{"id":28012,"date":"2016-11-10T14:27:31","date_gmt":"2016-11-10T19:27:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/?p=28012"},"modified":"2022-04-19T17:11:51","modified_gmt":"2022-04-19T21:11:51","slug":"saving-habitat-saves-species-14-top-scientists-call-for-a-national-habitat-conservation-system","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/saving-habitat-saves-species-14-top-scientists-call-for-a-national-habitat-conservation-system\/","title":{"rendered":"Saving Habitat Saves Species: 14 Top Scientists Call for a National Habitat Conservation System"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/USLands.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/USLands-720x425.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/USLands-768x453.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/USLands-1280x755.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/USLands-480x283.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/USLands.jpg 1431w\" sizes=\"\" alt=\"This map of the Lower-48 states shows public and private conserved lands in the Protected Areas Database of the United States. There are additional conservation areas within the United States in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and U.S.\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><figcaption>This map of the Lower-48 states shows public and private conserved lands in the Protected Areas Database of the United States. There are additional conservation areas within the United States in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/TerritoriesMap-Key2.jpg\">Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, and U.S. Territories<\/a>.<\/figcaption>\n              <\/figure><\/div>\n<p>More than 300 million acres of public land in the United States are protected&#8211;a mix of national parks, refuges, and wilderness areas that equals more than 13 percent of all land in the 50 states and U.S. territories. Despite those protections and past conservation successes, studies show the loss of habitats and biodiversity is accelerating, and climate change is expected to contribute further to the decline. Added to that is a contentious political climate that has put management of public lands in a tug-of-war between diametrically opposing viewpoints.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group sidebar-alignright sidebar-space order-bottom\"><!--HubSpot Call-to-Action Code --><span class=\"hs-cta-wrapper\" id=\"hs-cta-wrapper-a8fe3c9a-217b-40fd-b1ff-2bb76ebe2cf3\"><span class=\"hs-cta-node hs-cta-a8fe3c9a-217b-40fd-b1ff-2bb76ebe2cf3\" id=\"hs-cta-a8fe3c9a-217b-40fd-b1ff-2bb76ebe2cf3\"><!--[if lte IE 8]><div id=\"hs-cta-ie-element\"><\/div><![endif]--><a href=\"http:\/\/cta-redirect.hubspot.com\/cta\/redirect\/95627\/a8fe3c9a-217b-40fd-b1ff-2bb76ebe2cf3\" ><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"hs-cta-img\" id=\"hs-cta-img-a8fe3c9a-217b-40fd-b1ff-2bb76ebe2cf3\" style=\"border-width:0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/95627\/a8fe3c9a-217b-40fd-b1ff-2bb76ebe2cf3.png\"  alt=\"New self-paced course: Learn How to Identify Bird Songs, Click to Learn More\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a><\/span><script charset=\"utf-8\" src=\"https:\/\/js.hscta.net\/cta\/current.js\"><\/script><script type=\"text\/javascript\"> hbspt.cta.load(95627, 'a8fe3c9a-217b-40fd-b1ff-2bb76ebe2cf3', {}); <\/script><\/span><!-- end HubSpot Call-to-Action Code -->\r\n<!--<span class=\"hs-cta-wrapper\" id=\"hs-cta-wrapper-394b2cc2-4447-4677-b18b-d2f2de5b57cd\">\r\n    <span class=\"hs-cta-node hs-cta-394b2cc2-4447-4677-b18b-d2f2de5b57cd\" id=\"hs-cta-394b2cc2-4447-4677-b18b-d2f2de5b57cd\">-->\r\n        <!--[if lte IE 8]><div id=\"hs-cta-ie-element\"><\/div><![endif]-->\r\n        <!--<a href=\"http:\/\/cta-redirect.hubspot.com\/cta\/redirect\/95627\/394b2cc2-4447-4677-b18b-d2f2de5b57cd\"  target=\"_blank\" ><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"hs-cta-img\" id=\"hs-cta-img-394b2cc2-4447-4677-b18b-d2f2de5b57cd\" style=\"border-width:0px;\" src=\"https:\/\/no-cache.hubspot.com\/cta\/default\/95627\/394b2cc2-4447-4677-b18b-d2f2de5b57cd.png\"  alt=\"Join the Cornell Lab\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a>\r\n    <\/span>\r\n    <script charset=\"utf-8\" src=\"https:\/\/js.hscta.net\/cta\/current.js\"><\/script>\r\n    <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n        hbspt.cta.load(95627, '394b2cc2-4447-4677-b18b-d2f2de5b57cd', {});\r\n    <\/script>\r\n<\/span>-->\r\n<!-- end HubSpot Call-to-Action Code -->\r\n\r\n<\/div>\n<p>\u201cOur protected lands system is unparalleled in the world in that it safeguards so much of our landscape and species for all Americans to enjoy,\u201d says Cornell Lab conservation scientist Ken Rosenberg. \u201cBut it\u2019s also a system that is increasingly under threat. There\u2019s a big gap between those who want to remove protections and those who want to expand and improve the system.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>With the presidential election now over, and a new administration waiting in the wings, there could be an opportunity to see past these divisions to safeguard our beautiful landscapes and the creatures who live there. Top conservation leaders and scientists have joined forces in a report that calls for national habitat conservation system to do exactly that.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s so much good habitat conservation work going on,\u201d says lead author Jocelyn Aycrigg, a conservation biologist with the University of Idaho. \u201cBut what we don\u2019t have is a comprehensive vision for conserving habitats all across the country.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>We already have a good start on assessing the current state of public conservation areas because they are identified in the <a href=\"http:\/\/gapanalysis.usgs.gov\/padus\/\">Protected Areas Database of the United States<\/a>. But as the map above shows, like random paint spatters, these areas are scattered and not managed with a unified goal.<\/p>\n<p>There is precedent for this type of conservation system. The report singles out three models for developing a successful national habitat conservation system: The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nabci-us.org\/\">North American Bird Conservation Initiative<\/a> in the United States, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.natura.org\/\">Natura 2000<\/a> in Europe, and the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.environment.gov.au\/land\/nrs\">National Reserve System<\/a> in Australia. What they have in common is a commitment to working with partners at all levels and with varying viewpoints, from local to federal, both private and governmental\u2014the key to success for large-scale protection of lands.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/BirdWatching.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/BirdWatching-720x478.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/BirdWatching-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/BirdWatching-480x319.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/BirdWatching.jpg 864w\" sizes=\"\" alt=\"Conserving habitat is good for people, too. Photo by Joan Chavtur.\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><figcaption>Conserving habitat is good for people, too. <em>Photo by Joan Chavtur.<\/em>\n<\/figcaption>\n              <\/figure><\/div>\n<p>To get the conversation started, the authors suggest convening a national forum of public and private conservation partners to oversee action in four key areas recommended in the report:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Develop a common vision<\/strong> and establish measureable goals.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Complete an assessment<\/strong> of the current state of conservation areas in the U.S.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Set standards<\/strong>, monitor progress, and adjust as needed.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Implement strategies<\/strong> to complete the national habitat conservation system.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>\u201cOur current system gives us a solid foundation for moving ahead,\u201d says Aycrigg. \u201cBut it was developed with different priorities than we have today. With a comprehensive vision and network we can better share resources, address the gaps in our protected areas, and create the strategies needed to make everything work better without duplication of effort.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Many of the strengths and weaknesses of the country\u2019s conservation areas with regard to birds have already been highlighted in the 2011 <em><a href=\"http:\/\/www.stateofthebirds.org\/2011\">U.S. State of the Birds on Public Lands and Waters<\/a><\/em> report. Birds are a great indicator for the health of an ecosystem.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe 2011 <em>State of the Birds<\/em> report uses birds to evaluate the health of habitats and relates it to the amount of land protection in each habitat,\u201d explains Rosenberg. \u201cNow we have to use that knowledge to strategically improve our conservation network by adding greater protection for the habitats that don\u2019t have it.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>Conservation Where It&#8217;s Needed Most<\/h3>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Prairie-Poon.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Prairie-Poon-720x478.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Prairie-Poon-480x319.jpg 480w, https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/11\/Prairie-Poon.jpg 735w\" sizes=\"\" alt=\"Prairie photo by Wing-Chi Poon under Creative Commons license.\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><figcaption>The American prairie. <em>Photo by Wing-Chi Poon via Creative Commons.<\/em><\/figcaption>\n              <\/figure><\/div>\n<p>Based on data analyzed for the <em>State of the Birds<\/em> reports, habitats in special need of attention include the nation\u2019s grasslands and aridlands where conversion to agriculture and extraction of energy resources are contributing to steep bird population declines.<\/p>\n<p>There are other ways to improve protection of habitats beyond national parks, refuges, and wilderness areas.<\/p>\n<p>Improving management on <strong>multiple-use public lands <\/strong>would protect an additional 415 million acres, where recreation, logging, and even habitat and biodiversity conservation program exist, though the latter is not its primary use.<\/p>\n<p>An expanded public lands network will complement existing <strong>private conserved lands<\/strong> (shown on the map in green) which can have conservation easements that provide a level of protection afforded by <strong>land trusts<\/strong>. Land trusts already protect an area larger than all our national parks combined. The Cornell Lab is collaborating with land trusts in the new <a href=\"http:\/\/www.birds.cornell.edu\/landtrust\/\">Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative<\/a>, to benefit both habitat and bird conservation efforts.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group legacy-sidebar sidebar-alignright has-lightgray-background-color has-background\">\n<h4>Reference<\/h4>\n<p>Jocelyn L. Aycrigg, Craig Groves, Jodi A. Hilty, J. Michael Scott, Paul Beier, D. A. Boyce, Jr., Dennis Figg, Healy Hamilton, Gary Machlis, Kit Muller, K. V. Rosenberg, Raymond M. Sauvajot, Mark Shaffer, and Rand Wentworth. <a href=\"http:\/\/bioscience.oxfordjournals.org\/content\/early\/2016\/07\/29\/biosci.biw090.abstract\">Completing the System: Opportunities and Challenges for a National Habitat Conservation System<\/a>. <em>BioScience<\/em>. September 2016. 66:774-784, doi: 10.1093\/biosci\/biw090<br \/>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Citizen-science data<\/strong> can also help inform the development of a national habitat conservation system by identifying species and monitoring effectiveness of conservation actions over time. There are many programs that collect data on animals, plant life, and, of course, birds. For example, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.ebird.org\">eBird<\/a> takes in millions of bird observations each month.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI believe, if we don\u2019t start thinking about conservation in a comprehensive, strategic way we\u2019re not going to be able to halt or even slow down the loss of biodiversity,\u201d Aycrigg concludes. \u201cWe want our report to get the conversation started on creating a national vision for conservation. Otherwise we may lose habitats and species before we even know how to save them.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>More than 300 million acres of public land in the United States are protected&#8211;a mix of national parks, refuges, and wilderness areas that equals more than 13 percent of all<a class=\"excerpt-read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/saving-habitat-saves-species-14-top-scientists-call-for-a-national-habitat-conservation-system\/\" title=\"ReadSaving Habitat Saves Species: 14 Top Scientists Call for a National Habitat Conservation System\">&#8230; Read more &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":28019,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_tec_requires_first_save":true,"_birdpress_living_bird_toc":0,"_birdpress_living_bird_toc_title":"","_birdpress_featured_image":false,"_birdpress_hero_toggle":false,"_birdpress_hero_type":"image","_birdpress_hero_image_type":"image","_birdpress_hero_style":"default","_birdpress_hero_ratio":"","_birdpress_hero_h1":"","_birdpress_hero_media_id":0,"_birdpress_hero_media_array_id":[],"_birdpress_hero_media_array":[],"_birdpress_hero_media":0,"_birdpress_hero_video_id":0,"_birdpress_hero_video":0,"_birdpress_hero_youtube":"","_birdpress_hero_content":true,"_birdpress_hero_byline":"","_birdpress_hero_byline_bottom":"","_birdpress_hero_button_link":"","_birdpress_hero_button_text":"","_birdpress_hero_button_color":"","_birdpress_hero_date":false,"original_guid":"","_birdpress_hide_search":false,"_birdpress_page_width":"","_birdpress_global_cta":false,"_birdpress_widget_sidebar":"","_birdpress_next_article":0,"_birdpress_next_article_title":"","_birdpress_prev_article":0,"_birdpress_prev_article_title":"","_birdpress_sub_navigation_id":0,"_birdpress_sub_navigation":"","_birdpress_sub_navigation_title":false,"_birdpress_anchor_navigation_id":0,"_birdpress_anchor_navigation":"","_birdpress_postType":"both","_birdpress_categoryID":0,"_birdpress_tagID":0,"_birdpress_parentPostID":0,"_birdpress_parentPostTitle":"","_birdpress_menuID":0,"_birdpress_menuName":"","_birdpress_listHeader":"","_birdpress_listLayout":"card-display","_birdpress_listColumns":"","_birdpress_maxItems":12,"_birdpress_listPaginate":true,"_birdpress_displaySort":true,"_birdpress_sortOrder":"DESC","_birdpress_sortBy":"date","_birdpress_listID":"","_birdpress_listClass":"","_birdpress_displayImages":true,"_birdpress_displayCaptions":false,"_birdpress_displayExcerpts":false,"_birdpress_attTop":"","_birdpress_attBottom":"","_birdpress_showLogos":false,"_birdpress_post_logo":0,"_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_tribe_blocks_recurrence_rules":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_description":"","_tribe_blocks_recurrence_exclusions":"","wds_primary_category":0,"wds_primary_topic":0,"wds_primary_content-format":0,"wds_primary_cornell-lab-project":0,"wds_primary_host-project":0,"wds_primary_read-more-tag":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"topic":[998,1043],"content-format":[1055],"cornell-lab-project":[],"host-project":[],"read-more-tag":[],"class_list":["post-28012","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","topic-news-and-features","topic-science-conservation-news-and-features","content-format-article"],"metadata":{"associated-posts":[""],"_edit_lock":["1650402571:4"],"_edit_last":["4"],"wdsi_message_id":[""],"wdsi_do_not_show":[""],"_wds_meta-robots-adv":[","],"wpa_off":[""],"custom-byline":["<h5>By Pat Leonard<\/h5>"],"banner-video":[""],"banner-image":[""],"fallback-videobanner-image":[""],"original_guid":[""],"banner-text-style":["light"],"banner-style":["default"],"featured-image-display":["no"],"hide-from-search":["no"],"_birdpress_next_article":[""],"_birdpress_prev_article":[""],"_webdados_fb_open_graph_specific_image":[""],"_thumbnail_id":["28019"],"_wds_trimmed_excerpt":["More than 300 million acres of public land in the United States are protected--a mix of national parks, refuges, and wilderness areas that equals more than 13 percent of all land in the 50 states and U.S. territories. Despite those protections and past conservation successes, studies show the lo ..."],"banner-transcript":[""],"_webdados_fb_open_graph_specific_description":[""],"_wds_meta-robots-nofollow":[""],"_wds_meta-robots-noindex":[""]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28012","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28012"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28012\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28019"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28012"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28012"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28012"},{"taxonomy":"topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic?post=28012"},{"taxonomy":"content-format","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content-format?post=28012"},{"taxonomy":"cornell-lab-project","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cornell-lab-project?post=28012"},{"taxonomy":"host-project","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/host-project?post=28012"},{"taxonomy":"read-more-tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.allaboutbirds.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/read-more-tag?post=28012"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}