This document outlines the Unified Strategy to Restore Wild Quail led by the National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative (NBCI). It discusses how quail populations have declined dramatically across most of their range. NBCI brings together 25 states and many partners with a strategic plan called NBCI 2.0 to restore over 4 million coveys of quail through improved habitat management on private lands. The strategy is state-centered with NBCI providing coordination and support. Focus areas allow partners to demonstrate success and refine techniques to motivate expanded restoration efforts over the long term to achieve the vision of widespread sustainable quail hunting.
7. How did we get in this deep hole?
Unmanaged natural plant succession
Intensive agriculture
Subsidized spread of invasive
exotics
Urban sprawl
8. Bobwhites May Be The Most Difficult
Wildlife Restoration Challenge Ever
• States have authority & responsibility
– Not Federal or joint
– ~ 30 independent jurisdictions
– No central infrastructure (e.g. USFWS)
• Landscape-scale habitat problem
– No shortcuts
•
•
•
•
Mostly private land
Long-term challenge
Constituency is fading
Hope is stretched thin
11. Quail Problem is Solvable:
A+
Science
+
DPeople, Politics and Money
12. The States Have Come Together for Quail
25 States +
Partners
Midwest
Southeast
Northeast
Many
Partners
1 Technical
Committee
1 Unified
Quail Initiative
17. NBCI is a:
• Vision – for widespread restoration of huntable
quail populations
• Leadership commitment – of 25 states and many
partners
• Organized partnership – national, state, local
• Strategic plan – a unified, scientific, habitatbased quail restoration plan — ―NBCI 2.0‖
• Committee
• National center – to help states and
partners by providing:
• Leadership
• Coordination
• Capacity
18. NBCI Strategy Stretches Top to Bottom
WHITE HOUSE
NBCI
Niche
NATIONAL
REGIONAL
STATES
NGOs
LOCAL / COUNTY
LANDOWNERS / PUBLICS
FARM
HOUSE
19. National Level:
Some Major NBCI Prongs of Attack
• Science Application
– Coordinating protocols, data collection from states
– Establishing central data management
• Agriculture Policy
– Improving CRP policy
– Instituting native plant policy at NRCS, FSA
• Forest Management, Rx Fire
– Opening doors of state forestry leaders
– Catalyzing shortleaf pine ecosystem initiative
• Grazing Lands Management
– Developing NWSG technology
– Promoting native grass-fed beef
• Public Information, Motivation
– Magnifying visibility, web capability
– Engaging outdoor writers
21. Why does this matter?
People want to be part of something
bigger
22. Why does this matter?
People want to be part of something
bigger
23. Why does this matter?
People want to be part of something
bigger
Good things happen when
people work together
24. States are Stepping Up
Several Ongoing Active Quail Initiatives
Examples:
• Georgia Bobwhite Quail Initiative
• North Carolina CURE
• Missouri bobwhite recovery plan
• Virginia Quail Action Plan
• Mississippi NBCI step-down plan
• Kentucky quail plan
• Florida UERP
25. Latest State Quail Initiatives
• Kansas Quail Initiative: 2012 – 2017
• Pennsylvania Northern Bobwhite
Management Plan: 2011 – 2020
• Georgia Bobwhite Quail Initiative (2nd
round)
• Oklahoma’s Upland Urgency
• Texas Quail Focus Area Initiative: 2012
• South Carolina – new in 2013
31. NBCI STRATEGY IS STATE-CENTERED
States Assert Leading Role
Partners Collaborate and Reinforce
NBCI
PARTNERS
STATES
32. NBCI STRATEGY IS STATE-CENTERED
States Assert Leadership Role
Partners Collaborate and Reinforce
NBCI
PARTNERS
STATES
33. This is Kentucky’s Time
KDFWR is doing its part
to provide bobwhite leadership
NOW is the time for
Kentucky sportsmen
to step up
34. First Steps of Long Journey
• NBCI vision is ―widespread‖ quail
restoration
• not just a few hot spots
• Focus areas are beginning, not end
• Show short-term success …
• Then expand to more and more new areas
• All partners are needed, to keep
moving forward
bringbackbobwhites.org
40. NBCI Pushing Quail Focus Areas. Why?
• Long-term Challenge, but short-term:
• Expectations, attention spans
• Budget cycles
• Cannot fix entire states at once
• Need manageable-sized areas
• Must demonstrate short-term successes
• Prove concepts, instill hope
• Secure perseverance
• Strategic Habitat Conservation
• Learn what is / is not working
Any NBCI structure and strategy MUST place and keep states at the core of the entire Initiative, since states are the legal and responsible stewards of bobwhites. States cannot restore bobwhites rangewide by themselves; but no one else can restore bobwhites on large scale without states.
Any NBCI structure and strategy MUST place and keep states at the core of the entire Initiative, since states are the legal and responsible stewards of bobwhites. States cannot restore bobwhites rangewide by themselves; but no one else can restore bobwhites on large scale without states.