Conservation Success Stories
“Conservation is a cause that has no end.”
While we know that conservation work never stops, we also think it’s important to pause and share some ways in which chapter member voices and actions have had a positive impact for birds. Keep fighting the good fight!
Summer Tanager
Photo: Dave McDonald
Migratory Birds of the Americas Conservation Enhancements Act
We alerted members of the importance of this work and asked them to urge their legislators to support its passage. The bill H.R. 4389 reauthorizes and amends the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA) which funds grants for conservation of neotropical migratory birds. Thanks to everyone who helped with this effort!
With 340 recognized species, neotropical migratory birds that breed in the US but winter in the tropics need healthy habitat throughout their entire range. While many are colorful summer visitors people enjoy seeing, it was also important for people to understand their economic importance. They play a role in agricultural pollination and pest control. The trigger for the initial NMBCA was a study, published in 2019, which show a loss of about 3 billion birds in the US and Canada, largely due to habitat loss in every part of their range. To combat this devastation, given that there are more funding opportunities for work in the US, the Act also ensure that 75% of the funding is made available for work in countries other than the United States. Priorities for funding include protection and management of populations, maintenance, management and restoration of habitat, research and monitoring, law enforcement and community outreach and education.
American Ornithological Society: How, Why, and Which Birds Migrate in the Neotropics?
H.R. 4389 Migratory Birds of the Americas Conservation Enhancements Act of 2023
Diamond A Ranch Federal Land Exchange
This agreement increases public access to the Gila River near Middle Box via Selby Ranch land, the Gila Wilderness via the Heart Bar lands, as well as the Peloncillo Mountains, and Gray Peak Wilderness Study Area near Rodeo, which has previously not been publicly accessible. It also helps protect Chiricahua leopard frog and Gila trout populations within the lands being exchanged.
Nature Conservancy: Diamond A Ranch
Stock photo
Feral Cattle in the Gila Wilderness
Cattle had been roaming the Gila Wilderness for decades, increasing in numbers, and destroying critical habitat—especially along riparian areas. Near the end of February 2023, the Gila National Forest finished a major effort to remove feral cattle from the Gila Wilderness. Although it took the Forest Service many years to respond to this crisis, their action has been applauded by the conservation community. It’s a good example of the Forest Service responding to public comments on an important environmental concern and how effective our voices can be.
While 153 cattle were removed, some still remain (est 16). The Forest Service has said they remain committed to removing all remaining cattle. This commitment needs to be monitored to ensure that the feral cattle population does not grow via reproduction, thus continuing to degrade habitat.