​​An issue of scale: building coalitions to address wetland habitat connectivity challenges

Andrew J. Caven, Vice President – North America Programs, International Crane Foundation

We find ourselves in the midst of the 6th major extinction in world history notwithstanding significant investments in native species conservation. One of the major drivers of this decline is a reduction in the extent and quality of habitat for native wildlife and vascular plant species. The Great Plains of North America are no exception and represent one of the most transformed landscapes in the world. The region is facing sustained developmental pressure that is leading to the continued loss of herbaceous wetlands and grasslands. Moreover, surface and groundwater resources in the region continue to be divided and overappropriated further degrading wetland ecosystems, and climate change has an exacerbating effect on these drivers. The Whooping Crane is one of the most iconic endangered species in North America and with intensive and targeted effort the Aransas Wood Buffalo Population has recovered from a low of 16 individuals in the winter of 1941 to an estimated ~540 individuals today.

Nonetheless, we are seeing signs of stress in this population as indicated by altered behavior and movement patterns in migration. Protecting the integrity of the Whooping Crane migration corridor can benefit a host of other species such as other migratory waterbirds including the Red Knot as well as aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates such as the Regal Fritillary. We have used Whooping Crane habitat needs to direct restoration work at the stopover and flyway scale with broad coalitions, which have included >10 organizations at times for individual projects. It is very challenging for a single conservation NGO, state agency, federal agency, or well-meaning private interest to affect habitat conditions at the scale necessary to ensure resilience and connectivity across wetland and grassland communities in the Great Plains. However, together we can significantly scale up our impacts. Nonetheless, it will be important to prioritize and focus gains in the areas that have the most impact for the greatest number of imperiled species. We contend that the WHCR migration corridor can serve as a starting point in the Great Plains.

Presented by the Alabama Rivers Alliance and Wild Alabama, this powerful film series showcases short documentaries that highlight environmental issues and natural beauty across the South.