spent nearly $45 migration and wintering areas to the need for chemical pesticides. billion on their ensure habitat and populations; Some bats are critical pollinators activities. otherwise, investments we make and seed dispersers for plants, Birds are indica- here at home for bird conservation many with great economic value tors of national will not be enough for us to see such as the durian (high-priced and international common migrants in the future. Asian fruit), or the agave (source environmen- of tequila), closer to home in tal health and Wings Across the Americas in- North America. trends. Unfor- vests in international conservation tunately, many and uses Forest Service experi- Protected bat colonies all over bird populations ence and expertise to improve the world have become popular are significantly bird conservation at home and and valuable tourist attractions. declining due abroad. Scarce Federal dollars A colony in downtown Austin, TX, The US Forest Service—National to habitat loss, are leveraged through partner- adds some $10 million tourist dol- Forest System, State & Private climate change, development, ships with other agencies, non- lars a year to the local economy. Forestry, Research & Develop- fragmentation, invasive species, governmental conservation orga- The city boasts that it is the “Bat ment and International Pro- and other causes both here and nizations, local communities and Capital of America”. grams—works with a wide range abroad. private/corporate sources, both of partners here in the United in the United States and abroad, Bats are threatened worldwide. States and overseas to conserve The 193 million acres of National to ensure long-term sustainable Populations are in alarming habitats and populations of birds, Forests and Grasslands man- projects that benefit birds through- decline because their colonies bats, butterflies and dragonflies. aged by the US Forest Service out their range. and habitats are destroyed both are critical to maintaining bird intentionally and inadvertently. Conserving Priority Birds populations. However, more than Conserving Bats Worldwide Development, agriculture, climate Wildlife watching is an increasing- 350 bird species migrate to Latin Bats are vital to the health of eco- change, and lack of scientific un- ly popular American activity--and America and the Caribbean each systems and human economies derstanding of bat ecology lead to birding represents the lion’s share. year. Habitat conservation on our world wide. As primary preda- the inadvertent destruction of their More than 71 million people, age nation’s forests and grasslands tors of night-flying insects, bats habitat. With more than 1,200 16 and older, fed, photographed is not sufficient. Conservation is consume enormous quantities species, bats account for nearly a or observed wildlife in 2006 and needed range-wide, in breeding, of agricultural pests and reduce quarter of all mammals, but they wings across the americas 6 are among the least studied. In fact, population migration of the monarchs, as well as threaten its Wings Across the Americas status and conservation needs of most bats have population. Current land use practices in the Unit- Program: never been documented. Tragically, their popula- ed States and in northern Mexico are degrading tions also suffer from intentional destruction due to the pathways. There are fewer milkweed plants (for Supports habitat conservation myths and misinformation. larvae) and nectar resources (for adults) available, activities on National Forests and hence, fewer suitable breeding sites. Further- and Grasslands, and from Wings Across the Americas is working to assist more, in Canada and the United States, land use Canada’s Boreal Forest to the in bat research, conservation and farming practices (i.e. Grasslands and Wetlands of management and capacity pesticides and herbicide South America; building to maintain healthy resistant crops) are un- ecosystems in our National friendly to milkweed. In the Organizes an annual awards Forests and Grasslands, as over wintering areas, habitat program to recognize conser- well as provide Forest Service is threatened by deforesta- vation partnerships involving expertise and experience for tion and pressure exerted Forest Service employees bat conservation internationally. by human settlements, like and their cooperators; Our investment at home and in areas around the Mon- abroad increases our scientific arch Butterfly Biosphere Provides training opportuni- knowledge of bats and creates Reserve. There, local com- ties for biologists, land man- a cadre of trained scientists munities greatly depend on agers and administrators; and managers to bring about both the Monarch and the Participates in national and positive conservation action for forests for their livelihood international conservation an important group of mam- and identity. initiatives; mals that is often ignored by conservation planners. As part of the Wings Across Enables partners and For- the Americas program, the Forest Service is est Service employees to Conserving Monarch Butterflies working with partners to address habitat issues become more knowledgeable The Monarch butterfly, while not endangered, is in in Canada, the US and Mexico for the Monarch, about global conservation serious decline. The loss of habitat on the wintering through the Monarch Joint Venture and educational needs. grounds and in the breeding areas is a continuing and outreach efforts for inner city youth and7 wildlife concern. In fact, this loss could severely affect the biologists. www.fs.fed.us/global 7 Protecting Dragonflies and Wetland Habitats Although dragonflies are an endless source of fascination, they have received lit- tle attention from biologists. Consequently, little is known about them. Flying over ponds, streams and rivers, these charismatic species are derived from an ancient order of insects that emerged 300 million years ago. Fossil records show that little has changed in their design over time. Dragonflies are efficient predators. They use their extendable lower lip and teeth to snag mosquito larvae, tadpoles and even small fish. They are used as indicator species for assessing habitat and water quality in wetlands, riparian forests and lakeshore habitat around the world. In North America, citizen monitoring networks—involving teachers, school groups, birders, nature societies and other partners—are forming to gather infor- mation and to collect data on dragonflies. In North America, there are 9 migrating dragonfly species. There is not, however, much information on the natural history or ecology of their migration. The best known of these nine species is the Common Green Darner, which travels south in thefall and whose offspring return in the spring. Various reports have specified sightings of the Common Green Darners in Chicago, IL; Cape May, NJ; Crescent Beach, FL; and Veracruz, Mexico. Through the Wings Across the Americas program, the US Forest Service is exploring the development of a flyway level collaborative project that will increase the awareness of the importance of dragonflies and their habitats as well as link projects and partners in Canada, the United States and Mexico for research, monitoring, capacity building, outreach and education. Recently scientists and conservationists with an interest and expertise in migrating dragonfly research convened to discuss issues related to its migration in Canada, Mexico and the United States. A Migratory Dragonfly Action Plan that includes research, citizen science and education priorities related to migration, range shifts due to climate change and conservation of key habitats in North America is being developed. wings across the americas forested land. It Nature Conservancy. was initiated with a two-year grant Vermont is the ideal location for a proj- from US Forest ect such as this one because the state Service State and is a hotspot for breeding Neotropical Private Forestry, migrants, including three species on with matching the national Watch List: Olive-sided contributions from Flycatcher, Wood Thrush, and Canada Audubon Vermont Warbler. Each of these species has and workshop specific habitat needs that can be met participants. through the forest management tech- niques promoted by Foresters for the The project is Birds. based on the knowledge that The partnership organized four work- forest manage- shops across Vermont with a total of ment can be used 112 participants, including 66 consult- Wings Across the Americas recognizes to maintain or improve forest breeding ing foresters, all of Vermont’s county Foresters for the Birds–an innovative, habitat conditions for Neotropical mi- foresters, and 11 state lands foresters. successful, and on-going partner- gratory birds. The work of the partner- Two-thirds of the foresters attended ship between Audubon Vermont and ship promotes the use of ecologically more than one workshop and are now Vermont Forests, Parks & Recre- based, stand-level silvicultural tech- assessing bird habitat while conducting ation—with the Habitat Management niques among private landowners who timber inventories. More than 50,000 and Partnership Award. This program would otherwise be uninterested in or acres of forest land on 77 privately- is designed to provide the tools and against traditional forestry practices. owned properties received habitat training that foresters and other forest Local community involvement in the assessments by Audubon conserva- professionals need to help private land-