Bald eagle populations have soared to new highs in Georgia. According to preliminary results, Georgia Department of Natural Resources aerial surveys in January and March documented 188 occupied nesting territories, 148 successful nests and 235 young fledged. Those are the largest totals recorded for each category in decades. Some 40 years ago, this iconic raptor – symbol of the U.S. – had been nearly extirpated across much of its historic range. Bald eagle nests numbered in the single digits in Georgia when survey leader Jim Ozier started monitoring them almost three decades ago. While nesting has steadily increased since, “We
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U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack launched the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), a public-private partnership designed to focus conservation efforts on the most critical watersheds and landscapes. The RCPP was a new program in the Farm Bill passed earlier this year. Under the program, local partners propose conservation projects specific to their region to improve soil health, water quality and water use efficiency, wildlife habitat, and other natural resources on private lands. Projects submitted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) undergo a competitive process, under which USDA will award $1.2 billion in funding over the life of
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A new study by The Nature Conservancy has identified a series of natural “strongholds” across the Southeastern United States that are predicted to withstand the growing impacts of climate change and help ensure nature’s survival. Resilient landscapes were found throughout the Southeastern United States including the high elevation forests of the Southern Blue Ridges that span Virginia, Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia and North Carolina and the limestone flats of central Florida that store and supply water for the entire state. As droughts, rising temperatures and other climate impacts threaten to destabilize natural areas across the United States and around the world,
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As an integral part of the National Landscape Conservation Cooperative (LCC) Network, dedicated to integrating science information and tools with on-the-ground conservation action to address climate change and other landscape-scale issues, the Appalachian LCC is transforming the landscape conservation vision into action. The Appalachian LCC has taken great strides this year in serving as the catalyst for a collaborative network, assembling foundational data and information; providing decision support tools and products; supporting outreach, capacity, and enhancing the visibility of conservation actors; and staying relevant and evaluating progress. This report highlights these key achievements taking place across the broader Appalachian region and National
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After a week of building, the Tennessee River Gorge Trust’s Bird-Banding Lab is complete. This lab will serve as the home base for bird-banders John Diener and Lizzie Goodrick to conduct longterm bird monitorings in the Gorge. Soon, we will know exactly which birds pass through the Gorge during migration and which stay here to breed! We anticipate that our bird inventorying process will continue for at least ten to fifteen years. After the first few years of inventorying, the Trust will use the data to better manage our forests to promote the survivorship of our birds. A huge thanks to The
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U.S. Geological Survey research contributes to conservation measures and improved management of migratory bird populations and their habitats across the United States. Migratory birds provide ecosystem benefits that include pest control, pollination of plants and serve as food sources for other wildlife. They are also a source of recreation for millions of bird watchers and enthusiasts who provide food and design backyard habitats to attract a variety of species throughout the year. USGS researchers are able to explore the behavior and ecology of migratory birds through the unique deployment of tools traditionally used for things such as seafloor mapping, weather
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Click here to view and download the 2023 AMJV Partnership Year in Review!
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The 2023 AMJV Impact Report is now available for downloading and sharing! Starting in 2022, this beautiful report has been designed annually by Liz Brewer (AMJV Outreach Specialist) to…
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by Liz Brewer, AMJV Outreach Specialist Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture (AMJV), in partnership with the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF), USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA-NRCS), and the West Virginia…
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