The conservation of migratory birds requires taking action everywhere they fly. The North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) is one of the premier granting programs working to support long-term protection, restoration, and enhancement of wetlands and associated upland habitats for the benefit of all wetland-associated migratory birds in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently announced nearly $133 million in funding for NAWCA grants. Migratory Bird Joint Ventures play an important role in defining regional conservation priorities and supporting applicants in project development.
Three projects funded in this grant cycle are within the Pacific Birds service area – one in Alaska and two in British Columbia. Together, these three grants represent an investment of $6.22 million (plus matching partner funds) in our region. This funding will move forward vital conservation projects in vulnerable wetland habitats that migratory waterfowl and shorebirds depend upon. Each project contributes to the dispersed network of sites that support migratory birds during their life cycle.
Protecting Gustavus Beach Meadows and Snipe Swale Meadows in Alaska
Grantee and Partner Organizations: Southeast Alaska Land Trust, Atira Conservation, the City of Gustavus, and the Beach Meadows Protection Fund
This project will permanently protect a 211 acre site called Gustavus Beach Meadows near Gustavus, Alaska. Gustavus Beach Meadows contains diverse wetland and forest ecosystems including mudflats, sandflats, tidelands, and willow stands that support migratory waterfowl. This site provides essential breeding and stopover habitat for Pacific Brant, Dusky Canada Goose, Northern Pintail, Mallard, Long-tailed Duck, and North American scoter species. Preserving this site also strengthens connections to Glacier Bay National Park and safeguards other nearby habitats like Dude Creek Critical Habitat Area and The Nature Conservancy’s Gustavus Forelands by preventing development that could harm shorelines and wildlife.
Wetland-Associated Migratory Bird Habitat Conservation in British Columbia
Grantee and Partner Organizations: Nature Conservancy of Canada, American Friends of Canadian Nature, and the Wys Foundation
This project aims to permanently protect over 4,600 acres of high-value coastal forest, wetland, and estuarine habitats across Vancouver Island and the south coast of mainland British Columbia. NAWCA funds will also support restoration efforts to improve degraded floodplain, wetland, and stream habitat in the Pemberton Valley. These Joint Venture priority landscapes are subject to ongoing logging pressures and other land use changes. Protecting these habitats will benefit numerous priority Joint Venture bird species in British Columbia, including Northern Shoveler, Mallard, American Wigeon, Northern Pintail, Lesser Scaup, Cinnamon Teal, Green-winged Teal, Trumpeter Swan, Townsend's Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Willow Flycatcher, and Rufous Hummingbird.
Wetland Bird Habitat Acquisition in British Columbia
Grantee and Partner Organizations: NTBC and American Friends of Canadian Conservation
This project will permanently protect over 1,100 acres of freshwater wetlands, wetland-associated uplands, agricultural land, and riparian forests in British Columbia. This includes habitats within the East Fraser Lowlands, as well as an area near the northeastern reach of our Joint Venture geography in the Skeena Region. The East Fraser Lowlands are internationally recognized for their importance to migratory birds and support Canada’s highest densities of wintering waterfowl. Similarly, the Skeena Region project area serves as a key Pacific Flyway stopover for migratory birds – including over 20,000 migrating Sandhill Cranes – with its highly valued floodplain ecosystems and surrounding riparian corridors. Newly-protected lands will remain publicly accessible, but will be managed under plans designed to maintain ecological integrity and benefit species such as Mallard, Lesser Scaup, Northern Pintail, Trumpeter Swan, and American Wigeon.
