Barbara
Pardo, Joint Venture Coordinator
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
BHW Federal Building
1 Federal Drive
Fort Snelling, MN 55111-4056
Phone: (612) 713-5433
Fax: (612) 713-5393
Barbara_Pardo@fws.gov
Paul Richert, Assistant Joint Venture Coordinator
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
BHW Federal Building
1 Federal Drive
Fort Snelling, MN 55111-4056
Phone: (612) 713-5364
Fax: (612) 713-5393
Paul_Richert@fws.gov
Gregory
J. Soulliere
Science Coordinator, Upper Mississippi River
& Great Lakes Region Joint Venture
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
2651 Coolidge Rd., Suite 101
East Lansing, MI 48837
Phone: 517-351-4214
Fax: 517-351-1443
E-mail: Greg_Soulliere@fws.gov
In response to the
significant decline in waterfowl populations, an International planning
effort was undertaken. As a result of this effort, a strategic plan known
as the North American Waterfowl Management Plan (Plan) was signed by
Canada and the United States in 1986. Mexico became a signatory in 1994
when the Plan was updated and helped set the stage for a more comprehensive
waterfowl conservation initiative. The primary goal of the Plan is to
restore waterfowl populations to the levels recorded in the 1970’s.
The Plan also realized
that a broad coalition of partners would have to work and coordinate
closely. Since that time, partnerships known as Joint Ventures
(JV) have been formed and continue to develop. Within the U.S. there
are 14 habitat
Joint Ventures. More information about the Plan and Joint Ventures
is found at http://www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/index.shtm
Recognizing
the importance of partnerships and the need to protect habitats for migratory
birds the U.S. Congress passed the North American Wetlands Conservation
Act (NAWCA) in 1989. This legislation officially recognized the goals
of the Plan and created a grants program as a funding mechanism to help
achieve the goals of Plan and other wetland associated migratory bird
programs. Additional information on
NAWCA is found at http://www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/Grants/index.shtm
Upper
Mississippi River & Great Lakes Region
Joint Venture (UMR/GLR JV)
The
UMR/GLR JV was formed in 1993 primarily to assist with accomplishing
the waterfowl population goals identified in the North American Waterfowl
Management Plan (Plan). The success of the UMR/GLR JV, like any other
Joint Venture, is based on partners being able to work together, set
goals and priorities, and make a commitment to build a strong biological
foundation that will attain those goals in the most efficient and effective
way possible. Joint Ventures are typically partnerships between individuals,
businesses, nongovernmental organizations and local, state and federal
government representatives.
Like the Plan, the
UMR/GLR JV is evolving and is working towards the protection,
restoration and enhancement of habitat for priority migratory birds.
In addition
to the waterfowl plan, there are three other major continental
bird plans; the North American Landbird Conservation Plan -- Partners
in Flight (http://www.partnersinflight.org), the
U.S. Shorebird Conservation Plan (http://shorebirdplan.fws.gov/USShorebird.htm),
and the North American Waterbird Conservation Plan (http://www.waterbirdconservation.org).
All of these documents provide general guidance for the Joint
Ventures to follow.
In
keeping with the spirit of the North
American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI) and the planning
framework established with the concept of bird conservation regions
(BCR’s),
the UMR/GLR JV supports and promotes integrated bird conservation. The
boundary of the UMR/GLR JV traverses six BCR’s. More information
is available at North American Bird Conservation Initiative.
The UMR/GLR JV supports
the goals of all these initiatives. Our JV was a partner in the development
of Upper Mississippi Valley/Great Lakes Regional Shorebird Conservation
Plan and is a partner in the on-going development of the Upper Mississippi
Valley/Great Lakes Waterbird Conservation Plan. Both of these documents
support the continental plans by identifying priorities and strategies
that can be implemented at a regional scale.
Since its inception,
partners within the UMR/GLR JV have protected, restored, and enhanced
more than 522,500 acres of habitat. For more information about the goals
and objectives of the UMR/GLR JV, click on the UMR/GLR
JV Implementation Plan cover below.
The Region
3, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service administrative boundary includes Illinois,
Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
The
boundary of UMR/GLR JV includes all or portions of these states
and the eastern portions of Kansas and Nebraska. The current UMR/GLR JV
boundary
is shown in the map at the top of this page.
The Region 3 Joint
Venture office also assists with administering the
eastern portion of the Prairie Pothole Joint Venture (http://ppjv.org)
in Minnesota and Iowa, as depicted
in the above diagram.
To find out more
about each of the eight states within the Region 3 portion of the UMR/GLR
JV,
click on a state text link below.