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Climate Effects on U.S. Agriculture and Forests: Climate change effects are already evident in U.S. forests and agroecosystems. We are on the cusp of additional and potentially more severe effects, primarily facilitated by increased frequency and magnitude of extreme weather events (drought, heavy rainfall, heat waves) and associated disturbances (wildfires, insect outbreaks).

Climate Change 101: The Foundational Science: Dr. Keith Dixon (NOAA) is an award winning science communicator with more than 30 years of experience as a research meteorologist and climate modeler. In the inaugural video of the climate seminar series, Dr. Dixon discusses what is known about our planet's changing climate, how that knowledge is developed, and how certain we are that humans are responsible for the change we are observing.

Slow and Steady: Bog Turtles at Home on Private Lands: As a result of the Delaware Watershed Conservation Fund, agricultural landowners in New Jersey are changing management practices on their land to support the bog turtle, a species listed as threatened in the northern part of its range under the federal Endangered Species Act. The beauty is, farmers aren’t just changing their practices because it’s good for the turtle; they are changing their practices because it’s good for business.

Golden-Winged Warbler Habitat Project Update from Southeast Trust for Parks & Land (STPAL): Southeast Trust for Parks & Land (STPAL) and their Wildlife Consultant, Vic Vansant, is undertaking a project with Ecoforester, Carolina Audubon, USDA Equip program, and State of North Carolina Forestry and DENR to create 16-acres of habitat for the “near threatened” golden-winged warbler (GWWA) on 750-acres Bald Mountain Creek Nature Preserve in Yancey County, NC. This bird’s population has declined 98% in the Appalachians in the past 45 years, primarily due to habitat loss.

Goats Help Restore Golden-Wing Warbler Habitat: While we could have gone in with a bush hog mower, we tried something new this year – goats, adorable and effective goats.

Saving the South’s Tiniest and Rarest Turtles: In the North Carolina mountains, biologists work to give North America’s bog turtles a fighting chance.

Golden-winged Warbler Habitat Restoration Work in Charlotte, VT: While many migratory birds are spending warm sunny days in Central and South America, Vermont biologists are braving the cold to improve conditions for birds when they return from their wintering grounds to breed in Vermont.

Chipola River Watershed Restoration Listed Mussels and Black Bass Initiative: A Chipola River watershed partnership between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) have been initiated since 2006. The purpose was to develop and lead a research-based platform for environmental restoration and conservation. The Service, along with FWC, West Florida RC&D; Council and others developed a Chipola River Watershed Management Plan (CRWMP) to achieve management and conservation of fish and wildlife resources. This proposal is for the next steps toward management activities under the CRWMP.

Local Brewery Creates Beer to Help the Hellbender: Lafayette Brewing Company designed the "Hellbent to Help" fundraiser to help raise funds for hellbender research, conservation and education.

USFWS Partners Program Celebrates Landowner's Conservation Success: Farms provide a buffer between urban areas and also habitat for wildlife identified in the county’s Multiple Species Conservation Plan. The program compensates landowners for placing an easement on their property to conserve these areas.

Webinar: Working with Landowners to Build Resilience Across the Landscape: This session identified strategies to connect with landowners.

Webinar: Restoration on Private Lands Pt. 2 – Implementation, Biological Control Options, and Restoring for Birds: Part two of this webinar series includes extended Q&A geared towards restoration on private lands.

Scientific Publications: Peer-reviewed science articles pertaining to landscape-scale conservation and other environmental and cultural issues related to the Appalachian region.