A Full Annual-Cycle Conservation Strategy for Sprague’s Pipit, Chestnut-collared and McCown’s Longspurs, and Baird’s Sparrow
Fish and Wildlife Service & Prairie Pothole Joint Venture
Collaboration between the Fish and Wildlife Service and Prairie Pothole Joint Venture spawned a long-term strategy centered around the preservation of four “priority” grassland species. Along with the work of 20+ partner organizations, the conservation plan outlines the future work of state agencies, federal agencies, and NGOs ranging from Mexico, the US, and Canada.
The Prairie Pothole Joint Venture (PPJV) is one of six original priority joint ventures under the 1987 North American Waterfowl Management Plan. As the Fish and Wildlife Service states, the PPJV is a “dynamic” network that serves as collaborative infrastructure for partners at the local, state, national, and international level. The FWS identifies the Joint Venture as one of the most visible conservation successes of the last century.
The FWS and PPJV’s report is a comprehensive assessment of the grassland conservation status quo in addition to an extensive strategic framework. The document identifies three major threats to grassland species populations: loss of native grasslands, degradation/fragmentation of remaining grasslands, and disturbance inconsistent with the priority species recognized.
See the FWS’s overview of the Prairie Pothole Joint Venture here: https://www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/migbirds/ppjvLandingPage.php
Read the Strategy’s Executive Summary on page 13 here: http://ppjv.org/assets/pdf/SPPI/Conservation_strategy_for_Grassland_birds.pdf#page=13