Regional Partnerships

The Appalachian Regional Reforestation Initiative (ARRI) is a coalition of groups, including citizens, the coal industry, and government dedicated to restoring forests on coal mined lands in the Eastern United States. ARRI was established in early 2004 with the formation of the Core Team. The Core Team's responsibilities include outreach, trainings, event planning, monthly meetings to discuss progress reports and new strategies, among other things.

Website: arri.osmre.gov/Default.shtm

The Central Appalachians FLN engages federal, state and private land managers in a collaborative effort to enhance capacity to implement ecological fire management in the Central Appalachian Forest, Western Allegheny Plateau, and Cumberlands and Southern Ridge and Valley ecoregions. Within this biologically diverse region, the FLN seeks to:

• Collaborate with stakeholders to strengthen the scientific basis for landscape-scale fire management, and develop landscape-scale desired future condition and fire management objectives;
• Transfer knowledge and lessons learned to facilitate ecological objective setting, effective stakeholder engagement, efficient compliance with regulatory requirements, and funding of ecological fire management projects; and
• Identify critical barriers to implementing restoration of fire adapted ecosystems, and develop strategies to overcome these barriers;

The Central Appalachian Spruce Restoration Initiative (CASRI) is a partnership of diverse interests with a common goal of restoring historic red spruce-northern hardwood ecosystems across the high elevation landscapes of Central Appalachia. It is comprised of private, state, federal, and non-governmental organizations which recognize the importance of this ecosystem for its ecological, aesthetic, recreational, economic, and cultural values.

Contact: Julie Fosbender, USFS

SOUTHERN APPALACHIAN SPRUCE RESTORATION INITIATIVE

The Southern Appalachian Spruce Restoration Initiative (CASRI) is a partnership of diverse interests with a common goal of restoring historic red spruce-northern hardwood ecosystems across the Southern Appalachian landscape. It is comprised of private, state, federal, and non-governmental organizations which recognize the importance of this ecosystem for its ecological, aesthetic, recreational, economic, and cultural values.

A partnership of State Wildlife Agencies Conserving State Priority Birds on their Wintering Grounds in Mexico, Central America, South America and the Caribbean. The partnership supports the common vision of providing a funding mechanism for bird conservation projects in these regions to support priority birds throughout their annual cycle and protect the state wildlife agencies investments.

Email: dhahn@fishwildlife.org
Website: www.fishwildlife.org/index.php?section=southern-wings-program&activa;