Nebraska’s Natural Legacy Project
Nebraska’s Natural Legacy Project
A blueprint for conserving wildlife and their habitats
Nebraska’s Natural Legacy Project
Nebraska has a rich legacy of
biodiversity
95 Mammal species make their home in Nebraska
Elk
Pronghorn Antelope
Swift Fox
CottontailFlyingSquirrel
Nebraska’s Natural Legacy Project
Tiger Salamander
Ornate Box Turtle
Copperhead Snake
Five-lined Skink
60 Amphibian and Reptiles are in Nebraska
Nebraska’s Natural Legacy Project
Finescale dace80 native fish species swim in Nebraskawaters
Bluegill
Paddlefish
American Eel
Nebraska’s Natural Legacy Project
Long-billed Curlew
345 Bird Species fly through the Nebraska sky
Peregrine Falcon
Indigo Bunting
Prothonotary Warbler
Black-neckedStilt
Nebraska’s Natural Legacy Project
Blowout Penstemon
Flower Mix
1470 Plant Species color the landscapeDeciduous Trees
Sideoats Grama
Fremont’s clematis
Nebraska’s Natural Legacy Project
Crayfish
Regal Fritillary
Tens of Thousands of Invertebrate species wait for discovery
FlatFloater
American RubyspotDamselfly
Nebraska’s Natural Legacy Project
Nebraska’s Ecoregions
Tallgrass Prairie
Central Mixed-Grass Prairie
Shortgrass Prairie
Sandhills
Tallgrass PrairieSandhillsShortgrass PrairieMixed Grass Prairie and the Platte River
ForestsCedar Canyon
Sandsage Prairie Wetlands
Sandhill Lakes
Nebraska’s Natural Legacy Project
Nebraska is important to
North America
Sandhill Crane
Greater Yellowlegs
Mallard
Nebraska’s Natural Legacy Project
Our natural legacy is important...
to everyone
Nebraska’s Natural Legacy Project
Gerald & Buff CorsiCalifornia Academy of Science
Last century saw successful conservation of many wildlife species
The Pittman-Robertson Act $2 billion since 1937
Wild Turkey was gone from Nebraska in 1915
Today they are found near most rivers across the state
In 1901 there was about 100 pronghorn in Nebraska
Today there are 7,000 pronghorn.
Nebraska’s Natural Legacy Project
Why a new project?
Many native species are declining
– Limited efforts targeted at non-game species– Past has been opportunistic and inefficient– Reactive approach
Nebraska’s Natural Legacy Project
New Funding
Opportunity– Funding: State Wildlife Grants– Competitive grant program– Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Plan
(Oct. 2005)– Nationwide effort
Nebraska’s Natural Legacy Project
How will this project work?• Create an effective blueprint for conservation in
Nebraska– Habitat Based Approach
– Used by many
• Conserve our natural heritage– All species: game and nongame
• Join many planning efforts across the state
• Opportunity to convey wildlife needs for future funding decisions
Nebraska’s Natural Legacy Project
8 Required Elements• Species distribution and abundance• Location and condition of habitats• Threats/stresses and priority research• Conservation actions: Voluntary, incentive based • Monitoring plans• Procedure to review • Coordinate with other agencies and tribes• Public participation
Nebraska’s Natural Legacy Project
Nebraska’s Natural Legacy Project Organization
ConservationStrategies
Team
Core Team
OutreachTeam
Education/Wildlife Recreation
Team
Science Team
InternalSupport Team
PartnershipTeam
(Partners)
Nebraska’s Natural Legacy Project
Ducks UnlimitedFarmers UnionNatural Resource Conservation ServiceNebraska Alliance for Conservation and Environment EducationNebraska AudubonNebraska CattlemenNebraska Department of AgricultureNebraska Farm BureauNebraska Forest ServiceNebraska Partnership for All-Bird ConservationNebraska Wildlife FederationPheasants Forever, Inc.Ponca Tribe of NebraskaRainwater Basin Joint Venture of NebraskaThe Conservation Alliance of the Great PlainsThe Nature ConservancyUniversity of NebraskaUS Fish and Wildlife ServiceUS Forest Service
Partnership Team
Representatives
Nebraska’s Natural Legacy Project
Partnership Team
Nebraska’s Natural Legacy Project
Hypothetical Product Example:Conservation Strategies
Statewide, regional, local
Landowner incentives
Education
Land management
Research
Nebraska’s Natural Legacy Project
Lincoln County
Landscape Characteristics•Prairie relatively intact
Simplified Hypothetical Example:Identification of priority landscapes
Dissected Loess Hills
Resources•Loess mixed-grass prairie•American Burying Beetle •Elk
Threats to area•Cedar Tree encroachment
Conservation Strategy•Voluntary incentives forTree Removal•EducationResults•Prairie protection•Improved range quality
Nebraska’s Natural Legacy Project
NNebraska’s ebraska’s NNatural atural LLegacy egacy PProjectrojectA blueprint for conserving wildlife and their habitats
The mission of Nebraska’s Natural Legacy Project is to develop and implement a blueprint for conserving Nebraska’s flora, fauna and
natural habitats through the proactive, voluntary conservation actions of partners, communities and individuals.
Nebraska’s Natural Legacy Project
Nebraska’s Natural Legacy Project will benefit...
all Nebraskans
Nebraska’s Natural Legacy Project
Photos Provided by NEBRASKAland