The Future of Conservation Forum: Format and Content
Objective: Develop a framework for accelerating biodiversity conservation and landscape collaboration in a changing climate that supports the well-being of all people.
“Target Audiences” for Recommendations: In no particular order, federal, provincial and state governments, indigenous groups, non-governmental organizations, philanthropies, businesses, landowners and others provide specific, actionable recommendations for implementation.
Method: Virtual working groups will develop recommendations for 5-7 practical actions for targeted audiences. Each working group will address one of seven key structural elements of a potential framework including Science and Traditional Ecological Knowledges, Collaboration, Private lands, Biodiversity, Climate change, Urbanscapes, and Government (Tribal and First Nations, Federal, and State).
Participants: Subject matter experts and generalists will work together to describe our current situation and begin to develop actionable recommendations that can contribute to a conservation framework.
“Target Audiences” for Recommendations: In no particular order, federal, provincial and state governments, indigenous groups, non-governmental organizations, philanthropies, businesses, landowners and others provide specific, actionable recommendations for implementation.
Method: Virtual working groups will develop recommendations for 5-7 practical actions for targeted audiences. Each working group will address one of seven key structural elements of a potential framework including Science and Traditional Ecological Knowledges, Collaboration, Private lands, Biodiversity, Climate change, Urbanscapes, and Government (Tribal and First Nations, Federal, and State).
Participants: Subject matter experts and generalists will work together to describe our current situation and begin to develop actionable recommendations that can contribute to a conservation framework.
Forum Agenda
- January 25, 2022 | 1:00 - 5:00pm (EST)
- January 27, 2022 | 1:00 - 5:00pm (EST)
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Tuesday, January 25, 2022
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Thursday, January 27, 2022
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Tuesday, January 25, 2022 | Agenda
1:00 - 5:00 PM (EST)
1:00 – 2:50pm (EST)
Day 1 Opening Plenary Session: Visions for the Future of Conservation and Restoration of North America’s Landscapes
All participants will be invited to attend the plenary. Speakers from different perspectives will present their visions/objectives followed by Q and A from the audience. There will not be an attempt to reconcile these visions; rather they will launch the further discussions described below.
2:50-5:00pm (EST)
Working Group Discussions: Elements of the Framework
The working groups will meet to develop recommendations for priority actions. A facilitator for each discussion will focus participants on the need for actionable recommendations rather than broad policy prescriptions.
1:00 - 5:00 PM (EST)
1:00 – 2:50pm (EST)
Day 1 Opening Plenary Session: Visions for the Future of Conservation and Restoration of North America’s Landscapes
All participants will be invited to attend the plenary. Speakers from different perspectives will present their visions/objectives followed by Q and A from the audience. There will not be an attempt to reconcile these visions; rather they will launch the further discussions described below.
- Welcome and Introduction: Dr. Deb Rocque, Assistant Director for Science Applications, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Ernest Cook, Executive Director, Network for Landscape Conservation
- The Plenary will be moderated by Lynn Scarlett, former deputy Secretary of the Department of Interior and Policy manager for The Nature Conservancy.
- Speakers:
- Margaret O’Gorman, President of the Wildlife Habitat Council
- Julie Thorstenson, Executive Director of the Native American Fish and Wildlife Society
- Tony Wasley, Director of the Nevada Department of Wildlife and President of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
- Martha Williams, Principal Deputy Director acting in the capacity of Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
- Lesli Allison, Executive Director, Western Landowners Alliance
- Speakers:
2:50-5:00pm (EST)
Working Group Discussions: Elements of the Framework
The working groups will meet to develop recommendations for priority actions. A facilitator for each discussion will focus participants on the need for actionable recommendations rather than broad policy prescriptions.
Thursday, January 27, 2022 | Agenda
1:00 - 5:00pm (EST)
1:00-4:00pm (EST)
Working Group Discussions continue
4:00-5:00pm (EST)
Final Plenary
There will be a discussion of cross-cutting themes and observations and explanation of next steps. Shannon Estenoz, Department of Interior Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife, and Parks will close out the forum by reflecting on highlights.
Key Issues for the Future of Conservation addressed by Working Groups (each group will be assigned one of the issues)
The challenge—develop a framework for accelerating biodiversity conservation and landscape collaboration in a changing climate that sustains the well-being of all people.
We have identified major issues affecting that framework that must be addressed to accomplish conservation at the needed scale and pace. For each of issues the conference will bring together a diversity of experts and interests to define what success looks like and begin to develop specific actions that can be taken in the next 3-5 years to get us to success.
1:00 - 5:00pm (EST)
1:00-4:00pm (EST)
Working Group Discussions continue
4:00-5:00pm (EST)
Final Plenary
There will be a discussion of cross-cutting themes and observations and explanation of next steps. Shannon Estenoz, Department of Interior Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife, and Parks will close out the forum by reflecting on highlights.
Key Issues for the Future of Conservation addressed by Working Groups (each group will be assigned one of the issues)
The challenge—develop a framework for accelerating biodiversity conservation and landscape collaboration in a changing climate that sustains the well-being of all people.
We have identified major issues affecting that framework that must be addressed to accomplish conservation at the needed scale and pace. For each of issues the conference will bring together a diversity of experts and interests to define what success looks like and begin to develop specific actions that can be taken in the next 3-5 years to get us to success.
- Issue # 1: Science and Traditional Ecological Knowledge/Indigenous Knowledge and management have advanced rapidly. The value of traditional knowledge is increasingly being recognized. But we do not have consistent and adequately supported mechanisms for bringing science, including traditional knowledge, to conservation planning, priority setting, and decision-making particularly with respect to conservation at the landscape scale. What could be done to deliver the best science, including traditional knowledges, and conservation planning to decision-makers?
- Issue # 2: Collaboration among state and federal agencies, private conservation organizations, private landowners, and the business community is essential to the success of conservation at the landscape scale. What can be done to ensure landscape conservation is more collaborative and consistently successful? Are new programs or initiatives needed? Are there existing programs or initiatives that should be bolstered or better aligned? Are new public-private sector partnerships needed?
- Issue # 3: More than 60% of the United States land mass is in private ownership. Private lands, including working lands, are critical to the ecological and economic future of the nation, particularly in rural areas. How can we better recognize or reward private landowners for their significant contributions to conservation? How can we better support private landowners to more actively participate in landscape conservation? What can be done to better address the economic needs of rural landowners and communities as part of a landscape conservation framework?
- Issue # 4: The nation is facing a biodiversity crisis compounded by a changing climate and other landscape-scale stressors. We’ve lost an estimated 3 BILLION birds since 1970; there are more than 1600 species listed under the Endangered Species Act; and one-third of American wildlife species are at increased risk of extinction. A traditional species-by-species approach to stem this crisis is not feasible. We have an unprecedented opportunity to think creatively, envision a future of restored, connected landscapes supporting thriving biodiversity and improved well-being for people. What steps can we take to achieve this vision?
- Issue # 5: Climate change is having a profound impact on the American landscape—one that will increase with time to threaten whole ecosystems, with devastating impacts on human communities and the future of many species. Natural areas and working landscapes can mitigate carbon emissions, enable species to adapt or move in response to a changing climate, and buffer human settlements from climate-related hazards. What needs to change to take greater advantage of the ability of natural and working landscape conservation to enable ecosystems, species and human communities to adapt to climate change? How can natural carbon storage go to scale as a climate mitigation strategy?
- Issue # 6: Most Americans live in metropolitan areas where greenspace is not evenly and equitably distributed. What role do cities play in the future of conservation both for protecting natural systems and bringing nature to people? How can we elevate the role of the urbanscape (urban landscape) to provide more benefits to biodiversity and the well-being of all people?
- Issue # 7: Government is the largest financial contributor to conservation in the United States, yet conservation efforts are not coordinated across all federal, state, and tribal agencies. Tribes and First Nations are the original stewards of America’s lands, but most of those lands were taken away, and the lessons of their stewardship have been largely ignored. Tribal nations and all forms of government are essential to building and executing a framework for American conservation. How can the framework best involve, respect and engage tribes, First Nations and other Indigenous communities? What role should federal, state, and tribal agencies play in a national framework and how can they work more effectively across organizational structures and cultures that impede collaboration?
Next Steps
Post Event Report
One member of each working group will write up findings and recommendations. These will be distributed to the working group members for review before being compiled into a report for reference by government agencies and other stakeholders.
North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference (March 14 - March 18, 2022)
Draft Recommendations will be discussed during a special session of state, tribal, and federal fish and wildlife agency staff and further refined to explore what is possible.
Implementation Summit
Spring/summer 2022 an in-person conference will be held in which government leaders (including federal, provincial, state and tribal governments), NGOs, philanthropy leaders, business owners and landowner representatives will be asked to respond to the recommendations by outlining next steps to advance a durable and equitable framework for conservation and restoration of North America’s natural resources.
One member of each working group will write up findings and recommendations. These will be distributed to the working group members for review before being compiled into a report for reference by government agencies and other stakeholders.
North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference (March 14 - March 18, 2022)
Draft Recommendations will be discussed during a special session of state, tribal, and federal fish and wildlife agency staff and further refined to explore what is possible.
Implementation Summit
Spring/summer 2022 an in-person conference will be held in which government leaders (including federal, provincial, state and tribal governments), NGOs, philanthropy leaders, business owners and landowner representatives will be asked to respond to the recommendations by outlining next steps to advance a durable and equitable framework for conservation and restoration of North America’s natural resources.