Midwest Landscape Initiative: making U.S. Midwest connections for fish and wildlife

The U.S. Midwest region is responsible for 340 fish and wildlife species that need conservation attention, according to a recent report. Whether you work on rivers or grasslands, hellbenders or meadowlarks, the species and systems we need to conserve are connected. How can we collectively work across our boundaries and authorities to prevent the loss of these animals and their habitats? The Midwest Landscape Initiative is a forum where we can work together on these challenging issues.

The Midwest Landscape Initiative is a collaboration of fish and wildlife organizations that identifies shared conservation priorities to develop solutions for healthy, functioning ecosystems across the Midwest. The work revolves around one central tenet: connectivity. The connectivity of the lands and waters across the Midwest, and the connectivity of people so that we can work collaboratively across our jurisdictional boundaries and diverse societal needs.

Region included in the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Credit: MLI

Midwest Landscape Initiative’s annual report highlights several accomplishments and new capacity added to pursue more efforts.  Highlights from the report include the Regional Species of Greatest Conservation Need prioritization and habitat expansion, State Wildlife Action Plan Coordination, and work toward the Midwest Conservation Action Plan, including establishment of regional goals, indicators, and early development of a spatial and region-wide blueprint for conservation.

One major accomplishment is the completion of the first phase of the Midwest Regional Species of Greatest Conservation Need (RSGCN) project. This project identifies species of high regional concern and importance that will benefit from coordinated conservation delivery through an effective and collaborative approach across the Midwest region. More than 115 taxa experts worked together to evaluate 1,817 species across 13 taxonomic groups and selected 340 as RSGCN and needing multi-state collaboration. Taxa groups include mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, crayfish, mussels, Odonates (dragonflies and damselflies), bumble and solitary bees, Lepidoptera (butterflies, skippers and moths), mayflies, stoneflies, and caddisflies.

“The MLI has accomplished foundational elements of landscape conservation this year that will set the stage for regional conservation efforts to be carried out in the years ahead. I look forward to continuing these collaborative conversations as we move forward together in the Midwest,” said Sara Parker Pauley, State Co-chair of the Initiative and Director of the Missouri Department of Conservation.

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