What is Partners in Flight?

The conservation of landbirds in North America has entered a new and exciting phase, due in part to the efforts of Partners In Flight (PIF). PIF is a landbird conservation program administered as a cooperative partnership among government agencies, professional organizations, conservation groups, philanthropic foundations, industry, the academic community, and concerned citizens. PIF differs from other conservation initiatives in two important ways:

(1) By focusing on common species before they become threatened or endangered, conservation efforts are much more cost-effective;
(2) PIF's recommendations and actions are entirely voluntary and non-adverserial, in contrast with costly litigation and additional regulations.

The PIF planning process calls for the designation and management of habitat types and sizes that are adequate to sustain viable populations of all native landbirds. Conservation of landbird populations in North America requires both long-term planning at regional levels and specific management actions at local sites. To learn more about PIF, see www.partnersinflight.org.