At our recent Management Board meeting, state representatives presented on and identified focal landscapes where the AMJV partnership can provide the bird context for conservation and enhance capacity to achieve success. These focal landscapes within the Appalachians contain a large mix of public and private lands, have a tremendous amount of partner synergy taking place, and are vital to AMJV priority bird species. The goal of the initiative is to enhance the diversity of forest structure and species in the long term while integrating forest restoration efforts with bird conservation objectives. Areas currently identified by local partners include: Southwestern New
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The Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) have finished a series of workshops across Pennsylvania and Ohio for land owners detailing practices that can improve forest habitats for birds and other wildlife. Along with describing how different forest management techniques can result in healthy, diverse habitat, the workshops introduced landowners to various resources such as cost-share programs and private lands foresters available to facilitate this type of management. In Pennsylvania, AMJV staff and partners working with Allegheny National Forest staff held a workshop in Bradford on June 9-10 that was attended by 41 landowners. The first
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The Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society (RGS/AWS) were honored to receive a recent 2017 APEX Award for Publication Excellence in the “Magazine Series” category for the 2016 Spring, Summer and Fall Hunting Special Edition issues of the Ruffed Grouse Society magazine. The award, given in the print magazines and journals section, marks the seventh consecutive year RGS/AWS has received an APEX award. “In many ways, the Ruffed Grouse Society is a major voice of our organization, effectively communicating our important mission of preserving sporting traditions by creating healthy forest habitat to members,” said RGS President and CEO John
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Wildlife Habitat Mapping for Community Land-use Planning and Species Conservation What is the Landscape Project? Designed to guide strategic wildlife habitat conservation, the Landscape Project is a pro-active, ecosystem-level approach for the long-term protection of imperiled species and their important habitats in New Jersey. The N.J. Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Endangered and Nongame Species Program (ENSP) began the project in 1994. Its goal: to protect New Jersey’s biological diversity by maintaining and enhancing imperiled wildlife populations within healthy, functioning ecosystems. Why does NJ need the Landscape Project? New Jersey is the most densely populated state
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A newly published plan developed by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources offers a long-range strategy to help ruffed grouse populations rebound in eastern Kentucky after years of decline. The Ruffed Grouse and Young Forest Strategic Plan looks 10 years out and its success hinges on an array of partners working together to create the young forest habitat on which grouse and other woodland species can thrive. “This will be an ambitious effort, aimed at turning the tide for the ruffed grouse,” Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commissioner Gregory K. Johnson said. “There is no doubt this is a challenge
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The Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC) purchased 324 acres in the Highlands of Roan — permanently protecting the northern slopes of Hump Mountain just 500 ft. from the Appalachian National Scenic Trail (AT)! The property, adjoining Cherokee National Forest and Hampton Creek Cove State Natural Area, has been a conservation priority for SAHC and partners at the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) and the US Forest Service for decades. “Our purchasing this tract ensures that future generations of hikers will be able to enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the AT on Hump Mountain,” said Executive Director Carl Silverstein. “This property
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