The Landscape Conservation Bulletin
A bi-monthly service of the Network for 
Landscape Conservation
January 2023
Dear Network Friends,

In December I traveled to Montreal to participate in the United Nations Biodiversity Conference (COP15). It was incredible to see the world come together around biodiversity, and to be with 21,000 practitioners representing NGOs, Indigenous communities, academia, government agencies and ministries, and businesses working to support the development of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

The adopted Framework includes 4 overarching global goals and 23 targets to protect nature—including a commitment to conserve at least 30% of the world’s land, coastal areas, and oceans. I was particularly pleased to see throughout the Framework an enhanced acknowledgment on the integral role that landscape connectivity plays in supporting functioning ecosystems and species—our collective work across the decades on landscape connectivity is paying off! 

As we work to advance landscape conservation and stewardship outcomes in North America, it is reaffirming to see ourselves within this global community. And while the U.S. is not a signatory to the Convention on Biological Diversity, we have much to learn from our global colleagues and much to offer as well, especially by sharing examples from the America the Beautiful initiative, California’s 30x30 initiative, and the numerous landscape initiatives that so many of you are leading throughout the country. Acting to address biodiversity loss in a holistic and coordinated effort across the globe has never been more urgent, and this Global Biodiversity Framework is the most significant agreement for bolstering global cooperation to conserve and restore nature to date—let’s continue the work!
In This Issue
Indigenous-led Conservation
Perspectives: Collaborative Capacity
Additional Landscape Conservation News
Upcoming Events
Landscape Conservation Job Board
Webinars & Additional Resources
Deb Davidson
Associate Director, Network for Landscape Conservation;
Vice President for Partnerships and Advancement, Center for Large Landscape Conservation
Photo above: Deb presents on Nature-positive infrastructure at a session during the COP15 Biodiversity Conference in Montreal.
As part of our Landscape Conservation in Action webinar series, on February 22nd we will be hosting Insights into the new Global Biodiversity Framework – Impacts and what happens next, a webinar to more deeply explore what emerged from the negotiations in Montreal and to reflect on what it means for landscape conservation and stewardship efforts in the United States.
Cover photo: The United Nations Biodiversity Conference, Montreal, Quebec.
Featured News
At COP15 and beyond: Moving from 'nice to have' to 'need to have' on Indigenous leadership for landscape conservation and stewardship
One of the themes that emerged during December’s United Nations Biodiversity Conference in Montreal was an emphasis on the need to recognize and support the strong Indigenous leadership in conservation and stewardship. Indeed, host Canada announced during the conference that it is committing $800 million to supporting Indigenous-led conservation efforts.
Part of this committed funding will be directed to expanding the country’s Indigenous Guardian and stewardship programs; to advance the innovative work of these programs, Canadian partners at COP15 also announced the launch of the First Nations Guardians Network, to streamline funding and capacity-building opportunities for guardians across Canada. And yet, even with these exciting developments, as an article in The Narwhal makes clear, to realize the potential of this opportunity in a way that advances biodiversity and climate outcomes AND First Nations sovereignty and community well-being, a suite of hurdles must be intentionally and thoughtfully acknowledged and navigated. 

As Canada continues to lead with these commitments and continuing efforts to partner with First Nations, the United States likewise is making strides. More than 300 tribal nations where represented at the White House Tribal Summit in late November and early December, where the Department of the Interior announced the creation of the Office of Strategic Partnerships to develop and build sustainable public-private initiatives to further conservation, education and economic development initiatives in Indian Country. An article from Native Americans in Philanthropy highlights the significance of this new public-private partnership. In conjunction with the Tribal Summit, the Biden Administration also released a first-of-its-kind government-wide guidance on recognizing and including Indigenous Knowledge in Federal research, policy, and decision making.

And this work need not happen solely at the federal government level. As part of a Decolonizing Conservation Symposium at the 2022 National Diversity in STEM Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in late October, the Center for American Progress convened a panel focused on Indigenous-led conservation and how Indigenous leaders bring their Native identities into the conservation and stewardship work they do daily. In addition to the brief video (see above as well) capturing the voices of the panelist, CAP also distilled insights into an article exploring how scientists, NGOs, and government agencies can support Indigenous-led conservation.
Perspectives: Landscape Conservation in Action

From Land Trusts to Landscapes: How capacity funding brings conservation to scale
At the Land Trust Alliance's Rally in New Orleans in September 2022, we convened a panel to consider insights that are emerging from our experiences administering the Catalyst Fund. This month's Perspective piece synthesizes the session, drawing upon the examples of two landscape conservation partnerships--the Ocala-to-Osceola (O2O) Wildlife Corridor Partnership and the New York Highlands Network--to explore more deeply what structures and elements are needed to allow groups of organizations to work together effectively to accelerate and extend impact beyond what any single organization can achieve independently. As we increasingly grapple with systems-level challenges like climate change, biodiversity loss, and environmental injustice, finding ways to support the collaborative capacity needs of landscape conservation partnerships will be critical to ensuring we advance equitable and effective conservation and stewardship outcomes at the approach scale to meet these challenges.
Additional Landscape Conservation News
New report from Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition explores governance structures and processes of landscape partnerships. 

Article from The Pew Charitable Trusts highlights how forest collaboratives build trust and innovative thinking to yield durable solutions for healthy forests and communities—in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. 

Congress passes the National Heritage Area Act, creating a formal system for America’s national heritage areas and designating seven new ones to help communities protect priceless, diverse American historical landscapes.

Why conserving 30×30 is more than a numbers game: Center for American Progress article argues that America's first national conservation goal should be viewed as an inclusive call to action and not just a narrow accounting exercise.

The America the Beautiful For All Coalition announces its Policy Agenda for 2023.

The National Estuarine Research Reserve System Science Collaborative program's Guide to Collaborative Science compiles examples, tips, and tools to advance a knowledge co-creation process to inform natural resource management decisions by involving scientists, managers, communities, and others to advance understanding in a manner that none of them working alone could accomplish.

Blogpost from 1000 Landscapes for 1 Billion People highlights the power of locally-led, multi-stakeholder solutions in building climate resilience at a landscape scale.

GreenLatinos and partners release the Latino Climate Justice Framework, a first-of-its-kind report that focuses on the issues disproportionately affecting Latino/a/x communities and providing a blueprint for equitable futures on dimensions of conservation, including public land conservation, access to nature, freedom from fossil fuel extraction, and improved public processes for land management.

The Hewlett Foundation highlights Latino leaders that are centering relationships and community to defend conservation progress, advance new efforts, and broaden the base of support for durable conservation policies and protections.

Article from the Center for American Progress makes the case that the climate and biodiversity crises must be addressed in tandem.

New England Forestry Foundation blogpost highlights how a broad, locally-led partnership in western Massachusetts is working to revitalize a forest-based economy utilizing climate-resilient and ecologically based forestry in order to carefully steward the landscape and the benefits it provides. 

Yale E360 article spotlights Long Island’s Hempstead Plains Preserve to explore how “conservation gardens”seemingly small and inconsequentialcan have a major ecological impact.

Interview with Deputy to the Commanding General at Fort Huachuca highlights reflects on the Sentinel Landscape program and the symbiosis between land conservation and military mission.
Note: the Sentinel Landscape Partnership has launched a quarterly newsletter—sign up here to stay up-to-date on the activities and insights emerging from the Sentinel Landscapes program.

The National Wildlife Federation launches a searchable database for communities interested in implementing nature-based solutions, aiming to connect community planners and other stakeholders with sources of federal funding for infrastructure projects that incorporate natural elements.

U.S. Climate Alliance release Natural and Working Lands and Climate Action: A State Guide to Enhance the Sector’s Contribution to State and National Climate Goals, a new resource to help states further reduce greenhouse gas emissions and maximize carbon sequestration and storage from natural and working lands, including forests and woodlands, grasslands and shrublands, croplands and rangelands, wetlands, and urban green spaces.

To advance its ‘Confronting the Wildfire Crisis’ strategy, the U.S. Forest Service announces 11 additional landscapes—following a year of progress in collaborating with partners across the 10 initial landscapes identified in 2022 to address wildfire risk to infrastructure and communities.

The Bezos Earth Fund continues its partnership with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, providing an additional $30 Million investment for a second year of funding to focus on the Northern Great Plains and Longleaf Pine regions.

New report from the Rural Voices for Conservation Coalition synthesizes case studies on best practices and lessons learned for effective collaborative engagement in National Forest management in the Pacific Northwest. 

Article from the Conservation Finance Network highlights how centering Indigenous people and local communities in nature-based carbon credit projects is essential for delivering real and lasting climate benefits.

Article in The Fence Post highlights how the Wyoming Big Game Conservation Partnership is a model to improve wildlife migration corridors across landscapes while supporting private farms and ranches.

“Make the stories of your landscapes louder:” An article from The Nature of Cities reflects on the experiences of tending a garden in an urban context to draw broader insights into how we give meaning to the places and landscapes—at any scale—that we cherish. 

Connectivity policy has made conspicuous progress at the federal and state level in recent months, and momentum is also building at a more local level—Conservation Corridor highlights a sample of existing county policies and plans that promote mechanisms to achieve wildlife habitat connectivity.

Blogpost offers insights and lessons learned from on-the-ground leaders for utilizing water funds to achieve Nature-based Solutions.
Upcoming Conferences & Events

* * *

February 2-3, 2023 — The Stewardship Network Conference
A virtual event

Washington, D.C.

Salt Lake City, Utah

St. Louis, Missouri

Anchorage, Alaska

Fort Collins, Colorado

June 5-9, 2023 — Conservation Finance Bootcamp
New Haven, Connecticut
Applications accepted through February 14, 2023.

Boulder, Colorado
Landscape Conservation Job Board

* * *


Chief Executive Officer, Buffalo Nations Grasslands Alliance

Associate Director, Conservation Finance Network

The New England Forestry Foundation is seeking new team members to define and implement a groundbreaking and nationally relevant pilot program in New England to build a climate-smart, forest-based economy as a powerful tool for climate action.

Landscape Conservation Summer Internship, Defenders of Wildlife

Senior Vice President of Conservation Programs, Defenders of Wildlife

Policy Analyst, Private Lands, Defenders of Wildlife

Senior Manager, Federal Lands Campaign, Defenders of Wildlife

Director, Federal Lands Program, Defenders of Wildlife

Northeast Coastal Resilience Program Manager, National Wildlife Federation
 
Director of Conservation Partnerships, Northern Rockies, Prairies, and Pacific Region, National Wildlife Federation

Director of Landscape Connectivity, Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative

This section of the Landscape Conservation Bulletin is intended to be a space to share job postings that will be specifically relevant to landscape conservation practitioners. We welcome submissions: if your organization would like to widely distribute a posting please be in touch.

Webinars & Additional Resources


February 1, 2023

This is the third session in a five-part Conservation Finance Learning Lab that the Conservation Finance Network and Highstead Foundation are hosting. Learn more here, including recordings of past sessions and the upcoming schedule.
February 14, 2023

An NLC Landscape Conservation in Action webinar
February 22, 2023

A Wallace Stegner Center Green Bag webinar
April 6, 2023

April 26, 2023

Understanding Conflict and Planning for Successful Collaboration
A training offered by the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution at the Udall Foundation
May 3-4, 2023
View the syllabus or find more information on registration

Following cancellation of the 2020 Conservation Finance Boot Camp, the Conservation Finance Network compiled a 4-part video short course, which is available via the above link.

A weekly podcast that explores the challenges presented by adapting to climate change and the approaches the field's best minds believe are already working.

A podcast that explores the intersection of social and environmental advocacy, and seeks to uncover the actions people are taking around the world to showcase the symbiotic, yet sometimes tumultuous, relationship between people and nature.

Recordings of past webinars of the Connected Conservation webinar series are available on the National Park Service Connected Conservation website.

Recordings of past NLC Landscape Conservation in Action webinars are available on the Network's Landscape Conservation in Action Webinar Series page.

STAY CONNECTED
The Network for Landscape Conservation is the community of practice for practitioners advancing collaborative, cross-boundary conservation as an essential approach to protect nature, culture, and community in the 21st Century.



Contact Ernest Cook, Network Director, for more information. 

Contributions of news, upcoming events, resources, and job postings for future Bulletins are welcomed. We also welcome inquires for potential future "Perspectives: Landscapes Conservation in Action" stories; please be in touch if you are interested in sharing stories and insights from your work.

The Network for Landscape Conservation is a fiscally sponsored project of the Center for Large Landscape Conservation, P.O. Box 1587, Bozeman, MT 59771