The Unified Strategy to Restore Wild Quail

Future of Bobwhite ConservationFuture of Bobwhite ConservationIs Convened in this RoomIs Convened in this Room

• 23 states23 states

• NGOsNGOs

• Joint VenturesJoint Ventures

• AcademicsAcademics

• Federal AgenciesFederal Agencies

• IndustryIndustry

2013 is a pivotal year for NBCI2013 is a pivotal year for NBCIMany Positives from Solid FoundationsMany Positives from Solid Foundations

– NBTC’s organization & processes strongerNBTC’s organization & processes stronger• New Mined Lands Subcommittee starting New Mined Lands Subcommittee starting todaytoday• More activities by subcommittees on prioritiesMore activities by subcommittees on priorities• More accountability being establishedMore accountability being established

– NBCI staff in many key leadership rolesNBCI staff in many key leadership roles– NBCI Management Board engaged, leadingNBCI Management Board engaged, leading– Bobwhite Foundation launched in March 2013Bobwhite Foundation launched in March 2013

• 11stst $100K gift, $1 million challenge: Joe Crafton, TX $100K gift, $1 million challenge: Joe Crafton, TX• 2 new BF Board members, VA: James Hazel, CT Hill2 new BF Board members, VA: James Hazel, CT Hill

– More new state initiatives arisingMore new state initiatives arising• South Carolina latestSouth Carolina latest

NBCI MODEL FOCUS AREA PROGRAM

Complete end of 2013

Transform the way we do quail

conservation

Why NBCI Focus Area Program?Why NBCI Focus Area Program?• Long-term challenge, but short-term:Long-term challenge, but short-term:

• Expectations, attention spans, budget cyclesExpectations, attention spans, budget cycles

• Cannot fix entire landscapes at onceCannot fix entire landscapes at once• Start with manageable-sized areasStart with manageable-sized areas• Set up to Set up to succeedsucceed!!!!

• Must demonstrate short-term successesMust demonstrate short-term successes• Prove concepts, instill hope, build credibilityProve concepts, instill hope, build credibility

• Strategic Habitat ConservationStrategic Habitat Conservation• Learn what Learn what is / is not is / is not workingworking

• New partnership opportunitiesNew partnership opportunities

• Test of fireTest of fire

2013 is a pivotal year for NBCI2013 is a pivotal year for NBCISignificant Uncertainties at all levelsSignificant Uncertainties at all levels

• Bobwhite populations disappearing Bobwhite populations disappearing from from fringe states, still declining in allfringe states, still declining in all– Implications for continuing state participation?Implications for continuing state participation?

• States have variable commitment to quailStates have variable commitment to quail– Quail still not high priority in too many statesQuail still not high priority in too many states

• One quail NGO dissolved in 2013One quail NGO dissolved in 2013– Implications for other NGO partners?Implications for other NGO partners?

• Future NBCI funding uncertainFuture NBCI funding uncertain

Financial Status of NBCI TeamFinancial Status of NBCI Team

• Director funded by annual state antesDirector funded by annual state antes

• Ag Policy Coordinator funded by MSCGAg Policy Coordinator funded by MSCG– Ends Dec 2013Ends Dec 2013– ½ of extra year ( thru June 2014) provided by ½ of extra year ( thru June 2014) provided by

Park Cities QuailPark Cities Quail, chapter of TX Quail Coalition, chapter of TX Quail Coalition

• NFWF funds: NBCI Science, Forestry, NFWF funds: NBCI Science, Forestry, CommunicationsCommunications– 6-month probationary grant (year 3.0 – 3.5) 6-month probationary grant (year 3.0 – 3.5)

ends early 2014ends early 2014– Internal evaluation met expectationsInternal evaluation met expectations– Future NFWF funding uncertainFuture NFWF funding uncertain

North American North American Waterfowl Management Plan Waterfowl Management Plan

Triad:Triad:

• The FedsThe Feds

• The StatesThe States

• Ducks UnlimitedDucks Unlimited

Imagine ...Imagine ...The North American Waterfowl The North American Waterfowl

Management Plan without:Management Plan without:

• The FedsThe Feds

• The StatesThe States

• Ducks UnlimitedDucks Unlimited

NAWMP Without Feds: USFWS, USGSNAWMP Without Feds: USFWS, USGS

• National leadership?National leadership?• Coordination – Int’l, Nat’l, Flyways, Regions, Coordination – Int’l, Nat’l, Flyways, Regions,

JVs?JVs?• Expertise and technical assistance?Expertise and technical assistance?• Science and research support?Science and research support?• Surveys?Surveys?• Data management?Data management?• Money?Money?

– NAWCANAWCA– Duck StampsDuck Stamps– Partner for Fish and WildlifePartner for Fish and Wildlife

• Refuges?Refuges?

Imagine ...Imagine ...The North American Waterfowl The North American Waterfowl

Management Plan without:Management Plan without:

• The FedsThe Feds

• The StatesThe States

• Ducks UnlimitedDucks Unlimited

NAWMP without the StatesNAWMP without the States• Flyway or JV engagement?Flyway or JV engagement?

• State-level expertise and manpower?State-level expertise and manpower?

• WMA restoration or management WMA restoration or management projects?projects?

• Private lands biologists?Private lands biologists?

• State and local surveys?State and local surveys?

• Political support for NAWCA, Political support for NAWCA,

Duck Stamps?Duck Stamps?

• State $$:State $$:– Match for NAWCA grantsMatch for NAWCA grants– to Canada for projects?to Canada for projects?

Imagine ...Imagine ...The North American Waterfowl The North American Waterfowl

Management Plan without:Management Plan without:

• The FedsThe Feds

• The StatesThe States

• Ducks UnlimitedDucks Unlimited

NAWMP Without DUNAWMP Without DU

• Grassroots political support?Grassroots political support?– Federal and State levelsFederal and State levels

• Sportsmen’s money?Sportsmen’s money?– ProjectsProjects– MatchingMatching

• Banking services, e.g. $$ to Canada?Banking services, e.g. $$ to Canada?

• Lobbying power in DCLobbying power in DC

• Expert services:Expert services:– BiologicalBiological– EngineeringEngineering– Data analysis & managementData analysis & management

Take away any of the NAWMP Take away any of the NAWMP pillars – Federal, State, NGO – pillars – Federal, State, NGO –

and the Plan failsand the Plan fails

How does How does

the NAWMP compare with the NBCI?the NAWMP compare with the NBCI?

LANDOWNERS

LOCAL / COUNTY

STATES

REGIONAL

NATIONAL

NBCI Strategy Stretches Top to BottomNBCI Strategy Stretches Top to BottomWHITE HOUSE

FARMHOUSE

NBCINiche

NGOs

LANDOWNERS

LOCAL / COUNTY

STATES

REGIONAL

NATIONAL

NBCI Strategy Stretches Top to BottomNBCI Strategy Stretches Top to BottomWHITE HOUSE

FARMHOUSE

NBCINiche

NGOs

LANDOWNERS

LOCAL / COUNTY

STATES

REGIONAL

NATIONAL

NBCI Strategy Stretches Top to BottomNBCI Strategy Stretches Top to BottomWHITE HOUSE

FARMHOUSE

NBCINiche

NGOs

LANDOWNERS

LOCAL / COUNTY

STATES

REGIONAL

NATIONAL

NBCI Strategy Stretches Top to BottomNBCI Strategy Stretches Top to BottomWHITE HOUSE

FARMHOUSE

NBCINiche

NGOs

Without all layers:Without all layers:strong, strong,

helping each otherhelping each otherand collaborating strategically,and collaborating strategically,

for the long term, for the long term, the NBCI failsthe NBCI fails

A Case For Pittman-Robertson A Case For Pittman-Robertson Funding of the NBCI TeamFunding of the NBCI Team

• Bobwhites are declining range-wideBobwhites are declining range-wide– Is a species of great conservation needIs a species of great conservation need

• Bobwhites are state responsibilityBobwhites are state responsibility

• NBCI is the states’ initiativeNBCI is the states’ initiative

• P-R is states’ $$ for wildlife restorationP-R is states’ $$ for wildlife restoration

• Bobwhite restoration is core P-R mission Bobwhite restoration is core P-R mission

• Therefore: P-R funding is ideal Therefore: P-R funding is ideal

for the NBCIfor the NBCI

Origins of the IdeaOrigins of the Idea

• Idea arose from statesIdea arose from states– NBTC Steering Committee, February 2013NBTC Steering Committee, February 2013

• NBCI Management Board NBCI Management Board voted voted unanimouslyunanimously March 26, 2013 to pursue March 26, 2013 to pursue

range-wide P-R project to fund NBCIrange-wide P-R project to fund NBCI

• USFWS wants P-R to help quailUSFWS wants P-R to help quail– Receptive to multi-regional projectReceptive to multi-regional project

• Precedents for regional P-R projects:Precedents for regional P-R projects:– SCWDSSCWDS– CAHSSCAHSS

Benefits of P-R Funding of NBCIBenefits of P-R Funding of NBCI

• States fully, clearly in lead of NBCIStates fully, clearly in lead of NBCI– Outside partner $$ would complement statesOutside partner $$ would complement states– Rather than carrying states’ waterRather than carrying states’ water

• Stable, longer-term support for NBCI operationStable, longer-term support for NBCI operation– Potential for increased services to statesPotential for increased services to states

• Timing is right, with record P-R “bump”Timing is right, with record P-R “bump”• 25% match provided by Univ. Tennessee25% match provided by Univ. Tennessee

– Some states cannot match P-R “bump”Some states cannot match P-R “bump”

• Buy time for:Buy time for:– States, NBCI to prove successesStates, NBCI to prove successes– Bobwhite Foundation to growBobwhite Foundation to grow

Mechanics of P-R Process for NBCIMechanics of P-R Process for NBCI

• USFWS, NBCI, states develop generic project USFWS, NBCI, states develop generic project agreement templateagreement template– By August 2013By August 2013

• USFWS approves template for 4 USFWS regionsUSFWS approves template for 4 USFWS regions– By September 2013By September 2013

• Ready by AFWA, Ready by AFWA, @@ NBCI Management Board NBCI Management Board– States decide in FY 2014States decide in FY 2014

• Each NBCI state makes individual decisions:Each NBCI state makes individual decisions:– Whether to contribute P-R funds to NBCIWhether to contribute P-R funds to NBCI– How much per year ($25K - $52K range)How much per year ($25K - $52K range)– How many years (3-year trial suggested)How many years (3-year trial suggested)

Mechanics of P-R Process, cont.Mechanics of P-R Process, cont.• Front-loaded payments, while “bump” availableFront-loaded payments, while “bump” available• $$ collected by:$$ collected by:

– Regional Associations; and/orRegional Associations; and/or– University of TennesseeUniversity of Tennessee

• UT:UT:– Manages the moneyManages the money– Provides 25% match from waived overheadProvides 25% match from waived overhead– Provides financial reportingProvides financial reporting

• Oversight:Oversight:– NBCI Management BoardNBCI Management Board– NBTC Steering CommitteeNBTC Steering Committee

• NBCI produces one annual P-R report to USFWS NBCI produces one annual P-R report to USFWS for all statesfor all states

Some Likely ConcernsSome Likely Concerns

• Quail not high priority for some statesQuail not high priority for some states– Not enough quail hunters to justifyNot enough quail hunters to justify– Other reasons??Other reasons??

• Directors and Wildlife Chiefs may disagree Directors and Wildlife Chiefs may disagree about how to spend P-R $$about how to spend P-R $$

• Keep P-R $$ in stateKeep P-R $$ in state

• Some states not short on matchSome states not short on match

• Some NBCI activities not eligible for P-RSome NBCI activities not eligible for P-R

• Specific objectives and deliverables keySpecific objectives and deliverables key

• How to deal with partial state P-R supportHow to deal with partial state P-R support

This P-R $$ Endeavor Will Be A This P-R $$ Endeavor Will Be A Revealing ExerciseRevealing Exercise

• How strong is the NBCI’s future?How strong is the NBCI’s future?

• How much do states want to lead and How much do states want to lead and be in control of be in control of theirtheir NBCI? NBCI?

• How important is quail restoration to How important is quail restoration to the states?the states?

Five-Letter Word: QUAILFive-Letter Word: QUAIL

“I see a look of resignation in our “I see a look of resignation in our biologists’ eyes every time I bring up biologists’ eyes every time I bring up

that five-letter word …”that five-letter word …”

New Chairman of a state wildlife New Chairman of a state wildlife commission in core bobwhite range, commission in core bobwhite range, commenting on his determination to do commenting on his determination to do something about quail. something about quail.

July 18, 2013July 18, 2013

Why the Looks of Resignation?Why the Looks of Resignation?• Lazy, unmotivated state employees, laying Lazy, unmotivated state employees, laying

low and drawing paychecks until low and drawing paychecks until retirement?retirement?

• Is quail restoration technically undoable?Is quail restoration technically undoable?– politically infeasible?politically infeasible?

– financially out of reach?financially out of reach?

• Are the biologists wary of gapsAre the biologists wary of gaps between between agency words and actions?agency words and actions?– weary of commissioners’ fleeting whims? weary of commissioners’ fleeting whims?

• Afraid of trying and failing?Afraid of trying and failing?

Time is Right for P-R and QuailTime is Right for P-R and Quail• Nothing is more central to the mission of Nothing is more central to the mission of

P-R than bobwhite restoration.P-R than bobwhite restoration.– No conservation need is bigger or more urgentNo conservation need is bigger or more urgent

• If bobwhite restoration is important, it is If bobwhite restoration is important, it is worth investing in.worth investing in.– Time for quail world to stop settling for crumbsTime for quail world to stop settling for crumbs

• We should not hesitate to pursue P-R $$ for We should not hesitate to pursue P-R $$ for NBCI and quail.NBCI and quail.

• Everyone in this room has a stakeEveryone in this room has a stake– Everyone has a role and a responsibilityEveryone has a role and a responsibility

The Future The Future of Bobwhite Conservationof Bobwhite ConservationIs Convened in this RoomIs Convened in this Room