Resources, Grants and Tools for Partners Posted June 4, 2008
To read archived announcements for 2008, click on one of the links below:
May 2008
April 2008
March 2008
February 2008
Announcements
Land Trust Accreditation Commission seeks volunteer commissioners
Applications due July 30, 2008
The Commission is an independent program of the Land Trust Alliance. Commissioners must be willing to volunteer up to 30 days of service each year and serve at least one three-year term.
Commission member position description
Congress renews Conservation Tax Incentive—online “how-to-use” resources available
Congress recently renewed the Conservation Tax Incentive through the end of 2009 and made it retroactive to include all of 2008. This Land Trust Alliance webpage includes important resources on how to use this valuable conservation tool.
Grants
USFWS: Request for Proposals for 2 different programs focused on "webless" game birds
- Webless Migratory Game Bird Management Program (monitoring, research, and management activities). Proposals are due July 1, 2008 for use of FY2008 funds. Projects will be initiated in 2008. No matching funds required, but a match increases the chance for selection.
- Webless Migratory Game Bird Research (WMGBR) Program. Proposals are due November 1, 2008 for use of FY2009 funds. Projects will be initiated in 2009. Matching funds are required.
Please contact david_dolton@fws.gov for copies of the Request for Proposals for these 2 programs.
Wildlife Forever Challenge Grants
July 1, 2008
Habitat restoration and acquisition, research and management, and educational projects. Emphasis on grassroots programs that involve local conservation, sportsmen's or outdoor recreation groups. Funds must be matched on at least a one-to-one basis.
Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program (RTCA)—National Park Service
August 1, 2008
RTCA staff provide technical assistance to community groups and local, state, and federal government agencies to preserve open space, conserve rivers, and develop trails and greenways. Applicants are strongly encouraged to discuss their project with RTCA staff before sending in an application. Preference will be given to projects that partner with and connect communities to NPS areas.
Grant resource:
National Science Foundation Biological Sciences (BIO) Active Funding Opportunities
Tools and resources
Nonindigenous Aquatic Species information resource—U.S. Geological Survey
A central repository for spatially referenced biogeographic accounts of nonindigenous aquatic species. Provides scientific reports, online/realtime queries, spatial data sets, regional contact lists, and general information.
New Wetland Assessment webpage (Association of State Wetland Managers)
Includes a recent ASWM article, “Wetland Assessment: Measuring the Quality of the Nation’s Wetlands,” a checklist of suggested considerations in developing wetland assessment methods for states as well as several links to state and federal resources on assessment.
The Effects of Climate Change on Agriculture, Land Resources, Water Resources, and Biodiversity in the United States
U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP), Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.3
The most extensive examination of the impacts of climate change on important U.S. ecosystems undertaken to date. The CCSP coordinates climate change research activities of U.S. government agencies.
Firing Up Your Geospatial Technology Skills: Forge a step-by-step approach to find the right training, data, and tools
NOAA Coastal Connections newsletter, June/July 2008
Sources and Science; A Guide to Experts at the Pacific Northwest Research Station
USDA Forest Service
More than 80 scientists conduct research for the Station. This guide is divided into four areas of expertise: forests and plants, fire and air, wildlife and aquatics, and economics and social research. Includes a glossary and two indexes—by scientist and subject. 2.5 Mb PDF file.
Calls for conference proposals and abstracts
9th National Conference on Science, Policy, and the Environment: Biodiversity in a Rapidly Changing World
Call for proposals: Deadline June 16, 2008
Conference: December 8-10, 2008
Washington, DC
Conference goal: help develop and advance science-based solutions to the biodiversity issue.
Waterbird Society 32nd Annual Meeting
Abstract submission and early registration deadline: August 15, 2008
Conference: November 5-8, 2008
South Padre Island, Texas
Pacific Seabird Group 36th Annual Meeting
Abstracts due: September 30, 2008
Conference: February 22-25, 2009
Hakodate, Hokkaido, Japan
2009 George Wright Society Conference on Parks, Protected Areas, and Cultural Sites
Call for proposals: Deadline October 3, 2008
Conference: March 2-6, 2009
Portland, Oregon
Conferences
The Future of Waterfowl Management: Framing Policy Decisions for Linking Harvest, Habitat, and Human Dimensions
August 26-28, 2008
Minneapolis, MN
Rally 2008: The National Land Conservation Conference
Sponsored by the Land Trust Alliance
September 18-21, 2008
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
For land trust professionals, landowners and local conservation leaders. 130+ workshops, 36 in-depth seminars, 12 field trips, numerous networking events.
A Federal Lands Agenda for the 21st Century: Recommendations for the New Administration
32nd Annual Public Land Law Conference
September 22-24, 2008
Missoula, Montana
Leaders from government, industry, academia, the legal and conservation communities and beyond will explore challenges facing public lands and discuss key elements of a federal lands agenda for the 21st century. The conference will offer a broad context of national law and policy as well as detailed discussions of critical issues related to federal lands governance in the West and recommendations for how these issues might be addressed in the next administration.
4th National Conference on Coastal and Estuarine Habitat Restoration
October 11-15, 2008
Providence, RI
Training
Introduction to Distance Sampling
Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modeling (sponsored by Point Reyes Bird Observatory)
September 14-17, 2008
Marshall, CA
Latest methods for design and analysis of distance sampling surveys (methods for assessing wildlife abundance).
Birds, Birding and Biodiversity—Technical Resources
Climate Change, Elevational Range Shifts, and Bird Extinctions
Cagan H. Sekercioglu, et al. (2008)
Conservation Biology 22 (1) , 140–150
Animal Migration Wiki
Migration Interest Group: Research Applied Toward Education (MIGRATE)
This wiki is a source for published information on animal migration, including numerous resources on birds. You can navigate the literature using provided links or search for a key word, phrase, author or topic.
IUCN Red List for Birds—2008
International Union for Conservation of Nature
This list was released May 19, 2008. Detailed assessments will appear on the IUCN Red List web site when it is updated in October 2008. Until then use the BirdLife web site above for the most up-to-date bird assessments.
1999-2003 Summary of the North American Breeding Bird Survey
In this latest report, BBS data from 1999-2003 were used to estimate continental and regional changes in bird populations from both the 5-yr period and a 2-yr sub-increment, 2002-2003.
Birding, Birding and Biodiversity—General Resources
Finding Your Wings: A Workbook for Beginning Bird Watchers
Burton S. Guttman. Houghton Mifflin, 2008