AN “EPIC” EMERGING COALITION
FOR METROPOLITAN ALLIANCE AND
LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION
Kristin Shaw, USFWS ETPBR LCC
Roadmap of the Presentation
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Introduction to Landscape
Conservation Cooperatives
and the ETPBR LCC
Midwest Urban
Conservation Workshop
Overview and Outcomes
Creation of Ecological
Places in Cities (EPIC)
Introduction to Landscape Conservation Cooperatives
The story of the ETPBR LCC
ETPBR LCC STRUCTURE
Management community
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Conservation agencies
Private landowners
Business community
NGOs with on-the-ground interests
Communicate priority Science Needs
from the field
Test research outcomes in
management context
Steering Committee
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Strategic direction
Organizational oversight
Funding decisions
Implementation authority
LCC Staff
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Organizational development & operations
Communication across groups & outreach
Share resources & concepts through FWS Region 3
Science Advisory Team & National LCC Network
Technical Advisory Groups (TAGs)
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Research Community
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Universities & Business R&D
Agency & NGO research scientists
Forecast future challenges
Bring cutting edge ideas& tools
Conduct applied research
Describe management implications
of research outcomes
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Refine strategic plan; develop science agenda
Propose targeted RFPs or project scopes of work;
proposal review
Proposed ETPBR LCC TAGs
Prairie Restoration (share with UMGL & PPP)
River Restoration (share with PPP)
Agroecology (share with PPP and GCPO LCC)
Urban Watersheds (share with UMGL)
Regional Conservation Design (shared with UMGL
& PPP) – delivery through SWAPs, NGO plans, etc.
Information & Technology Transfer
P-BRAT: Prairie-Big Rivers Advisory Team (staff
liaisons to US FWS programs)
Process & Tasks for Technical Advisory
Groups (TAGs)
1) Clarify the Problem Statement (decision context)
2) Set Fundamental Objectives (outcomes)
3) Impact Models relate objectives to decisions (tradeoffs between
management actions)
4) Identify stakeholders & decision-makers
5) Identify key uncertainties (Science Needs) – gaps in knowledge
and resources
6) Recommend criteria for prioritizing needs
7) Guidance for project review & evaluation
8) Develop portfolio of desired science projects for RFP
Focal Area 4. Urban Watersheds
Means Objectives
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Build on re-orientation of cities to their waterfronts to promote local
wildlife habitat and outdoor recreation.
Utilize river systems as the foundation for incorporating functional
wildlife corridors in green infrastructure plans.
Design urban, suburban and small estate developments to
accommodate conservation of prairie and river systems in urban
green spaces.
Enhance viability of small towns in rural areas by attracting tourists
and businesses to recreational activities at local prairie and river
restoration sites.
The Midwest Urban Conservation Workshop
Midwest Urban Conservation
Workshop Overview
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46 participants
States Represented: Iowa,
Illinois, Indiana, Missouri,
Minnesota
Entities represented: City,
State, and Federal
Employees, Nonprofits,
Private Sector
Workshop Planning Process
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Urban TAG
Planning Committee
Selection
Topic Selections
Speakers?
Who to invite?
Collective Impact
Brainstorming day
Goals of the Workshop
Kids playing outdoors near St. Louis, Missouri. Photo by Ashley Spratt/USFWS
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Understand the status of Urban Conservation
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Establish science needs and introduction to new topics
Understand the management practices being used.
 Establish avenues for collaboration.
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Create an opportunity for networking and relationship building
 Create a collective impact through establishment of working
groups and cooperatives.
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Summary of Presentations
April 29th:
• Ecological Homogenization
• Green Infrastructure
• Large Landscape Conservation
• Social Hour- Poster Presentations
April 30th:
• Biophilic Cities
• Collective Impact
• Establishing Collaboration
• Community Outreach
• Public Keynote
May 1st:
• Creation of Collective Impact
Ecological Places in Cities -- EPIC
Picture: Leiden, The Netherlands Street divided by natural vegetation. -Kristin Shaw
Collective Impact Framework of EPIC
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1. Common Agenda
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2. Shared Measurement
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Based on programs that participants are interested in
4. Continuous Communication
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To be determined as thematic areas are established
3. Mutually Reinforcing Activities
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We are a network that reconnects (integrates) people and
nature in Midwestern cities, their surrounding working
landscapes, and natural areas.
Provided by staff of the LCC and Collaborative Working
Space Website
5. Backbone Support
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ETPBR LCC & UMGL LCC
Backbone Support and Common Agenda
Backbone Support
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ETPBR LCC/ UMGL LCC
Communication
Funding
Network
Capabilities/Tools
Common Agenda
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Creation during Workshop
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Vision: We are a network
that reconnects (integrates)
people and nature in
Midwestern cities, their
surrounding working
landscapes, and natural
areas.
Process of Crafting/
Refining
Functions of EPIC
Education and train the trainer
 Wildlife conservation
 Habitat restoration
 Community revitalization
 Landscape planning
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 Encompass
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Research
city plans into the landscape scale
Themes
Who is involved?
Cities
Not for
Profit
Federal
Agencies
ETPBR LCC
&
UMGL LCC
Universities
States
EPIC Next Steps
Analysis of
available
resources from
EPIC Members
(area of
expertise,
projects, etc.)
Where they fit
in to topics
Based on tools
available and
interests of EPIC
Membersnarrow down
themes
Based on
themes target
core team
members for
creation of
mission, goals,
and solidifying
vision
Outreach to
subregional
hubs - subject to
change based
on how we
divide the
region (HUCs,
migratory bird,
population)
Strategic
plannning
workshop - lead
to 5 year
strategic plan
and guidance
on the creation
of tools
Interested in being a part of the process?
Contact Kristin Shaw, Urban Watersheds TAG Coordinator ETPBR LCC
Email: Kristin_Shaw@fws.gov
812-334-4261 x1209 (o)
712-294-4585 (c)
http://exploreportlandnature.wordpress.com/2012/02/23/cartoons-about-children-and-nature/
QUESTIONS?