Welcome to 2014! The beginning of a new year provides opportunity to reflect on the year past and plan for the year ahead. Looking back on 2013, the prairies experienced expansive loss of grass and wetlands at a rate unseen in recent memory. Consequently, considerable attention was focused on the PPJV and U.S. Prairie Pothole Region. Despite the attention, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the seemingly endless challenges. Fortunately, the dedicated and determined partners at the ground-level working with landowners are not easily overwhelmed, nor are those determining policy and making funding decisions in offices far removed from the prairie landscape. As we embark on 2014, let’s harness the attention focused on the prairies in 2013 and create grand opportunities for prairie conservation. Through your continued support and tireless dedication, the PPJV will continue its quest to make a positive and lasting difference for the wildlife, plants, and people who reap the benefits of your work!
In this edition of the PPJV e-newsletter, you will find our first in a series of “Partner Profiles” where we provide our incredible PPJV partners (in this issue Pheasants Forever) the forum to showcase their organization and the impressive conservation work they have accomplished on behalf of prairie conservation. A critical funding source for the PPJV is the Duck Stamp, so we include an informative article about the Stamp, its history, and potential future. As always, we cover science efforts underway within the PPJV, and in this edition you will find an article on a landscape conservation planning effort that should help advance conservation within the PPJV region and beyond. And lastly, we announce the release of the new PPJV website and highlight how you can use it.
Thank you for reading the PPJV newsletter! Additionally, if time allows please visit the new PPJV website. If you have feedback or ideas for future e-news articles, or how we can improve the website, please contact Casey Stemler, PPJV Coordinator.