Route Fifty’s Post

Dozens of states across the country, including Virginia, are stepping up with innovative solutions to conserve lands and waters, protecting natural resources and wildlife for future generations. As momentum builds nationally to address the impact of climate change and stop the alarming loss of natural areas, a new report from the Center for American Progress and the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators reviews a variety of land conservation policy models that have been adopted at the state level—from the tried and true to creative new approaches—highlighting recent examples of each. “While recent state actions are encouraging, more is still needed,” said Drew McConville, senior fellow at the Center for American Progress and co-author of the report. “As the pace of nature loss and species extinctions grows, scaling up the impact will require even more committed leadership and deeper investment from governors and legislators, as well as effective support from Congress and federal agencies.” Read the report: “State Policy Leadership To Conserve Nature: A Guide to Innovative Land Conservation Policy Tools Being Deployed by State and Territorial Governments Across the Country” by Drew McConville, Kate Burgess, and Mariel Lutz - https://lnkd.in/essp2gtn

Fragmentation is one of the nation’s most urgent conservation challenges. As land is sub-divided, so are its natural resources: clean air, clean water, carbon sequestration, wildlife habitat, biodiversity and more. Smaller units become progressively less productive until they finally lose their connectivity to the larger ecosystem and cease to function. In this interview with Land.com Network, the Alliance vice president of conservation initiatives, Erin Heskett, answers five questions about land trusts and their work to prevent land fragmentation. This is a great read for those interested in learning about how land trusts work with landowners to keep land intact in perpetuity.

🌿📣 Environmental protection seems to be more controversial than ever but much of that probably comes down to poor communication strategies from advocates. However, there is research that reveals strategies for successfully engaging people in conservation efforts! "The Language of Conservation" report, based on a national survey and qualitative research commissioned by the @NatureConservancy and carried out by bi-partisan research team, offers key insights on how to effectively communicate and build support for protecting our natural world. 🌎 Some highlights: ✅ "Protect," "preserve," and "conserve" are the most impactful verbs, with "protect" resonating across political lines. 💧 Clean water is a top priority, with 83% of voters emphasizing the importance of safeguarding drinking water sources. 🦋 Wildlife habitat conservation is deemed "very important" by 60% of voters, with a growing concern for pollinators like bees and butterflies. 🌳 Connecting conservation to public health, both physical and mental, strikes a chord with the public. 🌿 Inclusive language like "our" and "we" fosters a sense of collective responsibility. The report underscores the need for clear, accessible language that ties conservation to personal and community values, health benefits, and economic advantages. 💪 By applying these insights, we can craft more compelling narratives that inspire action and unite Americans in the vital cause of protecting our precious natural heritage for generations to come. 🌍🤝 Check out the full memo here: https://lnkd.in/gJfbMezf #ConservationMatters #ProtectOurPlanet #HealthyEnvironmentHealthyUs

3 Calhoun Sisters' Ranch was recently chosen by Audubon California to become an Audubon Certified Bird Friendly Land, the first ranch in our region. North America's grasslands are among the most imperiled ecosystems in the world. As a result, grassland birds have declined more than any other bird group in the continent, by as much as 80% for some species.   The vast majority of America’s grassland birds breed on private lands which is why working with ranchers is our best hope for conserving them. California has 61 million acres of rangelands that provide food production, carbon sequestration, water infiltration, and habitat for a wide range of species.   A recent study identifies California grasslands as more reliable and resilient carbon sinks than forests (Pawlok 2018). However, this historic California land use is under threat with an average of 20,000 acres a year being lost to development or crop conversion (Cameron et al2014).   Climate change, invasive species, aquifer depletion, and poor grazing practices also degrade large portions of grasslands, increasing economic and ecological vulnerability. To slow the loss of rangelands, stabilize declining populations of grassland birds and wildlife, and contribute to climate mitigation, Audubon created the Audubon Conservation Ranching Program (ACR). Beef from Audubon-certified land is hormone and antibiotic-free, ethically raised, and delicious. Supporting Audubon-certified ranches is better for grassland birds, better for the land, and better for you. Audubon's certification seal can be found on high-quality meat products and empowers consumers to support ranches that benefit grassland birds and their habitat. Go from consumer to conservationist when you purchase beef and bison raised on Audubon Certified bird-friendly land! Purchase Beef from an ACR-Certified rancher: Stemple Creek Ranch Markegard Family Grass-Fed Morris Grassfed Beef - Joe Morris Thanks to: Matthew Allshouse - Audubon California Owen Sowerwine - Alameda County Resource Conservation District Farley Connelly - - Alameda County Resource Conservation District

🌲 WDFW’s Land Use Conservation and Policy (LUCP) section promotes fish, wildlife, and habitat conservation priorities via land-use planning under the Growth Management Act and Shoreline Management Act. #responsibledevelopment #protectresources

** Protected should mean protected ** I have been reading about the proposed Walker Corporation development at Toondah Harbour wetlands in Moreton Bay Marine Park. I acknowledge the pressure that State and Federal governments are under to house the rapidly growing population in SE Queensland. My wife and her family are all from that part of the world and we visit regularly, so I know it well. People must live somewhere! However, the above development is proposed right on top of protected wetlands first listed under the International Ramsar Convention in 1993, blitzing 42 hectares of it. This area is ecologically significant due to its extensive intertidal mudflats, seagrass beds, mangroves, and salt marshes. It supports a rich biodiversity, including migratory birds that travel along the East Asian-Australasian Flyway, as well as dugongs and turtles. 50% of ALL the world's Grey-tailed Tattlers call Toondah Harbour home, and 6% of ALL Eastern Curlews. Tanya Plibersek must opine on the development, first approved against his own department's advice by Josh Frydenberg. Minister Plibersek's role is to ensure that the Toondah Harbour proposal is rigorously assessed for environmental impacts, complies with international conservation commitments, and is subject to a transparent decision-making process that takes into account both ecological and economic considerations. The decision will set a precedent for how Australia manages its protected wetlands, influencing international perceptions of the country's commitment to environmental conservation. I fear that corporate profit motives (and, gasp, maybe some brown envelopes) will ensure that concrete trumps endangered ecosystems. If so, it will be a disgusting smear on Australia's standing and another nail in the coffin of biodiversity. Watch this space... and if this appals you, please make noise. Zali Steggall OAM MP Basha Stasak

Land, Forests, and Watershed Stewardship: An Interconnected Approach https://lnkd.in/g6923nr5

Ever heard of Red Tape? Probably, but it is important to know that "Green Tape" continues to make conservation and environmental restoration programs more difficult, expensive, and time consuming to deliver. At a time of historic public investments in the environment, now is the time to reform permitting for conservation and environmental restoration projects. Read more in my Op-ed in The Hill, with Chris Barnard of the American Conservation Coalition... #DuckPolicy

A brief, interesting read, regarding the view of conservation in Western states.

Yesterday the U.S. Forest Service announced a historic plan to conserve old-growth forests across the country! The proposal seeks to chart a new direction for the National Forest System to meet the many challenges facing our forests. 🌳🌲 There are 154 national forests spanning over 100 million acres in the United States. Older forests provide crucial habitat for fish & wildlife, clean drinking water for millions of Americans, and important solutions to the climate crisis. But climate stressors like heat and drought are changing them fast. A national policy that’s flexible and tailored to individual forests will allow the conservation and maintenance necessary for them to persist into the future. “Protecting the nation’s old-growth forests is a vital first step toward mitigating climate change impacts and securing exceptional wildlife habitat,” said Dave Werntz, science and conservation director at Conservation Northwest. “Next steps must include restoring old forest distribution and abundance across the landscape to extend climate and biodiversity values.” https://lnkd.in/gwgxxNc2