Acknowledgements Our Major Partners U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Prairie Habitat Joint Venture Presentation to NAWMP Plan Committee 11 August 2015

Acknowledgements Our Major Partners U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service • North American Wetlands Conservation Council - NAWCA • Canadian Federal departments • State, Provincial, Territorial, 1 st Nations Governments • International Boreal Conservation Campaign • PEW Charitable Trust • Ducks Unlimited Inc. and DU Canada • The Nature Conservancy • National Wildlife Federation • US Forest Service • Other United States NGOs & Corporate Agencies • NAWMP Plan Committee (1986 endorsement; ongoing support) • >17,000 landowners •

Introduction of PHJV participants • PHJV Board Members: – David Ingstrup, Lyle Saigeon, Scott Stephens • PHJV Science Committee Members: – Bob Clark, Stuart Slattery, Jim Devries, Michael Barr, Stephen Carlyle, Corie White • PHJV Policy Committee Members: – Pete Joyce, Hugh Hunt • Associates/Program Staff: – Mike Anderson, Dean Smith, Katherine Conkin, Etienne Soloudre, John Trevor, Cameron Wood • Coordinator: Deanna Dixon

Today’s Presentation • Introduction , David Ingstrup • Prairie Parkland/Western Boreal Flight, Michael Barr • PHJV’s New Implementation Plan 2013 -2020 – Western Boreal Forest, Stuart Slattery – Prairie Parkland, Jim Devries & Peter Joyce • Wrap Up, Bob Clark Alignment with NAWMP Revision 2012. Focus is on key issues and what’s new!

JV Reporting Guidance 1. General update on planning and implementation (core & novel). 2. Actions related to NAWMP 2012 Action Plan and/or 2014 Revised Objectives. 3. Updates on specific outstanding items raised in previous PC report or 2007 Assessment. 4. Issues where the JV desires PC assistance to enhance progress.

PHJV overview

“Continental” Duck Distribution 50 45 CN East LTA % of Continental Duck BPOP 40 BTZ Forest BTZ Ag 35 CN West 30 US 25 PHJV 20 15 10 5 0 Prairie-Parkland Boreal Tundra Other Region

PHJV Overview • 70% of total ducks annually surveyed are recorded in the Prairie-Parkland Region and Western Boreal Forest area of Canada • Some of best waterfowl habitat in NA

Direct recoveries of mallards and all ducks banded in the Prairie-Parkland area Mallard All ducks

PHJV Overview • Issue: Habitats lost to agriculture intensification – Conversion of native prairie and loss of wetlands further reduce carrying capacity for ducks and many other bird species. • Issue: Industrial expansion and climate change in the WBF. • But, on the positive side: – Wetland policy implementation (AB) or planning (MB,SK) are advancing. – Increasing pressure to sustain grasslands as a resilient multifunctional grazing resource (i.e., beef industry) and for Species at Risk

PHJV Population Goals 2007-2012 2013-2020 Sustain average population Duck populations are levels of the 1970s maintained at average levels recorded during 1955-2014, recognizing that abundance and species composition will fluctuate in response to variable pond and upland habitat conditions. Set population objectives for Goals for other bird species are priority species of landbirds, aligned with those specified in shorebirds, and waterbirds Bird Conservation region Plans and Recovery Plans for Species at Risk

PHJV Habitat Goals 2007-2012 2013-2020 • Stop further wetland loss The Prairie Parkland Region and • Stop further loss of native Western Boreal Forest are lands, especially native capable of sustaining duck grasslands populations at levels recorded • Restore lost wetlands, during 1955-2014, including especially small basins populations in years of peak • Set habitat objectives for abundances, by maintaining priority species of waterfowl, the PHJV’s carrying capacity landbirds, shorebirds, and (wetlands support breeding waterbirds pairs; reproductive and survival rates allow population growth). Identify and pursue opportunities to retain and restore key habitats for non- waterfowl species.

PHJV People Goals 2007-2012 2013-2020 • While goals were not Going forward, explicit explicit, programs and goals will be developed to policies have been enhance opportunities for delivered and more people to hunt and advocated that favour view waterfowl, while both conservation and building support for long-term sustainability wetland conservation of rural communities. among a wider • Benefits and values to community including the society were implicit general public. (i.e., assumed).

Biological and Socio-Economic Foundations • PHJV has a diverse portfolio of science investments – reflects commitment to strategic research to ensure effective conservation • Results of research guide and adapt programs, continually improve performance, provide maximum benefits to NAWMP. • Research in socio-economics and evaluation of broad habitat benefits are also important to guide program and policy decisions, in terms of – Hunting traditions, and – Getting more people from all sectors excited about wetlands & habitat, and more actively engaged in conservation

PHJV Organization • Environment Canada (Canadian Wildlife Service) • Alberta Environment and Parks • Alberta NAWMP Partnership • Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment • Saskatchewan Water Security Agency • Manitoba Conservation • Manitoba Habitat Heritage Corporation • Ducks Unlimited Canada • Nature Conservancy of Canada • Wildlife Habitat Canada • Bird Studies Canada

PHJV Advisory Board PHJV Coordinator Planning & Science Policy Boreal DU Canada Implementation Committee Committee Committee Boreal team Committee Communications Database Tracking Committee Committee NAWMP - PHJV Provincial Steering Committees Manitoba Habitat Heritage Alberta NAWMP Partnership Water Security Agency SK NAWMP Committee Corporation

Questions? Questions about the PHJV organization and general regional issues?

Prairie Parkland / Western Boreal Flight Michael Barr, AB NAWMP Coordinator

Prairie Habitat Joint Venture … from Winnipeg … to Inuvik. Fasten your seat belts!

Prairie Habitat Joint Venture Stuart Slattery PHJV Science Committee & PHJV Boreal Committee Ducks Unlimited Canada

PHJV Region

All Waterfowl (N = 452,569) (N = 33,258) Source of Data: The North American Bird Banding Manual

Boreal Forest Near Whitecourt, Alberta

Climate Change

Western Boreal Forest Goals Bird Goals • Sustain waterfowl populations at 1955-2014 averages - Sustain populations of other wetland-dependent birds - Habitat Goals • Retain current biological function of wetlands and associated - uplands Set habitat objectives for priority species of waterfowl and other - wetland-dependent birds Human Dimension Goals • Work with northern communities, provincial and federal agencies, - industry and other habitat beneficiaries to set and achieve shared conservation goals Grow support for boreal waterfowl and non-game bird - conservation

Bird Goals: Duck Status % % Long-term Long-term difference difference Species average 80th from long- from LT (1955-2014) percentile term 80th average percentile Mallard 2,627,617 3,056,214 -16 -27 Green-winged Teal 1,100,561 1,335,502 40 15 American Wigeon 1,202,099 1,506,776 -20 -36 Dabbling ducks 4,930,277 5,534,004 -4 -15 Scaup 2,984,904 3,549,502 -26 -38 Ring-necked duck 522,721 675,339 49 15 Bufflehead 627,768 877,983 53 10 Scoter 825,877 1,104,645 -23 -42 Goldeneye 380,980 524,070 45 6 Canvasback 207,937 245,783 4 12 Diving ducks 5,550,187 6,101,073 -4 -12 All ducks 10,480,464 11,647,222 -4 -14

Bird Goals: Non-Game Status • 57 priority species of wetland associated shore, water, or land birds; 30 are boreal specialists • About 40% are thought to have negative population trends, e.g., Rusty Blackbird 88% decline. • 9 wetland-associated species are listed as Species at Risk

Habitat Goals: Landscape Condition • Agricultural conversion 3x higher than global average (1966 – 1994) • Industrial footprint estimated at 87M acres (12% of land area) • Evidence of climate change impacts • 52% of the land base is >80% intact • Remainder considered the “working forest”

Habitat Goals: Delivery Environment

Habitat Goals: Delivery Two primary themes of habitat delivery: Protected Lands: Places where development is generally not allowed Sustainable Land Use Areas: Development does not impact the habitat’s ability to support ducks

How are these created? Protected Lands • – Long-Term: • Government-led protected area initiatives (>10 year) – Short-Term: • Interim withdrawal for government-led protected area initiatives (1-5 years, renewable) • Land use planning conservation zones (5 year, renewable) Sustainable Land Use Areas • – Private land management – Conservation/Cooperative land use agreements – Crown agreements – Industrial agreements – Extension and Policy – Integrated land use planning

Who is leading this work? • PHJV Partners, primarily Alberta NAWMP, Ducks Unlimited, and Environment Canada • NAWCA • International Boreal Conservation Campaign • 61 First Nations, Academic, Industrial, Government and Non-Government Partners

Conservation Estate