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Fwd: Urban Treaty For Bird Conservation

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  • To: <b*@igc.org>
  • Subject: Urban Treaty For Bird Conservation
  • From: "* C* <C*@nwf.org>
  • Date: Fri, 25 Jun 1999 10:04:24 -0400
  • Content-Disposition: inline
Hi folks- please see below which came off the web.

I could not find anything on the USFWS homepage about this yet.  There could easily be a tie in to Backyard Wildlife Habitats, Schoolyard Habitats, Community Wildlife Habitats etc., and maybe there will be some money available for cities that make bird conservation a priority.

Heather Carskaddan, NWF  

Urban Treaty for Bird Conservation Unveiled                EarthVision Reports

06/16/99 

NEW ORLEANS, LA, June 16, 1999 - Over the weekend the US Fish and Wildlife (USFWS) Service, Mayors from across the US and Warner  Bros.' canary, Tweety, joined forces to bring about the first Urban Treaty for Bird Conservation in an attempt to protect America's songbird populations. 

A USFWS news release said the Urban Treaty pilot program, designed to help cities conserve migratory bird populations and their habitat through voluntary partnerships, recognizes the crucial role that urban communities can play in migratory bird conservation efforts. 

New Orleans Mayor Marc H. Morial, whose city hosted the Mayoral Conference where the announcement was made, said the Urban Treaty program will help his city expand bird conservation education in urban schools and improve habitat for birds. 

"The vitality of native bird populations is an indication of the health of an entire ecosystem. The unique birds of New Orleans, immortalized by the paintings and impressions of naturalist John James Audubon, have always been a precious resource," said Morial. "We are grateful to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for helping us continue eco-positive practices in New Orleans." 

Doing his part, Tweety will raise awareness of steps that can be taken to ensure survival of birds in the urban environment. 

"The lovable cat and canary team of Sylvester and Tweety has entertained audiences over the years with their cat-chasing-bird antics.  Tweety has proven to be an expert at survival and, on behalf of his feathered friends, will help educate the American people on the importance of urban bird conservation," said Dan Romanelli, President, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. 

Birds are a critical component of every ecosystem, and are an excellent indicator of the overall health of the environment. But they are even more significant in urban areas in an age of increasing urbanization because they may represent the only day-to-day contact many people have with wildlife. 

Service Director Jamie Rappaport Clark noted that the type of habitat that attracts birds in urban areas parks, greenways, and tree-lined streets, for example directly improves the quality of life in any community. In addition, bird watching and other bird-related activities generate direct economic benefits, an estimated $29 billion for the U.S. economy in 1996 alone. 

The Urban Treaty program will provide a framework to support education programs, habitat restoration and enhancement, and other initiatives mutually agreed upon by the Urban Treaty city and the USFWS, in consultation with state wildlife agencies. Cities that sign an Urban Treaty for Bird Conservation with the Service may be eligible for matching
grants, technical and educational assistance and other support. The Service will also work with the city to find other conservation partners for Urban Treaty initiatives. 

The Treaty program is coming just in time in seems. According to the most recent breeding bird survey conducted by the US Geological Survey and the Service, only 31 percent of urban bird species are estimated to have increasing populations. Their generally declining populations probably reflect the cumulative effects of habitat loss, deaths
from improper pesticide application, and predation from domestic house cats. 

This is not to say that some birds have not enjoyed a population growth with urbanization. Everyone is aware of the ubiquitous city pigeon and Canadian goose, but this kind of population growth is not indicative of urban birds as a whole, nor is it desirable. 

from http://www.sustainableusa.com/news/sanewsview.cfm?NewsID=7607

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