Sonoran Joint Venture: About Us

July 2005

In the Spotlight: Comcáac Marshbird Survey Training
(This column spotlights a different SJV-supported project each month. To submit information about your project, contact Jennie Duberstein.)

In December 2004, a diverse group of partners trained a group of Comcáac (Seri) from Desemboque, Sonora, in bird monitoring techniques. This was part of the Northern Arizona University Center for Sustainable Environments' paraecologists program, led by Gary Nabhan and Laurie Monti. Over the last several years, the program has trained a number of Seri in natural resource monitoring techniques (most notably sea turtle). Last year they received an SJV Award to create and train a bird team, and with the assistance of the SJV and other partners, this team has been successfully implementing bird surveys at Estero Sargento since December 2004.

Conducting marshbird surveys, Estero Sargento, Sonora

In late June SJV staff, along with technical committee member Eduardo Gómez-Limón, returned to Desemboque to train the Comcaác bird team in the Standardized North American Marshbird Monitoring Protocols. We implemented the first-ever marshbird surveys for Estero Sargento, documenting nine Clapper Rails over a two-day period.

Thanks to the generosity of Sonoran Audubon Society board member Dick Fogel, we were able to purchase eight copies of the new Kaufman Guide to the Birds of North America in Spanish (all that Tucson Audubon Society had on hand and then some!) to leave with the bird monitoring team. Mr. Fogel also donated a pair of binoculars, a tool that was greatly needed by the bird team. Special thanks to Tucson Audubon Society, who gave us a great deal on the field guides.

Seri women with Kaufman field guides

To learn more about this project, contact Laurie Monti, Applied Indigenous Studies, Northern Arizona University.

CEC allows 30 days for re-filing of the Coronado Islands submission with additional information
Montreal, 2 June 2005 — Today, the Commission for Environmental Cooperation of North America (CEC) issued a determination that submission SEM-05-002 (Coronado Islands) did not contain sufficient information and gave the Submitters 30 days to re-file a submission with additional information.

The submission was filed on 3 May 2005, by the Center for Biological Diversity, Greenpeace Mexico, Alfonso Aguirre, Shaye Wolf, American Bird Conservancy, Los Angeles Audubon Society, Pacific Environment and Resources Center, and Wildcoast (the Submitters). The submission asserts that Mexico is failing to effectively enforce provisions of its environmental law by allowing the construction of a liquefied natural gas re-gasification terminal adjacent to the Coronado Islands, off the coast of the state of Baja California, and a site of a breeding colony of Xantus's Murrelet, a seabird considered at risk, and other species considered at risk.

For additional information, see Citizen Submissions on Enforcement Matters.

New book and map identify 28 marine priority conservation areas
Montreal, 7/06/2005 - On the eve of World Oceans Day, the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) and Marine Biology Conservation Institute (MCBI) today launched a new book and map that identify 28 aquatic environments that marine experts consider essential to safeguarding the biological diversity of the west coast of North America.

The book, entitled Priority Conservation Areas: Baja California to the Bering Sea , presents key information regarding the biodiversity, ecological significance and threats found in each area. The priority conservation areas (PCAs) were identified on the basis of their ecological significance to North America, and the opportunities to advance conservation efforts given the threats faced by biodiversity.

"The selection of this set of marine conservation areas is a major achievement," says Hans Herrmann, head of the Conservation of Biodiversity program at the CEC. "Never before have we seen an international, scientific effort map out marine conservation priorities at this scale."

The PCAs encompass several unique and biologically rich areas that are especially important for migratory species, such as Mexico's Laguna San Ignacio-a key breeding and calving habitat for the gray whale. Other PCAs, like Canada's Queen Charlotte Strait are rich in eelgrass and kelp forests that provide habitats for a great diversity of fish. And in the United States, the common dolpin can be seen traveling in pods up to 1,000 individuals in the Channel Islands.

An associated map, " B2B: A blueprint for conservation from Baja California to the Bering Sea ," illustrates the 28 PCAs in the context of existing marine protected areas. It also highlights three migratory species that are currently the focus of trinational conservation efforts: the humpback whale, the pink-footed shearwater and leatherback turtle. All three marine species were chosen last year as subjects for the first North American Conservation Action Plans. The plans are intended to establish a common conservation approach to reduce threats, share expertise and provide key information to the public and wildlife officials.

The map and 132-page book are available upon request while supplies last. An online version of the book and map can be downloaded at www.cec.org.

First edition of new bilingual environmental education newsletter available
Senderos is the Electronic Bulletin for the Border-Wide EE Coalition. Here you will find stories and news from our border region's environmental educators, and learn of programs and events taking place in all of the ten US-Mexico Border States. The newsletter is also available in Spanish.

The Border-Wide EE Coalition was born from the desire of many environmental educators across the region to increase collaboration and communication between groups and individuals doing EE in conjunction with the Border 2012 program. They are supporting that effort through the creation of this bulletin and a list serve.

To subscribe to Senderos, contact Jose Marcos-Iga.

Send Kaufman's book to Mexico
In the last issue of the SJV E-Bulletin, we announced that Kenn Kaufman's "Focus" guide (Houghton Mifflin) to North American birds had been released in a Spanish-language version, GUIA DE CAMPO A LAS AVES DE NORTEAMERICA. This book is destined to be an invaluable tool for Spanish-speakers both in Latin America and here in the U.S.

ABA Sales (the American Birding Association) has devised an economical way for you to buy a copy to give to a birding leader or research counterpart in Mexico. Those wishing to support biologists and educators in the Mexican portion of the SJV region have a fantastic opportunity to purchase Kaufman Guides in Spanish at a great discount. The next time you shop at ABA Sales (1-800-634-7736), just tell them that you would like to buy an extra Kaufman GUIA for only $10.95 for donation to the Sonoran Joint Venture. (You'll also be sent a receipt for tax purposes.) It's an amazingly simple way to help get the Kaufman book into the hands of SJV partners in Mexico who may need it most.

Contact Jennie (520-882-0837) if you have any questions.

Upcoming grant deadlines

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Science Support Partnership and Quick Response Programs. Region 2 expects to have $50,000 available for allocation from the USGS/FWS QRP for short term and technical assistance needs for FY-2006. Proposals should identify a USGS Principle Investigator/Cooperator for the project. See the FY-2005 USGS RFP for an explanation of the program and guidance in preparing proposals. Proposals must be submitted electronically in MS Word format with budgets attached as separate MS Excel documents. You can view a copy of a Region 2 proposal (and budget) that was successful in obtaining QRP funding for FY-05. Proposals are due to Charles Ault on or before 15 July 2005.
NAWCA U.S. Standard Grants. A North American Wetlands Conservation Act standard grant proposal is a 4-year plan of action supported by a NAWCA grant and partner funds to conserve wetlands and wetlands-dependent fish and wildlife through acquisition (including easements and land title donations), restoration and/or enhancement, with a grant request between $50,001 and $1,000,000. Small grants (up to $50,000) are administered separately. Match must be non-Federal and at least equal the grant request (referred to as a 1:1 match). Match is eligible up to 2 years prior to the year the proposal is submitted and grant and match funds are eligible after the proposal is submitted and through the project period. The deadline to submit proposals is 29 July 2005.
Legacy Resource Management Program. This program assists DoD in protecting and enhancing resources while supporting military readiness. A Legacy project may involve regional ecosystem management initiatives, habitat preservation efforts, archaeological investigations, invasive species control, Native American consultations, and/or monitoring and predicting migratory patterns of birds and animals. The deadline to submit preproposals is 30 September 2005.
Acres for America. Acres for America is a partnership between Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. The Acres for America program was established to provide funding for projects that conserve important habitat for fish, wildlife, and plants through acquisition of interest in real property. The goal of the Acres for America program is to offset the footprint of Wal-Mart's domestic facilities on at least an acre by acre basis through these acquisitions. Applicants are urged to contact the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation regional director in their area to discuss project ideas prior to submitting preproposals. The deadline to submit pre-proposals is 17 September 2005. The deadline to submit full proposals is 29 October.

News and Headlines
Note to readers: Be sure to check out the 19 June article by SJV partner Osvel Hinojosa Huerta, as well as the 1 June article highlighting the work of Pronatura in Sinaloa.

Junio 1 , 2005 - La BSM está en la mira de organizaciones nacionales. Por Araceli Sánchez. © El Debate.

June 2 , 2005 -Pygmy owl dies at 6, leaves few to mourn. By Tony Davis. © Arizona Daily Star.

Junio 4, 2005 - Externan indignación por matanza de aves. Por Shaila Rosagel. © El Imparcial.

June 6, 2005 - West Nile virus prevention funding slashed by state budget committee. By Karen Rubin. © Pasadena Star News.

June 19, 2005 - Let's leave a trickle for birds without borders. By James Wechsler and Osvel Hinojosa Huerta. © Los Angeles Times.

Upcoming Meetings and Workshops

Joint State/Federal Wetland and Riparian Area Legal Workshop: Identifying "Waters of the U.S." After SWANCC: 18-19 October 2005, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Contact: Jon Kussler.

Western Wetland Conference: Collaboration Across
Boundaries: 24-26 October 2005, Denver, Colorado. Contact: jkeigley@montana.edu.

Partners In Flight Western Working Group: 2-4 November 2005, Lockeford, California. The meeting will take place at The Inn at Locke House. Rooms are available at a special
conference rate of $115/night through September 1. Contact details to follow.

Integrated Restoration of Riverine Wetlands, Streams, Riparian Areas, and Floodplains in Watershed Contexts: 15-16 November 2005, Amherst, Massachusetts. Contact: Jon Kussler.

Click here for complete details about upcoming meetings.