??A Blueprint for Collaborative Conservation - with Alex Wright

Hello, and welcome to Issue #016!

Reading Time: <2 mins.

TL;DR: We are excited to share that our new Designing Nature's Half website launched in March! Meanwhile, we also published our podcast's eighth episode, Collaboration and Co-Production: Key Elements of Landscape Conservation, with Alex Wright, a Landscape Science Coordinator with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Science Applications Program in the Midwest region. In that role, he facilitates partnerships and develops tools to help coordinate voluntary conservation actions and investments across the Midwest vis-a-vis the Midwest Landscape Initiative. The discussion revolves around the collaborative efforts of the USFWS, state fish and wildlife agencies, and other interested parties to collaborate in the co-production of the Midwest Conservation Blueprint, a basemap of priority lands and waters for conservation in the Midwest. Tune into this enlightening conversation packed with expert insights perfect for anyone passionate about conserving nature's half through collaborative conservation.

"The Midwest Landscape Initiative is really a place for people to come to a table, gather around a table, and discuss around a table about how we are going to solve some of our biggest global challenges to the conservation, health, and connectedness of our lands and waters." – Alex Wright

Welcome to my corner of the world! I'm glad you're here!

In the previous issue of Designing Nature's Half: The Blog, I shared the seventh episode of our podcast: an interview with Hugh Possingham on Spatial Design in Landscape Conservation. In this issue, we have some exciting news to share: our new website, "Designing Nature's Half," launched last month! The website offers many resources for those who want to learn more about landscape conservation and design. It also has a petition that people can sign to get involved and a small...very small...e-commerce store. Additionally, I have completed research for the next chapter of my book, and as of writing this newsletter, I have already written ten pages of it. Finally, we released our eighth podcast episode, "Collaboration and Co-Production: Key Elements of the Midwest Conservation Blueprint," available on all major podcast platforms or accessed through our website via the link above.

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??A Blueprint for Collaborative Conservation

In a rapidly changing world due to human activities and climate change, the need for effective conservation strategies has never been more urgent. The podcast Designing Nature’s Half: The Landscape Conservation Podcast, hosted by Rob Campellone and Tom Miewald, dives deep into this critical conversation with experts who are at the forefront of creating innovative solutions to conserve our planet’s landscapes.

Midwest Landscape Initiative: Forging Partnerships in Conservation

A central theme of Episode 8 of Designing Nature’s Half: The Landscape Conservation Podcast is the groundbreaking work done through the Midwest Landscape Initiative (MLI). This initiative is a testament to what can be achieved when organizations collaborate towards a common goal. Alex Wright, a Landscape Science Coordinator with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, brings his expertise to the podcast to shed light on how voluntary conservation actions can have substantial impacts when guided by strategic partnerships and sound science.

The Role of Collaboration in Large-Scale Conservation

The MLI exemplifies successful collaboration between various entities such as the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, USFWS, and USGS. By setting large-scale conservation priorities together, these groups leverage their collective resources and expertise to tackle environmental challenges effectively.

One essential tool developed through this partnership is the Midwest Conservation Blueprint. This dynamic map identifies crucial areas for conservation based on spatial data analysis and regional values. Rather than imposing mandates on local communities or regions, it serves as an informative base for planning purposes.

Inclusivity Through Open Meetings & Structured Working Groups

Open meetings are vital in ensuring transparency within MLI, while structured working groups keep efforts focused yet adaptable. Executive guidance helps maintain momentum, but it’s ultimately regular feedback from diverse stakeholders that fine-tunes initiatives like the blueprint—ensuring they remain inclusive and impactful over time.

Tackling Climate Change with Data-Informed Strategies

Climate change vulnerability assessments are integrated into planning processes so that identified areas can benefit from informed conservation strategies to promote resiliency. Projects underpinning these efforts use spatial data contributed by partners, including The Nature Conservancy, which aids in designing landscapes capable of not just surviving but thriving amidst climatic shifts.

Beyond Acres: Why Relationships Matter in Effective Conservation Work

While managing millions of acres through federal agencies like the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service represents significant stewardship responsibility, actual effectiveness comes from considering adjacent lands totaling hundreds of millions more acres owned privately or managed by other entities. This underscores why collaborative relationships across sectors are indispensable—they allow disparate pieces to come together, forming cohesive approaches spanning scales from local and potentially national levels.

Alex Wright emphasizes that genuine connections among people behind projects make the difference between success and failure when tackling global issues. Co-host Tom Miewald shares this insight and advocates synthesizing information sources to foster coordinated action via bridging organizations.

An Invitation:

If you think you have something to offer the conversation and would like to be a guest on our pod, email me at [email protected] and put "Guest" in the subject line. We'll start scheduling for Season 2 later this summer.

Thanks for your interest and support!

Until next time,