Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said today that in fiscal year 2014, the U.S. Forest Service invested a total of $20 million in partnerships that supported work and training opportunities for 11,000 youth and veterans on national forests and grasslands. Service members worked on projects that addressed restoration, hazardous fuels, watershed protection, wilderness stewardship, recreation access, facilities management, trail maintenance, and other natural and cultural resource priorities. “The partnerships associated with developing the next generation of conservationists offer an opportunity to connect veterans and our young people to the great outdoors,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “This program engages veterans and
Read More
Earlier this year Congress passed a new Farm Bill. The conservation programs within the Farm Bill are our nation’s largest source of funding for private lands conservation and will provide $28 billion for such activities through 2018. But with each new Farm Bill, conservation programs change, new producers are eligible, and a new cohort of conservationists helps implement these critical programs. A new Field Guide to the Farm Bill is being developed as a useful tool for state fish and wildlife agencies, nongovernmental conservation organizations, joint ventures, and other conservation partners on how Farm Bill programs can be deployed to strategically conserve
Read More
The AMJV was one of many partners who participated in the “Golden-winged Warbler Land Managers Workshop: Restoring Early Successional Habitat in the Southern Appalachians”. The two-day workshop sponsored by Audubon North Carolina and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation detailed guidelines for developing habitat for Golden-winged Warblers (GWWA) and other species associated with early successional forest. It took place on September 10-11 at Roan Mountain State Park. The first day consisted of instructional talks, including the most recent biology and status of Golden-winged Warbler, forestry best management practices, stewardship programs and tools available for private landownerss, and how to implement all components for efficient
Read More
The annual meeting of the Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture Technical Committee convened at The Nature Inn in Bald Eagle State Park in Howard, PA on August 19-20. The group of bird biologists and land managers held discussions on a litany of issues regarding bird conservation and habitat in the Appalachian region. Major recommendations that came out of the meeting included: Setting up a Technical Advisory Group to act as an executive committee for the Technical Committee (7-10 members) Establishing Work Groups to focus on specific topics such as Coordinated Monitoring, Landscape Assessment, High Elevation Forests, and Legacy Surface Mine Restoration
Read More
The State of the Birds 2014 report finds populations declining across key habitats. It also reveals successes, including work of AMJV partners, where conservation investment is leading to recovery. State of the Birds 2014 – the most comprehensive review of long-term trend data for U.S. birds ever conducted – finds populations declining across several key habitats and includes a “watch list” of bird species in need of immediate conservation help. The report also reveals, however, that in areas where a strong conservation investment has been made, bird populations are recovering. An example of this in the report is the work of state
Read More
Promoting the vital role of controlled burning, a sometimes-misunderstood practice, is on the agenda for the next annual meeting of the Georgia Prescribed Fire Council. The meeting is set for Thursday, Sept. 25, at the University of Georgia’s Tifton Campus Conference Center in Tifton. Topics include improving deer habitat with prescribed fire, resources for fire practitioners and ignition techniques, among others. The Georgia Prescribed Fire Council, which began as a regional effort to unite prescribed fire practitioners in southwest Georgia, has served as a statewide platform for prescribed fire advocacy and public education since January 2007. Prescribed fire is a
Read More