Integrated Bird Conservation in the U.S.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin: On March 25, 2010 the North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI) and the Association of Joint Venture Management Boards (AJVMB) announced the recipients of their Fourth Annual Awards at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Reception as part of the 75th Annual North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference.

Each year the awards go to individuals or groups who have shown unparalleled accomplishments in bird conservation as contained in the principles of NABCI and the national/international bird initiatives (North American Waterfowl Management Plan, Partners In Flight, Waterbird Conservation for the Americas, National Shorebird Plans, and/or the resident game bird plans). The awardees are visionaries in the promotion and implementation of integrated bird conservation on the ground and through policy and legislation and each has worked to promote bird conservation through the work of the Joint Ventures and bird conservation initiatives.

This year three worthy recipients, each with a distinguished career of promoting and implementing integrated bird conservation through the JVs and other initiatives, received NABCI/AJVMB awards: Gary Myers, Kirk Nelson, and Charles Baxter.

About NABCI and the Association of Joint Venture Management Boards

Gary Myers, Retired Director of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
During his career, Gary Myers has been at the forefront of conservation initiatives that have demonstrated his commitment to protecting our nation’s fish and wildlife, and displayed his visionary approach to accomplishing far-reaching objectives for bird conservation.

Mr. Myer's grew an effective state wildlife agency in Tennessee as both the Assistant and Executive Director and simultaneously lead regional, national and international initiatives that are having a tremendous impact on wildlife and fisheries conservation. In the 1990s Mr. Myer's served on the national Partners in Flight Steering Committee and chaired Association of Fish and Wildlife Agency’s (AFWA) Partners in Flight and Bird Conservation Committee.

Mr. Myer's represented TWRA on the Lower Mississippi Valley Joint Venture Management Board and was instrumental in expanding the Joint Venture’s focus to represent the interests of waterfowl, shorebirds, landbirds, and waterbirds. He provided continual leadership and guided the development of the North American Bird Conservation Initiative and sat on that Committee for 10 years.

Kirk Nelson, Assistant Director, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Over the last 10 years Kirk Nelson has served as Chairman of the Rainwater Basin Joint Venture, Association of Joint Venture Management Boards, and AFWA Partners in Flight/Shorebird/Waterbird Working Group. He is also a member of the AFWA Southern Wings Leadership Team and was a member of the U.S. NABCI Committee in his role as AJVMB Chair.

As Chair of the Rainwater Basin Joint Venture Management Board (RWBJV), Mr. Nelson oversaw the Joint Venture’s transition from basic project delivery to integrated bird conservation, helping to direct the RWBJV’s focus to all birds and their habitats. Mr. Nelson has encouraged participation in the Southern Wings program, which strives to increase the quality and quantity of partnerships between the State agencies in the U.S. and conservation organizations in Latin America and the Caribbean.

As past chair of the Association of Joint Venture Management Boards, Mr. Nelson helped the Joint Ventures develop a clear message about their value and speak with one voice about JV priorities, critical needs, and accomplishments. Dialogue with elected officials has resulted in funding increases to support the expansion of Joint Ventures to cover the entire United States and support the science capacity necessary to develop biologically-sound bird conservation plans.

Charles Baxter
Charles Baxter began his career as a Fish and Wildlife Biologist with the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Over the next 17 years Mr. Baxter engaged in a variety of conservation issues, most notably those associated with the Mississippi River and its tributaries.

Mr. Baxter accepted the Lower Mississippi Valley Joint Venture (LMVJV) Coordinator position in 1988. He brought his experience and leadership skills, developed a vision for the Joint Venture, and fostered development of what has become the international model for Joint Venture management, planning, implementation, and evaluation for bird conservation.

Mr. Baxter’s vision and leadership was a key factor in the early development of the “all-bird” conservation concept and ultimately has led to the widespread use and acceptance of the need to integrate bird habitat conservation for all groups of birds across North America. Because Joint Ventures were originally conceived as a mechanism for waterfowl conservation, including conservation issues and habitat for other bird groups was a significant advancement. Mr. Baxter’s vision, style of leadership, and ability to work with a broad range of partners has been an inspiration and model for many colleagues across a broad swath of all sectors of the conservation community.

------------------------------
About the North American Bird Conservation Initiative:
The U.S. North American Bird Conservation Initiative Committee (NABCI) is a forum of government agencies, private organizations, and bird initiatives helping partners across the continent meet their common bird conservation objectives. NABCI’s strategy is to foster coordination and collaboration on key issues of concern, including coordinated bird monitoring, conservation design, private land conservation, international conservation, and institutional support in state and federal agencies for integrated bird conservation. Learn more at http://www.nabci-us.org.

About the Association of Joint Venture Management Boards:
The Association of Joint Venture Management Boards (AJVMB) comprises representatives from the management boards of each of the 21 U.S. Migratory Bird Joint Ventures. The AJVMB serves to support the efforts of the Joint Ventures by garnering Congressional support, providing strategic guidance, and creating a forum for cooperation and collaboration between Joint Ventures to achieve common objectives.

Joint Ventures (JVs) are collaborative, regionally-based partnerships of agencies, non-profit organizations, corporations, tribes, and individuals that conserves habitat for priority bird species within a specific geographic region. Under the guidance of national and international bird conservation plans, JVs increase the efficiency and effectiveness of habitat conservation efforts by bringing together leading wildlife organizations, agencies, and scientists to jointly develop, update, and implement these strategies. Through a scientific process, JVs work to ensure that a diversity of habitats is available to sustain migratory bird populations for the benefit of those species, other wildlife, and the public. Learn more at http://www.fws.gov/birdhabitat/jointventures/index.shtm.

For additional information, contact:

Deb Hahn, Migratory Bird and NABCI Coordinator
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
Phone: (202) 624-8917
Fax: (202) 624-7891
Email: dhahn@fishwildlife.org