Bird Conservation Region planning: guidance

Table of contents

• Summary
• Background
• Role of BCR plans
• The 2008-2010 planning exercise
• Integration across bird groups
• A shared responsibility for birds
• Building a template for national consistency
  • Element 1: Identify priority species at a BCR or regional level within an “all-bird”framework
  • Element 2: Identify BCR-specific habitat requirements for priority species
  • Element 3: Develop quantitative population objectives for priority species
  • Element 4: Identify and rank the relative importance of limiting population processes for priority species within the BCR
  • Element 5: Develop measurable conservation objectives for supporting priority species/groups
  • Element 6: Identify recommended actions and their relative priority
• Next Steps: Implementation
• Achieving the NABCI vision: All birds, all habitats

Background

In response to concerns over declining populations of many species of once common birds, Canada, Mexico and the United States formed the North American Bird Conservation Initiative (NABCI) in 1999. NABCI is a collaboration among organizations and agencies that share a vision to increase the effectiveness of existing and new initiatives, enhance coordination, foster cooperation, by building on existing structures and stimulating new mechanisms as appropriate (see the website NABCI).

In order to plan, implement and evaluate conservation actions across the whole of North America, NABCI partners from the United States, Mexico, and Canada developed a common, ecologically based set of 'ecoregions' appropriate to birds throughout North America. For integrated bird conservation purposes in North America, Bird Conservation Regions function as the primary units within which biological planning is undertaken.

Role of BCR Plans

BCR plans will be the cornerstone of Canada’s comprehensive bird conservation program and are one of the goals of the NABCI Canada Council. The information in these plans will support Canada’s commitments under the Migratory Birds Convention and many other applications, including identifying priority projects for coordinated implementation of biodiversity and ecosystem conservation, for assessing project effects under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, for identifying potential areas for acquisition or protection, and for guiding conservation actions outside of Canada.

The 2008-2010 Planning Exercise

Environment and Climate Change Canada is leading the development of conservation plans for each Bird Conservation Region (BCR) within Canada’s borders. Canada has 12 BCRs, but because of the enormous size of the boreal BCRs and to facilitate implementation, many plans will be prepared based on political sub-units. Although most BCRs in Canada span the border with the United States, our priority is to complete all-bird plans for the Canadian portion. The final result will be 25 all-bird conservation plans; draft technical plans are currently targeted for completion in late 2010, with final plans scheduled late in 2011 (see Figure 1 and Table 1).

Integration across bird groups

Many bird conservation plans have been developed in recent years for the four bird groups (landbirds, shorebirds, waterbirds and waterfowl), either independently or under the umbrella of NABCI or the Joint Ventures. However, effective conservation of all birds will require identifying priorities and integrating conservation needs across bird groups and the habitats they depend upon. Where previous bird plans exist for a BCR or political unit, within Canada or internationally, those plans will inform the development of all-bird conservation plans. The national standards for BCR plans build upon the internationally accepted approaches to species assessment developed for the four bird groups. An all-bird approach to bird conservation planning will be efficient and economical, and will streamline implementation by gathering all conservation recommendations in one document. The conservation plans will provide guidance for the long-term stewardship of bird populations in Canada. They will not restrict access to birds for traditional uses.

A shared responsibility for birds

The conservation and protection of birds is a shared responsibility in Canada; Migratory Birds fall under federal jurisdiction, whereas provincial and territorial governments are responsible for other species. The management of habitats upon which birds depend is also shared: the federal government is responsible for managing federal lands, marine and some aquatic habitats, while the provinces and territories are responsible for the management of most terrestrial habitats. Under comprehensive land claims and self government agreements, some Aboriginal peoples have management authority for habitat and may also have a degree of input or authority for federal or provincial bird management.

Environment and Climate Change Canada is leading this current phase of planning and considers provincial, territorial and Aboriginal input into the plans important. Environment and Climate Change Canada will work through existing conservation partnerships to ensure review of, or where appropriate, collaboration on plans. Because we recognize that the current timelines for developing plans might be too short to allow a complete consultation on bird conservation, Environment and Climate Change Canada will develop a process for incorporating traditional knowledge in future iterations of plans during the consultations on BCR plans.

Building a template for national consistency

To achieve consistency of approach across the country, EC has developed a planning template for BCR plans, outlining the key elements required for BCR plans. This standardized approach is based on the guidance provided by national and continental bird initiatives, is science-based, and is intended to provide specific guidance on the conservation actions needed to maintain sustainable populations of birds across their breeding ranges and lifecycles both in Canada and internationally.

The six minimum elements are outlined below. Elements 1 to 4 are technical assessments required to prioritize and diagnose the conservation needs of birds in a BCR, elements 5 and 6 are the steps recommended to begin implementation of conservation.

Element 1: Identify priority species at a BCR or regional level within an “all-bird” framework.

• Purpose: To focus management attention and limited resources on those species with objectively identified conservation importance immediately and over the longer-term.

Element 2: Identify BCR-specific habitat requirements for priority species.

• Purpose: To broadly identify important bird habitats within a BCR and to identify shared habitat requirements that could be used to aggregate species for similar management actions.

Element 3: Develop quantitative population objectives for priority species.

• Purpose: To state our goals for bird populations and provide a measurable way to assess performance towards those goals.

Element 4: Identify and rank the relative importance of limiting population processes for priority species within the BCR.

• Purpose: To elaborate on the threats or underlying causes of population declines. Ultimately, our understanding of these limiting processes or issues will help identify the conservation actions recommended in element 6.

Element 5: Develop measurable conservation objectives for supporting priority species/groups.

• Purpose: To identify the desired results that support bird conservation, by integrating the needs of appropriate groups of priority species. Conservation objectives will support identified population objectives and address limiting factors and will serve as performance measures for implementing the plan.

Element 6: Identify recommended actions and their relative priority

• Purpose: To identify the suites of on the ground actions that will support the measurable conservation objectives.

Next steps: Implementation

The integrated BCR plans developed by EC will identify the suite of conservation actions required to support bird populations across the landscape. However, additional work will be required to plan specific activities for implementation, including identifying the sources of funding, and undertaking cost-benefit analyses necessary to guide coordinated, on-the-ground activities. Implementation may occur at scales smaller than the BCR, and may also include activities outside of Canada that address issues for migratory or non-breeding birds.

On-the-ground conservation for all-birds will build on the considerable expertise of the Joint Ventures in implementing projects for waterfowl under the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. As conservation objectives and recommended actions for birds other than waterfowl are completed, Habitat Joint Ventures (JVs) will have the opportunity to support their delivery through their all-bird implementation plans. This process has always, and will continue, to include private landowners prior to undertaking any projects on the ground. Implementation of conservation recommendations on Aboriginal land would be negotiated with the affected communities to achieve a mutually agreeable approach.

Achieving the NABCI vision: All birds, all habitats

In support of the NABCI Canada approach, all-bird plans will build on existing bird conservation plans and partnerships. Integrated all-bird conservation plans will allow us to more effectively address conservation priorities through the implementation of coordinated, multi-species actions that will comprehensively influence land management and conservation across Canada.