Providing Coordination and Leadership to the Gulf Coastal Plains and Ozarks Landscape Conservation Cooperative

Summary

Title: Providing Coordination and Leadership to the Gulf Coastal Plains and Ozarks Landscape Conservation Cooperative F15AC00993. Abstract: The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS or Service) entered into this Cooperative Agreement in September 2015, with a start date of January 1, 2016. The agreement was modified twice, to add funds and date extensions to complete activities, and to modify the scope of work to be accomplished under the umbrella of the agreement (Appendix A). Following are some highlights of the activities and scope of work that was included in the Cooperative Agreement: • The Agreement began at a time (2016) when the Gulf Coastal Plains & Ozarks Landscape Conservation Cooperative [...]

Summary

Title: Providing Coordination and Leadership to the Gulf Coastal Plains and Ozarks Landscape Conservation Cooperative F15AC00993. Abstract: The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and US Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS or Service) entered into this Cooperative Agreement in September 2015, with a start date of January 1, 2016. The agreement was modified twice, to add funds and date extensions to complete activities, and to modify the scope of work to be accomplished under the umbrella of the agreement (Appendix A). Following are some highlights of the activities and scope of work that was included in the Cooperative Agreement: • The Agreement began at a time (2016) when the Gulf Coastal Plains & Ozarks Landscape Conservation Cooperative (GCPO LCC) was a fully operational LCC, with dedicated staff from 6 organizations (1 state agency, 2 federal agencies, 1 university, 1 NGO, and 1 private). The original Agreement and scope of work represented a continuation of a previous cooperative agreement that TWRA and the Service had operated under, to provide coordination and technology and science support for the GCPO LCC. • In 2017, priorities of the Department of Interior changed with the incoming new administration, which ultimately resulted in a decision by the GCPO LCC Steering Committee to suspend their activities following their final meeting in November of that year. The GCPO LCC Coordinator’s position was terminated, and other Service positions that had been dedicated to the LCC were assigned to other priorities. • In 2017, the GCPO LCC completed a GCPO LCC Legacy Report, which highlighted the accomplishments of the LCC from 2011 to 2017. • In response to the transition of 2017, and the changes in priorities for both the Service and state partners, the scope of work for the last 2 years (2018 and 2019) of the Agreement was revised to reflect the new priorities of the Service and TWRA: • Coordinate with state Wildlife Diversity programs (AL, AR, FL, KY, MO, MS, OK, TN, TX) to integrate wildlife diversity conservation priorities into the GCPO LCC Conservation Blueprint. • Coordinate with the USFWS to integrate conservation priorities of the SE At-risk Species program into GCPO LCC Conservation Blueprint. • Coordinate with the USFWS to facilitate the development of Landscape Conservation Designs for National Wildlife Refuges in the GCPO LCC geography. • Coordinate with other states within the Southeast Conservation Adaptation Strategy (SECAS) region to integrate GCPO LCC Conservation Blueprint with the SECAS Blueprint. This activity will be accomplished through close coordination with the Southeast Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, primarily, but not exclusively through the SEAFWA Wildlife Diversity Committee. • Coordinate the activities of ongoing GCPO LCC research projects that are already funded and scheduled to be completed in 2018 or 2019. These projects include the University of Missouri, Mississippi State University, and SARP Aquatic Connectivity project. • Given the transition period of 2017 and the large uncertainties surrounding the future of LCCs within the Department of Interior at that time, the exact nature of the above activities listed in the scope of work for 2018 and 2019 were also somewhat uncertain, and dependent on decisions that were still forthcoming from the Service, as well as the interest of partners who would be engaged in conducting some of the work. As such, we were able to focus on working with state Wildlife Diversity programs to look at regional species of greatest conservation need (first activity), and work with other states to help align their conservation priorities with the Southeast Conservation Adaptation Strategy. Amount: $455,000 Start Date: 1/1/2016 End Date: 12/25/2019 Funding Source: 1420
Recipient: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency
Lead Organization: Gulf Coastal Plains and Ozarks Landscape Conservation Cooperative; FWS Region 4 Science Applications
FWS Point of Contact: Bill Uihlein bill_uihlein@fws.gov
Project Leader: Todd Jones-Farrand david_jones-farrand@fws.gov

Providing Coordination and Leadership to the Gulf Coastal Plains and Ozarks Landscape Conservation Cooperative

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