Part of US National Science Foundation and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation award of $16M in grants to support science-led conservation projects.

Earlier this month, the U.S. National Science Foundation and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation announced a $6.45 million grant to University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) and Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture/American Bird Conservancy (AMJV/ABC) to use data from remote sensing and machine learning to develop conservation plans that support habitat needs of birds in the Appalachian Mountains during breeding and migratory stopover. The award will support two graduate student researchers, including a current AMJV/ABC staff member who will pursue a master’s degree in the area of Environment and Society at UMCES while retaining her position with AMJV/ABC.

The project will bring together the state-of-the-art technologies of active remote sensing, meteorological surveillance radar, and interpretable machine learning to transform understanding of the habitat needs of birds during migration. This information will answer one of the most pressing problems in bird conservation science: How and where can forest management enhance habitat suitability for bird species using the same landscapes during multiple phases of the annual cycle? Even when the science is available, its usefulness to inform management is often limited by a lack of input or buy-in from the land managers and owners that will ultimately need to apply recommendations on the ground. This project will address these research and implementation challenges through the use of a translational ecology approach that centers on collaboration between science producers and science users with frequent engagement, clear communication, a well-developed participatory process, and a decision-making framework to address complicated environmental issues.

“This project has the potential to reshape our approach to bird conservation,” said Todd Fearer, Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture Coordinator. “Not only will it help us better understand bird habitat needs within Appalachia beyond just the breeding season, but it also embraces a co-production framework that better informs practitioners and landowners to build support for habitat work on the ground. The research and engagement process will ultimately transform our ability to sustain healthy bird populations throughout the Appalachian region.”

This research is one of 10 projects receiving funding under the Partnership to Advance Conservation Science and Practice (PACSP) program, a first-of-its-kind collaboration between the U.S. National Science Foundation and the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. Now in its second year, the program is designed to catalyze deep collaboration between researchers advancing basic science and conservation partners engaging in on-the-ground conservation.

The projects focus on a range of species—from Cerulean Warblers and grizzly bears to Venus flytraps and Hawaiian honeycreeper—and the outcomes will have far-reaching implications for biodiversity and conservation, policy and the economy.

“The fundamental knowledge these projects create, even though related to specific species, will unlock innovative conservation efforts across a broader range of threatened species and ecosystems,” said Lara Littlefield, executive director for programs and partnerships at the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. “For instance, studying whether mosquitos infected with bacteria can limit the spread of malaria among birds in Hawaii could ultimately limit disease spread among other animals more broadly.”

Each project extends basic science into on-the-ground conservation to address critical knowledge and data gaps, enabling greater real-world impact to benefit species and ecosystems.

“The unique partnerships this program creates forge a roadmap to broader conservation action by uniting the skills, expertise and tools needed to address the most urgent threats to our natural world,” said Susan Marqusee, NSF assistant director for biological sciences. “These projects also will engage the public, policymakers, law enforcement and others in conservation through education, outreach and other broader impacts.”

Learn more about the Partnership to Advance Conservation Science and Practice program and view the full list of awards and awardees by visiting nsf.gov.

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About Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture

The Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture (AMJV) is a regional partnership of over 55 state and federal agencies, conservation organizations, and universities committed to the conservation of habitat for the benefit of birds, wildlife, and people in the core of the Appalachian Region. Our partnership stretches from the southwestern Appalachians in Alabama to the northeastern highlands in southern New York. This area encompasses 103 million acres across 12 states and contains some of the largest expanses of forest remaining in the eastern United States.

About U.S. National Science Foundation

The U.S. National Science Foundation propels the nation forward by advancing fundamental research in all fields of science and engineering. NSF supports research and people by providing facilities, instruments and funding to support their ingenuity and sustain the U.S. as a global leader in research and innovation. With a Fiscal Year 2024 budget of $9.06 billion, NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and institutions. Each year, NSF receives more than 40,000 competitive proposals and makes about 11,000 new awards. Those awards include support for cooperative research with industry, Arctic and Antarctic research and operations, and U.S. participation in international scientific efforts.

About Paul G. Allen Family Foundation

Founded in 1988 by philanthropists Jody Allen and the late Paul G. Allen, co-founder of Microsoft, the foundation works to enhance the arts and culture experience, mobilize young people to drive change, and advance science and technology solutions that address wildlife conservation, ocean health and climate change. The foundation also funds cutting-edge research in all areas of bioscience though the Paul G. Allen Frontiers Group.