nebraska’s natural legacy project a blueprint for conserving wildlife and their habitats

Nebraska’s Natural Legacy Project


A blueprint for conserving wildlife and their habitats


Nebraska has a rich legacy of

biodiversity

95 Mammal species make their home in Nebraska

Elk

Pronghorn Antelope

Swift Fox

CottontailFlyingSquirrel


Tiger Salamander

Ornate Box Turtle

Copperhead Snake

Five-lined Skink

60 Amphibian and Reptiles are in Nebraska


Finescale dace80 native fish species swim in Nebraskawaters

Bluegill

Paddlefish

American Eel


Long-billed Curlew

345 Bird Species fly through the Nebraska sky

Peregrine Falcon

Indigo Bunting

Prothonotary Warbler

Black-neckedStilt


Blowout Penstemon

Flower Mix

1470 Plant Species color the landscapeDeciduous Trees

Sideoats Grama

Fremont’s clematis


Crayfish

Regal Fritillary

Tens of Thousands of Invertebrate species wait for discovery

FlatFloater

American RubyspotDamselfly


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 is important to

North America

Sandhill Crane

Greater Yellowlegs

Mallard


Our natural legacy is important...

to everyone


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.


Why a new project?

Many native species are declining

– Limited efforts targeted at non-game species– Past has been opportunistic and inefficient– Reactive approach


New Funding

Opportunity– Funding: State Wildlife Grants– Competitive grant program– Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Plan

(Oct. 2005)– Nationwide effort


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


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 Organization

ConservationStrategies

Team

Core Team

OutreachTeam

Education/Wildlife Recreation

Team

Science Team

InternalSupport Team

PartnershipTeam

(Partners)


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


Partnership Team


Hypothetical Product Example:Conservation Strategies

Statewide, regional, local

Landowner incentives

Education

Land management

Research


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


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 will benefit...

all Nebraskans


Photos Provided by NEBRASKAland

nebraska’s natural legacy project a blueprint for conserving wildlife and their habitats

Documents

natural heritageall

native species

conserving wildlife

natural habitats

invertebrate species

nebraskawaters345 bird

nebraska sky1470 plant

project work