Posted by:
CSRAJim
at Fri Jun 26 17:39:33 2009 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by CSRAJim ]
Ed,
--According to the “Designation of U.S. MAB Areas and Recognition of Entities Contributing to the U.S. Biosphere Reserve Program” from the U.S. Biospher Reserve Directorate report to the U.S. National MAB Committee (February 1996), both the National Science Foundation (NSF) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) are recognized as an “affiliate” of the US MAB. An “affiliate” is defined as “a group, program, organization or partnership that identifies with the goals of MAB and the U.S. Biosphere Reserve Program, and working actively toward the implementation of these goals in a particular ecosystem of landscape (seascape).”
--Included are:
“Organizations or programs working cooperatively with USMAB to promote particular Biosphere Reserve functions (e.g. The Nature Conservancy’s Biosphere Reserve Program, NSF’s Long-Term Ecological Research Program, the National Biological Service’s GAP Analysis Program).”
--It continues with;
“Entities recognized as U.S. MAB affiliates may involve government agencies at all levels, nongovernmental organizations, commercial interests, universities and research institutions, community groups, and local citizens. U.S. MAB affiliates participate in Directorate-sponsored programs and projects (e.g. small grants) and receive MAB technical assistance for developing Biosphere Reserve nominations and programs.”
--And;
“U.S. MAB affiliates are recognized by certificate from the U.S. Biosphere Reserve Directorate on the basis of their capabilities, interests and accomplishments in furthering the goals of the U.S. Biosphere Reserve Program.”
--From the summary of “The 20 in 2000 Campaign”, a proposal for the Functional Development of U.S. Biosphere Reserves, U.S. Man and the Biosphere Reserve Program, Biosphere Reserve Directorate (February 1996) paper which states the following;
“The mission of the biosphere reserve program is to ‘establish and support a U.S. network of biosphere reserves that represent the biogeographical areas of the U.S’. In the U.S., there are currently 47 biosphere reserves consisting of 99 UNESCO – designated sites. Using biosphere reserves as demonstration areas the biosphere reserve program ‘promotes a sustainable balance among the conservation of biological diversity, compatible economic use, and cultural values through interdisciplinary research and training’.”
--So, the TNC is an “affiliate” of the USMAB Program since February 1996…Now consider the following from the USFWS…
Oregon (FY2007) – Pocket Creek Ranch Conservation Easement at Zumwalt Prairie (Wallowa County, OR): $557,000. This grant is for the acquisition of a conservation easement over 5,817 acres adjacent to THE NATURE CONSERVANCY’s Zumwalt Prairie Preserve in Northeast Oregon. The conservation easement will protect additional habitat for the largest known Spalding’s Catchfly population in Oregon and habitat of the Snake River Steelhead, both federally listed threatened species. This acquisition is also expected to benefit the Columbia Spotted Frog, nesting raptors including Ferruginous Hawks and Northern Goshawks, and Columbian Sharp-Tailed Grouse.
Texas (FY2007) – Whooping Crane Seadrift Habitat (Calhoun County, TX): $412,750. This project proposes to acquire a conservation easement by THE NATURE CONSERVANCY to preserve the 2,160 acre J. Welder Ranch, an area of coastal marsh that is optimal habitat for the endangered Whooping Crane and Brown Pelican, and the threatened Piping Plover. Increasing commercial and residential development pressures within, and adjacent to, currently used Whooping Crane habitat in Arkansas and Calhoun counties make the need for habitat protection measures paramount for the recovery of these species.
Idaho (FY2008) – Boundary Creek Conservation Easement (Boundary County, ID): $1,471,500. This grant will support THE NATURE CONSERVANCY’s acquisition of a conservation easement for more than 654 acres of high-priority private forestland in Kootenai Valley of Northern Idaho. The subject property provides a critical link between the higher elevation public lands of the Selkirk Mountains and over 2,000 acres of low-elevation protected areas owned by the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, Vital Ground Foundation and the Owens Foundation for Wildlife Conservation. The protection of the property will contribute to the recovery of Grizzly Bear, Mountain Caribou, Bull Trout, Canada Lynx, and Gray Wolf.
Wisconsin (FY2009) – Karner Blue Butterfly HCP Land Acquisition-Quincy Bluff (Adams County): $1,533, 000. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is awarded $1,533,000 to fund the acquisition of a 240 acre parcel and an 870 acre parcel located within the Qunicy Bluff and Wetlands State Natural Area. Purchase of these properties substantially benefits the restoration and management of the ecosystem present on the complex of lands owned in Central Wisconsin. Once acquired, they will be permanently protected and managed for the Karner Blue Butterfly to assist in the recovery of the Glacial Lake Wisconsin KBB Recovery Unit. The acquisition of these parcels will help connect State Natural Area lands owned by THE NATURE CONSERVANCY with those owned by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, which currently totals over 5,000 acres.
Texas (FY2009) – Creating the Ranchito-Laguan Atascosa Corridor for Ocelot and Other Wildlife in South Texas (Cameron County, TX): $840,593. THE NATURE CONSERVANCY requests $840,593 in Federal funding to acquire through fee-title a 1,242 acre tract that would protect the Ocelot, Jaguarundi, Northern Aplomado Falcon, and several State-listed species, located in Cameron County, Texas. Protection of thornscrub woodlands and wooded waterways, such as Resacas, is a high priority for Ocelot and Jaguarundi continued existence as well as being needed for both species’ recovery. The 1,242 acre tract contains a wooded riparian zone along a Resaca that provides existing suitable habitat for a travel corridor, and is large enough to potentially support three adult Ocelots. Acquisition would contribute to recovery plan criteria: protect existing corridors and create new dispersal corridors.
--As I mentioned above, there is a National Committee for the Man and the Biosphere Program (2000) which consists of members from the following departments and agencies:
Department of State
U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Smithsonian Institution (SI)
Department of Energy (DOE)
U.S. Geologic Survey (USGS)
U.S. Department of Agriculture – Forest Service (USDA-FS)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Department of the Interior
Department of Agriculture (USDA)
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
--I don’t know how you read this but IMO, there is a connection between the USMAB, The Nature Conservancy and the USFWS regardless of what they would say in the contrary…
Later,
Jim.
PS: information after 2000 regarding the USMAB is very difficult to find, so I do not know “who” the current department/agency members are of the National Committee…
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CSRAJim
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RE: FL-Regulation Changes... - CSRAJim, Fri Jun 26 17:39:33 2009