Conservation Planning
Turning sound science into strategic action
Bird-conservation plans have been developed
throughout North America to establish a blueprint for sustaining all
native bird populations. Some examples include:
- North American Landbird Conservation Plan developed by Partners in Flight (also developed regional and state bird conservation plans)
- North American Waterfowl Management Plan
- United States Shorebird Conservation Plan
- North American Waterbird Conservation Plan
- Northern Bobwhite Conservation Initiative
Effective bird conservation requires cooperative actions and shared goals.
Bird conservation initiatives share the following goals:
- Ensure stable and self-sustaining populations of birds (breeding, migratory, and nonbreeding)
- Maintain or restore the distribution, diversity, and abundance of habitats
- Coordinate conservation efforts at international, national, regional, state, and local levels
- Share conservation priorities with the public through outreach programs
- Base conservation actions on sound science and effective management
Who participates in bird conservation?
- Public wildlife conservation agencies (federal, state, municipal)
- Non-governmental conservation organizations
- Research institutions
- Decision-makers at all levels (government officials)
- Ornithologists and conservation biologists
- North American Bird Conservation Initiative member organizations
- Citizens, both as citizen scientists contributing to bird monitoring projects, and as vocal citizens communicating their priorities to the community and to members of local and regional government
The conservation planning process outlined here is for the United States; however, these efforts must and are being implemented on a continental, even worldwide, scale.
More on Conservation Planning
Conservation Planning Steps
Outline of the process
Threats to Native Birds
Major threats affecting bird populations
Species Conservation Assessment
The science behind bird conservation
Future Goals
Conservation goals for the next decade