Joint Ventures

Joint Ventures (JVs) are cooperative, regional partnerships for bird conservation. Since their establishment in 1986, JVs have grown to cover nearly all of the U.S. and Canada, and much of Mexico.

JVs help connect many different partners for collaborative conservation by supporting planning and the most effective on-the-ground habitat conservation efforts. They often assist partners seeking federal grant funds, as well as provide critical scientific, human dimensions, technical, and policy guidance. Over the course of their history, JVs have worked with more than 5,700 partners on thousands of projects, including habitat restoration and protection, capacity building, inventory and monitoring, planning, scientific research, communications, education, and outreach.

What can Joint Ventures offer land trusts?

• Resource Experts

  JV staff work closely with conservation experts from state and federal agencies, non-profits, and universities across the country. In addition, each JV has a dedicated staff, Technical Committee, and Management Board that provide different sorts of expertise that can benefit land trusts (e.g., coordination, resources, science, policy and budget support, overall leadership, and guidance).

• Funding Opportunities

  One of the many benefits of participating in a JV partnership is improved access to funding for conservation projects. An example of a potential source is the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA), which provides matching grants to organizations and individuals who have developed partnerships to carry out wetlands conservation projects in the United States for the benefit of wetlands-associated migratory birds and other wildlife. JVs can help advise partners in building competitive NAWCA grant submissions.

• International, Regional, and Local Networks

  Partnerships are the backbone to the JVs, as they specialize in cultivating and supporting partnerships that enhance, conserve, restore, and protect habitat for the benefit of birds, other wildlife, and people. Join the email list for your regional JV to keep informed about the newest developments and to collaborate with the various supportive conservation networks available. To do so, locate your region’s JV (see below), join their partner database, or follow them on Facebook.

• Strategic Habitat Conservation

  JVs use strategic habitat conservation approach to guide adaptive, science-based actions. Science includes the biological and ecological aspects of birds and their habitat requirements at multiple spatial scales, as well as the social science that is the foundation for the human dimensions aspect of conservation. Check out your regional JV’s implementation plan with details about conservation strategies and how your land trust may be able to contribute.

There are 22 habitat-based JVs, each addressing the bird habitat conservation issues found within their geographic area. Each JV has a Coordinator who oversees other technical staff. Check your region’s JV website or contact your region’s JV staff to navigate bird conservation resources in your land trust’s region.