Resource Management, Endangered Species
Management, Natural Resources Management Branch, Ft. Hood
- 43k active duty, and 60k people living at Ft. Hood.
- Works on GCWA, the Army has set aside three areas several thousand
acres to protect old growth oak-juniper, GCWA listed in 1990 (Dec),
three years yearly BCVI listed (Nov 1987)
- Most of funding for Bird Conservation work is focused on GCWA &
BCVI.
- Focus on mosaic of grassland, scrubland, and woodland.
- BCVI - remove juniper and open us scrubby hardwood, best habitat
burned GCWA habitat
- Military training helps to manage habitat for BCVI
- 25 years for habitat development for GCWA, and BCVI more earlier
successional habitats, 10-15yrs.
- GCWA requires old growth, mature woodland with a closed canopy,
stable habitat spp.
- BCVI requires more intense management for early succesional habitat.
- BHCB trapping since 1988. 90% + parasitism before cowbird trapping
in BCVI breeding areas. Since 1988 parasitism has dropped to the
single digits.
- Painted Buntings have increased along with removal of BHCB.
- Running 30 - 50 BHCB traps catch around 5000 females per year.
- Finished 5yr video-graphy study of predation on BCVI nesting. 45%
predation rates.
- Using infrared cameras, top three predators, snake (rat snakes), red
imported fire ants, female cowbirds
- TNC on site 13 staff, 30 seasonals. Working w/ TNC and others to use
army dollars on private property to try to protect blocks of habitat
for source populations, link meta-populations
Asilomar Follow Up--Terry Rich
- The next conference may occur in three years.
- The budget is in the process of being finished and there may not be
enough money to print the proceedings.
- A request of approximately $1000 may be made for completion of the
proceedings. The total cost of the proceeds will be approximately 10k.
- May 31 is the deadline for submission of paper rough drafts.
Regional Coordinator's Updates
Carol Beardmore, Western
- Two plans are not online, and she is currently working on the
Chihuahua desert plan.
- A NFWF grant for land managers guide in pinyon juniper is in
process.
- Working with two major JV's, IMW JV (advisory committee consists of
1 person from each of the major birds groups), also and IMW Tech Comm.
Morphed them into one group in order to mover forward more
effectively.
- Sonoran JV - 1 to 2 technical committee meetings have occurred since
September. Carol is liaison to board. This is the first international
all bird JV.
- IMW JV has hired Joe Latoret to develop implementation plans. The
objective is to take state PIF plans and Focus area plans, regional
shorebird plan, fledgling waterbird work and integrate them into one
document within a state.
- Participated in an All Bird Workshop in Colorado in February.
Following up with Colorado PIF meeting scheduled for April.
- Working on the database. Two BCRs have reviewed breeding scores and
Breeding and wintering in the Sonoran and Chihuahua desert. Changes
are being documented through heavy documentation. Threats and AI
scores are being changed lots of spp.
- Don Paul taking reigns for Great Basin BCR, Christopher Rustay
working as Shortgrass Prairie BCR coordinator and was hired through
Playa lakes JV. WLJV has hired a Sage Brush bird arena (BCR?).
Greg Butcher, Midwest
- Held an all-bird IAFWA sponsored meeting in Iowa.
- Finished one plan in last 3 months and three more plans should be
completed by the next MSC meeting.
- Attended IAFWA in Wichita in December.
- All-bird workshops scheduled for Wisconsin in August, Indiana in
September, and Minnesota in December.
- Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative - many states in mid-west are
forming all bird conservation initiatives.
- In January Greg attended the Playa Lakes JV meeting and the focus
was on all-birds.
- Having a hard time keeping folks focused on bird work in the mid-west.
Dean Demarest, Southeast
- Progress being made on Texas plans. Troubles with Gulf Coast plan
between Texas and Louisiana and has set an internal deadline of April
1 for completion of PIF plans. Looking to integrate and work with
JV's. All bird Meeting for July 9-11 to focus on 4 BCRs to be worked
into JV's, purpose of workshop is to get JV's to become all bird.
- Working to get plans wrapped up and in a format that is useful to
JV's, revising priority scores for Edwards Plateau and a number of
other Texas plans are underway.
- Carl Miller is working on the Florida plan. Florida has lots of data
from gap analysis but not PIF ready.
- Working on southern Appalachians. Stepping down regional objective
to be applicable on a forest property level.
- Alabama and Mississippi have not had much involvement to date.
- Caribbean - focusing on future activities.
- Jane Fitzgerald, Central Hardwoods - 3 sub BCR workshops (two
completed) one in Tennessee and Alabama portion, and second in the
Ozarks. Workshops produced maps of focus areas for a variety of
species suites. The third workshop for the BCR will focus on northern
part of the interior. A number of wetlands are found in this area, and
shorebirds and ducks will be integrated into this workshop. The
workshop is scheduled for the end of May in Kentucky.
Ken Rosenberg, Northeast
- Twelve physiographic regions are being worked on and near
completion.
- Three plans are 90% done. Older plans need to have updated numbers
incorporated and need to make the formats consistent and up to date.
Hope to have all plans looking the same by June.
- Working on BCR workshops with ACJV and they will be similar to BCR
workshops. For BCR 13 - two workshops to step down planning and coming
up with focus areas.
- Next BCR to focus on will be the Northern Atlantic.
- First all bird workshop is planned for the fall in the mid-Atlantic
area.
- Will be working to develop better population objectives (numerical).
These have been incorporated in the Northeast but not necessarily in
other regions. Earliest plans do not have numerical objectives or up
to date priority spp.
- Joint Meeting NEPIF/SEPIF is being planned for March 2003.
Regional Coordinator Duties--Terry Rich
- Had meeting in Reston to discuss responsibilities.
- Met to talk about funding and next years contracts.
- Taking on a few more all bird activities.
- Established deliverables for working with other plans waterbirds and
shorebirds
- Formal involvement now with shorebirds and waterbirds
- Will facilitate waterbird and shorebird workshops. They will take
the lead this year since there is no formal funding.
Future Funding of Key PIF Needs - Terry Rich
- Status report started in January of last year - business plan for
NABCI, done in other planning areas (waterbirds, shorebirds etc.).
- Overview of timeline for funding request development and NABCI Staff
Committee meeting discussion of progress and avenues for achieving
funding.
- First option: Currently have identified for 2003 and 2004 1.2
mill for six regional coordinators. Also included in are database
maintenance and the database coordinator position and funding for
NABCI coordinator (currently D. Pashley, ABC)
- Second option: Discussed at length in Reston, VA meeting is
to work regional coordinators into JV positions or multi-JV
situations. Coordinators could work with one, two, or three JV's and
focus on more detailed issues. Some parts of the country would then
not be covered but would be focused on in the future. This is more of
an opportunistic approach. The risk here is the perception of loss of
PIF as an initiative.
- Third option: federal aid grant possibly through an NGO.
Several consider this a possibility but the jury is still out. IAFWA
would be opposed. Time to move away from granting as an option. Time
for federal agencies to step up. This would serve as a patch job till
federal money materialized in 2003 or 2004
- Fourth Option: Foundation or other entity that would put up
some money. G. Fenwick cautions against trying to sell planning
efforts to foundations, recognizing that this would be more of a sell
of implementation.
- Related assignment: time should be spent inviting congressional
delegations to participate in what PIF is doing and to provide them
with short one page regional updates.
Discussion of memo, "The Need for a Washington, DC Representative
for PIF"
- Ellen Paul prepared a memo for the MSC stating that PIF needs more
representation in Washington - a lobbyist.
- The MSC members present agreed that bird conservation needs more
attention from Congress but were unanimous that a separate PIF
lobbyist is not the way to achieve that goal. This decision was made
given the precarious funding for existing PIF positions, the existence
of the Bird Funding Group, the sensitivity of federal PIF partners
being associated with lobbying and a new focus within a number of NGOs
on lobbying for funds that will help meet PIF objectives.
What does the MSC recommend re: future of RC positions, funding
sources, relationship with JV's, etc.? What do we take to the JSC?--Discussion
- Playa Lakes, ACJV, and LMVJV, are all hiring science coordinators
and looking for people with a non-game technical background that can
move PIF and other initiatives objectives to on the ground work. N.
Great Plains, Great basin, and Central hardwoods, are also working on
this issue.
- Discussion included a number of questions: How will regional
coordinator roles change given funding and the relationship to other
initiatives? How will science advisors to JV's work to implement PIF
goals and objectives. PIF needs to think clearly on how to work with
these individuals.
PIF National Plan(s) - Terry Rich
- Final product envisioned as something glossy, a marketing document
with nice pictures and sound biological objectives.
- Also a need for a strategic plan, which would include more long
range planning.
- An outline was distributed in Kansas at the Great Bend Meeting and
several ideas are circulating as to what should be included in the
national plan. Ken has developed a new outline of a biological
document, a synthesis of the physio-plans.
- WatchList, Habitat Priorities, Set Range wide and habitat wide
population objectives, scaleable to flyways etc., summary of most
important issues and threats etc. Meat is in the regional plans so
lots of reference and linking to the physiographic-plans should be
included. Question of how to manage strategic plan issue.
- The National Plan should include a biological plan, a strategic plan
and a marketing document
- Expanded outline by the 1st of May. When circulated the
audience and objectives should be outlined clearly.
- Process: Need to come together to discuss the strategic plan
document as a group. Work on developing issues for document focus
through breakout groups to address strategic plan.
USFWS Assistant Regional Directors (ARDs) and their involvement with
PIF--Mila Plavsic
- A meeting a few weeks ago of 7 USFWS Assistant Regional Directors
focused on migratory birds.
- Focus of the meeting was how do we engage these people to get
involved with PIF.
- Group was receptive and had lots of questions. Some were familiar
with PIF, and some were not.
- Open to the idea of having people come to them and indicate what
they could do for PIF, as well as other initiatives.
- ARDs can help address issues between Migratory birds and refuges or
with JV's.
- Within FWS, Regional Directors want to see projects that illustrate
accomplishments and not simply focus on planning.
Communications Update - Chris Eberly
- Handout of press release from Asilomar.
- Cost of 25k brochures will be about $5k, after initial printing then
put it on a CD so that it can be customized with a local address.
- Upcoming issue of Bird Conservation Magazine will be of
international focus. Merrie Morrison will be distributing press
schedule to MSC list.
- PIF now has a new logo with three languages.
- Kim Smith is the manager for the MSC list serve.
Organizational Structure of PIF, how to re-energize PIF committees--Discussion
- Handout of older PIF committee document. MSC reaffirmed need for and
importance of all existing committees.
- PIF has always been driven by the interests and efforts of the
partners. The MSC does not have a fixed source of funds but is looking
into charging dues to member organizations to create such a source.
Although PIF does not have a current fixed source to support the work
of the various committees and working groups, it does try to raise
funds from various partners when a committee or working group
communicates a specific need. The excellent work of committee members
can be seen in IMBD, the PIF website, PIF documents, the research
needs database, newsletters, and many other products. As PIF moves
from planning towards implementation, everyone interested in PIF
should take the opportunity to get involved or re-engaged in the
existing committees and working groups, revisit and perhaps revise
their terms of reference, and help bring new people in.
- Committee chairs should attend MSC whenever possible (at least once
a year) and are always invited to contribute agenda items in advance
of the MSC meetings .
- Need to keep Industry Committee in some form. In the past it has
primarily focused on forestry but could be expanded to included other
industries. Pat Keiser is a possible contact for the Industry
Committee. Pat works for Westvaco and convened a good meeting on
Cerulean Warbler in WV.
- G. Fenwick outlined ABC's involvement in International Committee.
The purpose is to communicate and raise money. Pan-American round
tables. Bird Conservation magazine one issue per year for
international issues, web site created, small fundraising activities.
There is a need for greater communication
- George is the chair of the NGO Committee. ABC conducted some
broadcast mailings to bird clubs to try and increase involvement. The
result was 100 new groups signed up to participate. A second mailing
was sent to outline how to get involved but the result of that mailing
was not very successful. The Fundraising Committee was folded into NGO
Committee due to NGO's ability to fund raise. Communication is again
needed on this issue.
- TASKS: George Fenwick to summarize role of International,
Communication, and NGO committee; Terry Rich to summarize
Industry, education and other committee roles.
- September deadline for summaries of committee charges to the
MSC.
- Structure and Role of Joint Steering Committee Process, Terry Rich
indicated that the function of committees should be separate.
Discussion of the issue to merge Joint Steering Committee and
Management Steering Committee occurred. JSC is an executive committee
and the MSC is a staff committee. B. McCluskey indicated that a need
exists to increase the role of state directors in the MSC meeting.
- OUTCOME: Committees will follow the model that was
originally set in place: MSC will define the issues to be
discussed independently by the four committees (NGO, State,
Federal and Industry). Chairs of those committees will attend the
MSC to gather information and provide updates to their respective
committees. The respective committees will then discuss and make
recommendations and the chairs will meet to set the agenda for the
JSC meeting where decisions will be finalized.
All-bird Workshops
- Issue of out of state travel for state agency folks and currently
many states have no funds available for out of state travel.
Update on MOU's--Mila Plavsic
- Little over a year into the two-year process of drafting MOU's with
federal agencies (e.g., NPS, BLM, USFWS). A few agencies have not seen
how they should be involved with the executive order. Looking to
finish things up by early next year. Council for Migratory Birds to
meet during summer (all of the signatory agencies).
Status of the Birds of Conservation Concern List
- Revamped since last iteration.
- Will be over 100 species on a national list. Involved input from
PIF.
- Agencies have an interest in knowing what are the priority species.
- Used for internal FWS programs, prioritize funding for research.
Other federal agencies use it as well.
Awards-Chris Eberly
- The Committee will work on guidelines for each category. ABA appears
committed to fund these awards for the foreseeable future. Group and
individual awards, categories in each of the following include:
leadership, public awareness, stewardship, and public investigations.
Issue of an International category. Need to broaden the recipients to
a more international compilation. Also international folks should be
involved in the nomination and selection process.
Day 2 - 2 April 2002
Adoption of Action Items to present to the Joint Steering Committee
- A handout of action items synthesized from the previous day was
distributed to the group. Specific language changes to the handout
were made and discussion of some issues occurred.
- Discussion of Regional Coordinators and funding roles. A variety
of packages are being worked on. Regional Coordinator positions
need to be delineated from other seemingly similar positions.
- Discussion on how to make the MSC re-energizing process an
action item for the JSC to help solicit more members and
participants.
- Carol Beardmore brought up the issue of sanctioning JV's to do
all bird work. How does this fit into regional coordinators and
national plan, etc? Issue was tabled for the time being.
- No changes were made to the National Plan section.
- Statement will be made reaffirming PIF's commitment under NABCI.
IBA Update
Audubon - John Cecil
- IBA Meeting in Conjunction with PIF Meeting was a huge success.
- 40 states and 8 countries were represented.
- The meeting allowed for strengthening state programs and work with
partners both in and outside of the U.S.
- Symposia at Asilomar were also a huge success; BirdLife Partners
from throughout the America's presented.
- Currently Audubon has 44 state programs, with >1300 sites
identified representing 36 million areas and over 2 million dollars
invested.
- MOU was discussed and will likely be reviewed at the September
Meeting.
- Some concern that this MOU may be redundant with other existing
MOU's, can PIF sign an MOU with a PIF partner?
ABC - George Fenwick
- George discussed ABC's IBA map and book.
- Maps will be distributed to all ABC members and all ABC IBAs, they
will be sold through the USFWS.
- ABC has provided a $90K grant to Panama and has awarded a grant to
partners in Montana and several other places.
There was discussion of some of the differences between the two
programs, in criteria and process.
The issue was raised that some state program coordinators are confused
about the USFS and potentially the DOD and how these agencies work and
that endorsement from a region or forest does not constitute endorsement
by the agency particularly this relates to USFS.
MISAC - Multi Initiative Species Assessment Committee - Ken Rosenberg
- Outlined how to create one database.
- Mexico is now interested in becoming a part of MISAC.
- Revision of scoring system may be needed to incorporate Waterbird
and Shorebird scoring system.
USFS Planning and PIF Prioritization - Ron Archuleta
- Proposed revision to planning rule was distributed.
- Forest plans may be moved away from and moved toward zoning plan.
Decisions will be made at the NEPA (project) level.
- There will be one or two USFS workshops and participants will be
invited.
- Need to send a letter to the chief of the USFS, expressing interest
for PIF representation at the workshops.
- Audubon, ABC, TNC and other NGOs should also send requests for
representation.
BLM Planning and PIF Priorities - Eric Lawton
- BLM has 162 plans covering millions of acres, which are being
redone, and/or new plans are being started.
- Some plans will be completed by 2004, all plans to be completed in
15 years.
- Potential for Bird Conservation Strategic Plan.
- Potential for BLM workshop.
- BLM organized within state office so plans come out of those
offices.
FWS Update - Tom Will
- Comprehensive Conservation Plans - being done by all refugees
- Process started a few years back involving all refugees and water
management districts. Visionary in scope and can stretch to 100 years.
Go down to strategy level.
- Usually a very open process so many folks can get involved.
- Refugees vary in their approach to the CCP, as a result the
biological elements vary.
- These are local to the extent that refugees are local; some refugees
do a better job to incorporate landscape level elements than others.
- In Region 3, four or five plans have been completed. Sherburne NWR
is being considered a model CCP Process. Meeting Design Consultants
are involved in this process.
- The purpose of Sherburne NWR is to provide an inviolate
sanctuary for migratory birds yet the plan did not include birds.
The focus has been directed towards habitat and landscape level
management. The message is that bird conservationists should get
involved in these management-planning processes.
- First Process involves allowing partners across the board to define
the vision goals objectives, etc for a number of different
alternatives.
- Second Part of the process involved workshops two focused on
wetlands and uplands. As part of the process a tool was used that will
be available in a year which takes GIS data layers and a matrix of
priority species of birds against habitats. It will then produce a
landscape map with hotspots for priority spp. Using an editing tool
you can then change the boundaries of the landscape and project them
15 years out to see how the values shift, and therefore the landscape.
- The refugees are early in the process and the hope is to have all
refugee plans completed by 2012. The hope is that the process will be
revised.
- The issue of refuge purpose was raised along with the definition of
migratory birds and how these apply to refugees developing CCPs.
DOD Update - Chris Eberly
- DOD Strategic Plan was distributed.
- Program is driven by compliance dollars. PIF falls to the bottom of
three funding categories that usually do not get funded.
- Strategic Plan points out that there are many folks working on DOD
lands on issues and species that overlap with PIF.
- The effort is to get DOD wildlife managers to work at a landscape
level and manage for issues that extend outside their properties.
- Overall planning effort within DOD. Integrated Natural Resource
Management Plan, as mandated by the Sikes Act and approved by the
USFWS and the respective state agency. It is planed that these plans
will be revised annually and reprinted every 5 years.
NPS - Carol Beidleman
- Planning is at the park level, approximately 380. The effort is
underway to encourage these plans to use PIF priorities and existing
plans.
- Fire management plans will also be included.
Web Site - Chris Eberly
- Need for someone to maintain the web site.
- How much time is needed to manage the website? Chris will begin
investigating.
- Terry Rich will be further developing web objectives through the
strategic plan.
- Chris wants to start regional program web pages and needs content.
NMBCA (Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act) - Mila Plavsic
- First set of proposals due May 13.
- An advisory group will be meeting to discuss proposals.
- Monies will be allocated by September.
- Various NGOs want to change the match and increase the total amount.
- Make up of advisory group is under consideration.
- Task: As soon as letters are sent to the groups telling them they
are one the advisory group, IAFWA will send a letter to the USFWS
Director with copies to the advisory group asking them to assigned
people with knowledge of PIF objectives to the advisory group.
Additional Agenda Items
Terry Rich - Support of National Coordinator handout distributed.
- USGS has permanent support along with DOD and Cornell.
- Question of a budget and membership dues? Has PIF ever asked for
dues?? Possible for states and other NGO's to contribute a $1000
dollars per year, similar to memberships of regional associations.
- Suggestion of a PIF foundation and corporation which could manage
the funds.
- Discussion of the incentive for a state or some other entity has to
pay dues (e.g., Web page, plans, database).
- Dues are an agenda item for September.
- PIF is not incorporated and some folks have argued strongly against
that.
- Potential to run money through ABC.
Terry Rich distributed a new list of CIPAMEX Officers
Cerulean Warbler Status Report--Tom Will
- USFWS petitioned to sue by SELC over listing of Cerulean Warbler
because FWS decided not to take action.
- SELC came back with a petition to sue over the listing process.
- Region 3 is funding an effort by USGS to put together a
symposium/workshop on CEWA which would take place next fall, a follow
up to Pat Keiser's workshop.
- Time and place for this workshop/symposium has not been determined.
This will likely be a workshop focused on biology.
- A modeling effort by USGS MWELC is being undertaken.
- Pat Keiser has submitted a proposal for an evaluation of the USFS
Inventory and Analysis. Take data for CEWA core forests to develop a
site/landscape model for CEWA.
- Brad Jacobs is reviewing an interstate compact for conservation of
CEWA. A meeting may occur in late April. Funding and legislation exist
for states to come together and cooperatively work on conservation of
a species.
Next MSC Meeting
- IAFWA is 17-21 Sept Tuesday through Saturday in Big Sky, Montana.
- The 16th is scheduled as a party commemorating the 100th anniversary
of IAFWA.
- Lodging for IAFWA is filling up fast. Condos are available and
communication between MSC members is needed to share condos.
- MSC meeting is planned for somewhere in Yellowstone National Park
and Chris Eberly is pursuing details.
- The specific date of the MSC is to be determined.
- UPDATE: Next
MSC is 15-16 September 2002, Gardiner, MT
(link to previous
MSC
minutes, September 2001)
(link to next MSC
minutes, September 2002)
ATTENDEES:
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