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Eyes on the Butterflies
One of world’s most spectacular natural phenomena is North America ’s Monarch butterfly migration. Every fall, millions of Monarchs migrate thousands of miles from Canada and the United States to spend the winter in central Mexico and return northward in the spring. In addition to completing this amazing and arduous journey, Monarch butterflies also contribute to important ecosystem function—as pollinators as well as indicators of healthy lands. However, Monarch habitat is disappearing throughout its range, posing serious threats to the population’s long-term viability.
To help conserve this magnificent species and its habitats, the US Forest Service International Programs, is working with a wide range of partners across the Monarch migratory path, or flyway. International Programs coordinates and advances conservation efforts through technical assistance, training and community outreach across the flyway. Moreover,through environmental education programs on the Monarch, the Forest Service is engaging a wide range of audiences, including urban youth and schoolchildren along the flyway.
Two recent projects include:
MonarchLive: A Distance Learning Adventure
Beginning in October 2008 and continuing into 2009, “MonarchLIVE - A Distance Learning Adventure.” – a live, electronic and interactive field trip for students, educators and communities – will connect classrooms across Canada , the US , Mexico and other countries via the internet. Webcasts will trail the migration of the Monarchs in real time, and will showcase current efforts of students, citizens and scientists. Initiated by the US Forest Service International Programs, the Prince Williams School Network in Virginia, Forest Service Conservation Education, and other partners are joining the project to integrate distance learning methods with hands-on activities to increase monarch habitat, promote conservation and foster student-led projects in urban schools and communities.. Highlights of this electronic adventure include a look at monarch winter habitat and communities in Mexico , and butterfly gardens in Chicago , IL and St. Paul , MN . Free for schools to register, hundreds of schools and thousands of students are expected to join in the program. To learn more, visit: http://monarch.pwnet.org |
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Monarch Conservation Techniques Workshop
In early June, International Programs sponsored the Monarch Conservation Techniques Workshop, held on the Hiawatha National Forest . The curriculum on Monarch conservation was extensive. Participants learned about monarch larva monitoring, butterfly tagging techniques, native plant propagation and site restoration. In addition, there were presentations on the biology of the butterflies, the Monarch Monitoring Handbook, the Monarch Larva Monitoring Project, threats to pollinators and reasons for their decline, the upcoming MonarchLive webcast, restoration projects on the Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie, the Monarch Butterfly Partnership, how-to-create a backyard greenhouse, plant propagation, how-to-create a native garden, how-to incorporate pollinators in your program of work and Monarchs in the Classroom. Field visits also complimented the activities. Twenty-five attendees from the US Forest Service, National Park Service, Michigan State University Extension Service, The Nature Conservancy, Marquette and Schoolcraft County Conservation Districts , Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and educators from Houston Wilderness, El Valor in Chicago, Monarch Sister School Program and The Cedar Tree Institute participated. |
 UNITED STATES RESPONDS TO CYCLONE NARGIS' DEVASTATION
In early May, Cyclone Nargis devastated Burma , leaving an estimated 140,000 people dead or missing. in the low-lying delta region of the country and in the former capital of Rangoon , more than 2 million people were severely affected. Hundreds of villages were completely destroyed.
The ravages of this deadly storm prompted the U.S. Chargé d’Affairs to declare a disaster in Burma , setting into motion action by the US Agency for International Development’s Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance to deploy a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to coordinate and prioritize the US Government’s assistance to the affected population. Immediate needs included emergency shelter for those who had lost their homes and clean drinking water to prevent disease outbreak. The DART liaised with the U.S. military to deliver these emergency relief commodities.
As part of the relief effort, a Response Management Team was activated to support the DART and coordinate response efforts with the interagency community in Washington DC . Throughout the response, the DART and the Response Management Team worked closely with the US Embassy, the United Nations, the Association for Southeast Asian Nations and nongovernmental organizations to identify and address priority needs in Burma . The US Forest Service Disaster Assistance Support Program, which is funded through an interagency agreement with the Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance, provided personnel and expertise to both the DART and RMT.
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SAVING A SECRETIVE SPECIES: CONSERVING THE BLAKISTON'S FISH OWL
Little is known about the Blakiston’s Fish Owl. Many scientists believe that it may be the largest owl in the world. A secretive species, the Fish owl resides within the remote old growth forests of Northeast Asia and Russian Far East—forests rich in biodiversity. Unfortunately, due to the increasing pressures from logging interests in the region, the habitat of this elusive bird is now under threat. Consequently, Blakiston’s Fish Owl is endangered. In fact, a population of only about 1,000 pairs of birds remains along the river valleys of Northeast Asia.
To conserve the Fish Owl, a sound understanding of the species and its biology and habitat is necessary—a challenge posed by the meager information on the bird. The US Forest Service and the Wildlife Conservation Society are working together to support the Blakiston’s Fish Owl Project, which focuses on protecting the fish owls in the Russian Far East by learning more about the bird and identifying critical habitat areas.
In 2008, a research team from the project caught 5 fish owls, which the researchers tagged with transmitters and GPS dataloggers to monitor their movements. The ensuing data helped identify not only the owls’ ranges but also their interactions with one another, densities and quality of habitat. The information gathered can then help develop management recommendations and create a conservation plan for Primorye, the southern most province in the region. In addition, researchers are working with local logging companies to propose better placement of logging roads and harvest centers that would minimize the disturbance of key Fish Owl habitat. This would also ensure sustainable harvest practices, which could ultimately lead to earning certification from the Forest Stewardship Council.
In addition to the Fish Owl project, the US Forest Service and partners in Russia are working to ensure the sustainable management of forests and wildlife habitat in Russia. The agency has been providing expertise on species monitoring, forest health, restoration and management planning.
For further information on this project, see:
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STEWARD: RETHINKING WEST AFRICAN FOREST MANAGEMENT
Encompassing nearly 420,000 km2, the Upper Guinean Forest Ecosystem extends from southern Guinea into Sierra Leone , Liberia , southern Ivory Coast and Ghana . Once abundant with natural resources and teeming with biodiversity, the area’s original forest cover is less than 25% of the region, and critical biodiversity is in peril. Extreme habitat fragmentation and land degradation—due to unsustainable land practices, land use pressures, and extractive industries for commodities such as rubber, cocoa and oil palm—have threatened the ecosystem. Now the Upper Guinean Forest Ecosystem is considered a global priority for biodiversity conservation. Moreover, given the recent history of conflict in several of these countries, the region is also strategically important in terms of peace building. The US Forest Service provides support to both biodiversity conservation and regional stability through the Sustainable and Thriving Environments for West Africa Regional Development Program (STEWARD) program.
The STEWARD program was developed to balance the complex needs in this ecosystem. Designed by the US Agency for International Development and the US Forest Service, the program is an innovative regional initiative designed to foster greater regional collaboration and to improve natural resource management and livelihoods in the Upper Guinean Forest Ecosystem. During the next several years, STEWARD will address regional threats to biodiversity as well as explores ways to spread best practices, harmonize policies, and improve regional markets. In its first year, STEWARD is focusing specifically on forest management, wildlife management, marine and coastal zone issues, biodiversity conservation, and policy harmonization between governments.
The STEWARD program aims to promote the transfer of knowledge and lessons among countries. For example, in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana , lessons are being learned about cocoa production in relation to natural forest conservation. Other countries look to Liberia as a leader in forest policy reform and timber certification procedures. Guinea also has pioneered participative forest management in the region. Additionally, other West African countries are advanced in approaches to natural regeneration of degraded lands and in decentralized natural resource management. As STEWARD develops and evolves, it can eventually be a model for regional natural resource management initiatives that extend beyond the bounds of the West African sub-region.
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MEXICO, CANADA, US DISCUSS EMERGING ISSUES IN AND CHALLENGES TO FOREST MANAGEMENT
From June 8-13, 2008 , Chief of the US Forest Service, Gail Kimbell, chaired the 24th Session of the North American Forest Commission (NAFC) in San Juan , Puerto Rico . Participants of the meeting included the Chiefs of the Forest Service agencies from Mexico and Canada , their delegations, the Chairs of the technical and thematic working groups, members of UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Forestry Department and other regional forestry commissions, and observers from the international community. Together, they discussed a broad array of transcontinental natural resource management issues and explored the unique history of forestry and land use management in Puerto Rico . Issues such as climate change, forests and energy were among the topics of interest at the meeting. In addition, highlights from the trilateral efforts – such as work on Insects and Diseases, Forest Genetics and Fire Management – from the working groups were shared. To learn more about the outcomes of this meeting, to read the relevant documents and to view the presentations , click here.
Why Puerto Rico ?
Puerto Rico offers unique insight into natural resource management. It is home to the only tropical forest in the United States and has one of the oldest protected forests in the Western Hemisphere . Additionally, it highlights all branches of the US Forest Service. The Forest Service’s divisions of Research & Development, State and Private Forestry, the National Forest System and International Programs are all active in Puerto Rico . The International Institute of Tropical Forestry (IITF) conducts a broad range of research studies on tropical forests and local flora and fauna . IITF also represents the Forest Service and the US on the Latin American and Caribbean Forest Commission of FAO (COFLAC). IITF also administers State and Private Forestry activities in the region, providing technical assistance to landowners in Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. The National Forest System’s Region 8 manages the El Yunque (formerly Caribbean ) National Forest. Additionally, the International Cooperation Unit of IITF carries out natural resource related technical cooperation activities in Latin America , in coordination with the Forest Service International Programs Office in Washington .
Honoring Significant Contributions to NAFC
At the end of the meeting, Chief Kimbell recognized past and present members of NAFC for their outstanding contributions to the Commission. The honorees include:
- Doug Kneeland, Chief, Forestry Informational and Liaison Service, FAO
- Dale Bosworth, retired US Forest Service
- Bill Singleton, retired Canadian Forest Service
- Erika Lopez, formerly with National Forest Commission of Mexico
In addition to these individuals, a special lifetime award achievement award was handed to Frank Wadsworth, retired US Forest Service, for his longstanding work in tropical forestry.
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IMPROVING REGIONAL LEVEL FOREST MANAGEMENT IN WEST AFRICA
The US Forest Service International Programs recently convened forest planners, manager and conservation professionals for a natural resource management workshop in Guinea. Representing forest management agencies from eight West African countries, as well as from international and local organizations, participants shared experiences and strategized about regional management objectives and activities. Together, they also held a regional dialogue on forest resources, best practices and lessons learned, and explored ways to increase regional collaboration. In addition, the participants visited several field sites.
For many participants, the workshop was their first opportunity to meet with other foresters from other countries in West Africa. As such, it was a chance to create a regional network of professionals and to promote collaboration. This initiative contributed to local capacity building in the natural resource sector of West Africa and built both political and professional alliances between the United States and West African nations.
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US FOREST SERVICE SUPPORTS ONGOING FORESTRY REFORMS IN LIBERIA
Designed to address transparency, accountability and civil society empowerment, the Forestry Reform Law that was passed in Liberia in 2006 has paved the way for continued reforms in the forestry sector. With support from the US Forest Service, the country’s Forest Development Authority established ten core regulations, essential to revitalizing the commercial logging industry in 2007. Since then, Liberia has allocated and signed timber sale and forest management contracts . As part of this process, the US Forest Service and the Liberian Forestry Initiative will continue to support the negotiation of agreements between contract holders and communities and to provide technical assistance.
US Forest Service efforts in Liberia have provided numerous opportunities to date for agency personnel to contribute their skills to rebuilding the Liberian forestry sector while experiencing a reform process starting at from the beginning. All of these efforts support the stabilization of Liberia and the West African region, broadening the knowledge and experience within the agency. |
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US FOREST SERVICE AND PARTNERS SUPPORT SPANISH-LANGUAGE FIELD COURSE
Colorado State University will be hosting the 18th annual Field Course in Wildlands and Protected Area Management, from July 8- August 10, 2008. This is the 8th year of Forest Service collaboration with CSU on this popular seminar.
This course, conducted entirely in Spanish, is an intensive four-and-a-half week field course designed for mid-level professional and technical personnel, principally from Latin America and the Caribbean, who are interested in improving the management of protected areas in their countries. It is designed for personnel from government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector, who work in the field of protected areas planning and management. Participating instructors are from CSU, the Forest Service, other land management agencies, plus visiting instructors from Brazil and Costa Rica.
Almost 75% of the training program is conducted in the field. The course provides practical examples of management of a great variety of protected areas through a range of exercises which enable the participants to gain hands-on experience in the practical concepts, methods, and techniques required to improve management of protected areas.
This year there will be 23 participants from 13 countries. Eight of the participants are current partners of the Latin America and Caribbean Program of Forest Service International Programs.
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EXPLORING ECOTOURISM IN THE COCKPIT COUNTRY
The Cockpit Country in Jamaica is an ecological and geological jewel box. One of the most unique forest areas in the country, it is home to 27 of the country’s 28 endemic bird species and important medicinal plants. Its verdant, dramatic hills form the largest remaining block of moist to wet limestone forest in Jamaica . Moreover, 40% of the island’s freshwater supplies originate from there. Two settlements of the indigenous maroon groups reside in its luscious green hills.
To preserve the beauty and the resources of the Cockpit Country and to bring economic growth to the region, the US Forest Service has been working with community members and interested stakeholders in developing viable and sustainable ecotourism enterprises. With support from the US Agency for International Development, the US Forest Service is implementing the Protected Areas and Rural Enterprise (PARE) program.. the program strengthens the capacity of community members interested in starting or expanding enterprises related to the ecotourism ventures: tour/river guiding, park management, catering,, security, story telling, artwork and souvenir production.
In March 2008, the US Forest Service held the first session, a two-day Interpretive Guide Training. Twenty-seven members of the rural communities in Cockpit Country, representatives of the Local Forest Management Committees and various environmental agencies participated. The training introduced the basic principles of interpretation; participants learned narrative skills to effectively communicate the important features found at their sites.
In addition to leading the workshop, an interpretive specialist from the Forest Service visited Flagstaff and Bunkers Hill in the Cockpit Country and provided recommendations to the communities’ leaders on development of environmental interpretation messages. The messages were developed in close collaboration with the community members—the storyline must be one that they want to highlight. Previous USFS technical assistance had helped design recreation and public use plans for these sites. Over the next several months, with USAID and USFS collaboration, the PARE project will be assisting in implementing the plans on the ground.
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CAN COCOA MAKE A COMEBACK?
Can the cocoa industry be revitalized in Jamaica ? Analysts believe this island nation can be a potential source for high end specialty cocoa as world demand for the bean has been steadily increasing. Jamaica ’s cocoa production has waned over the last two decades. The US Forest Service is interested because fostering cocoa production can not only increase income for many small and medium farmers, but also improve biodiversity conservation across abandoned and degraded lands. Cocoa grows in a biologically diverse agroecosystem, under shade canopy.
The US Forest Service is implementing the Protected Areas and Rural Enterprise (PARE) program, which is keenly focused on interventions that help improve conservation while also addressing livelihoods. Cocoa provides an opportunity for both. A recent assessment, conducted by the US Forest Service, the Tropical Agricultural Research and Higher Education Centre (CATIE), the Ministry of Agriculture and the Cocoa Sector, confirmed that the cocoa sector has great potential and that in spite of the numerous challenges to the sector, the future can be promising.
Revitalizing the cocoa sector
In fact, the assessment emphasized that in spite of challenges, including lack of available resources, poor management practices on cocoa farms and low prices to the producer, there are several ways to revitalize the sector. Among several recommendations is a proposed seven-year cocoa rehabilitation program would include improving genetic stock on 6,000 acres of poorly producing cocoa. The intensive program would also include planting 700 acres of new grafted, high-yielding, high quality, and disease resistant cocoa clones.
The assessment team also recommended technical and financial assistance to the sector through a cocoa productivity and stabilization fund which would help upgrade of cocoa farms and facilitate hurricane recovery. In addition, the team suggested strengthening of the organizational skills of farmers through training to enhance the quality and efficacy of the collection process of wet cocoa beans. Further, to ensure biodiversity balance on the plantations as well as earn alternate income from their lands, farmers could also be encouraged to cultivate other crops—such as fruit trees and coconuts—in addition to cocoa.
Current market research was also recommended, so that international and local buyers can be linked with suppliers.
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