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Meadow in the John Day river basin

Meadow in the John Day river basin

Programs

North American Stronghold PartnershipNews & Program Updates

February, 2007

At the end of November, Wild Salmon Center held a workshop to launch the North American Stronghold Partnership, a public-private partnership dedicated to providing local groups with the necessary resources to protect Pacific salmon strongholds along the West Coast. Twenty participants representing federal and state agencies, private businesses and conservation groups came together for the kickoff meeting. This was the first time this group of experts has assembled, and the workshop opened an important dialogue about creating a network of rivers where salmon can survive the pressures of the next century.

The group discussed partnership strategies, priorities and next steps for creating the Stronghold Network. We reached the following agreements:

  • Where: We will work to conserve key ecosystem processes in at least one salmon ecosystem for each of 11 ecoregions in North America. The targeted ecosystems will be selected based on a series of factors, including aquatic and terrestrial species diversity, productivity, and abundance; socioeconomic and political issues; local, state, and national commitments; and resilience in the face of climate change. A committee representing partner organizations is preparing an analysis for presentation at the partnership meeting in March when the selection process will begin.
  • What: Once strongholds have been selected, the partnership will work together to make these areas models of public/private coordination in conserving critical ecosystem processes. Building on existing conservation efforts in the area, the partnership will help coordinate delivery of resources to implement priority actions in each ecosystem. Agendas may include improving coordination or resource delivery mechanisms, increasing conservation funding, addressing local motivators and evaluating the long-term health of these ecosystems.
  • Who: The partnership includes government, NGO, and private sector organizations from California, Oregon Washington, Alaska and Idaho. Local private sector representatives will be added once strongholds are selected.