April 23, 2013 – The Upper Midwest and Great Lakes Landscape Conservation Cooperative (LCC) today released its newly designed public Web site http://GreatLakesLCC.org to promote effective conservation through collaboration and sound science.

The LCC facilitates dialogue among federal, state, non-governmental, academic and private interests to build a collaborative network of knowledge surrounding natural resources issues impacting the upper Midwest and Great Lakes landscape. LCC partners are working together to bridge the gap between science and natural resources management while tackling broad reaching natural resources challenges like climate change, aquatic and terrestrial connectivity,  energy development, and socio-economic implications of conservation practices.

GreatLakesLCC.org provides natural resources professionals and the public with access to shared conservation priorities, ongoing scientific research, funding opportunities, and educational resources, while offering continued transparency on behalf of the LCC community.

This network of knowledge equips the upper Midwest and Great Lakes community with the tools necessary to prepare for and address current and future stressors impacting the natural resources of this ecologically diverse and economically important landscape.

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In partnership with State and Tribal agencies, the Obama Administration today released the Nation’s first strategy to help public and private decision makers address the impacts that climate change is having on natural resources and the people and economies that depend on them. The National Fish, Wildlife and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy provides a unified approach—reflecting shared principles and science-based practices—for reducing the negative impacts of climate change on fish, wildlife, plants, and the natural systems upon which they depend.

Fish, wildlife, and plants provide jobs, food, clean water, storm protection, health benefits and many other important ecosystem services that support people, communities and economies across the nation. Action is needed now to help safeguard these valuable natural resources and the communities that depend on them in a changing climate.

Climate Change and the Common Good - University of Notre Dame Conference April 8-10, 2013

The University of Notre Dame is hosting Climate Change and the Common Good, a conference to be held from April 8-10, 2013. Universities and non-government organizations in the greater Chicago region have an important contribution to make toward addressing the complex and multidisciplinary challenges posed by climate change and resource scarcity.

The conference hopes to build collaborations and partnerships among participants to build a more sustainable future for society at large. With this conference as a starting point, participants can contribute a valuable ethical perspective to the national and international dialogue about climate change, sustainability efforts in higher education, and provide inspiration for our regional community. As the conference encompasses a diversity of approaches to climate change, from ethics to policy to national security, all disciplines are invited.

Please visit the conference website http://climatechange.nd.edu for the conference agenda and registration information.

Contact Suzi Spitzer at sspitzer@nd.edu or Jessica Hellmann at hellmann.3@nd.edu with questions.

Upper Midwest and Great Lakes LCC seeks research proposals for funding in 2013:  Stakeholder values, State Wildlife Action Plans, socioeconomics, and science communication among priority research needs

The Upper Midwest and Great Lakes Landscape Conservation Cooperative (LCC) is seeking project ideas for potential funding in 2013.  The LCC identifies, prioritizes, and supports research addressing scientific uncertainties to inform conservation across the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes geography. Grant application packages are due by April 19, 2013.

For consideration, projects must address at least one of the following themes identified by the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes LCC:

• Identifying and integrating objectives for waterfowl habitat, waterfowl populations, and people
• Identifying regional themes and needs across State Wildlife Action Plans in the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes region
• Incorporating impacts of future climate and socioeconomic drivers into the fish habitat condition assessment in the Midwest
• Identifying or developing a hierarchical geographic framework and conservation targets for Upper Midwest and Great Lakes regional landscape conservation design
• Understanding needs and best practices for effective information transfer between science and management communities

The notice of funding availability and application process is posted at the following web link: http://www.grants.gov/search/search.do;jsessionid=BL4GRQTTp3n84yL1vrv2L9pGn0J9n4mDTKwVGZbnw02qGT6B0DGB!-1244836773?oppId=227841&mode=VIEW

or by visiting http://www.grants.gov and searching under funding opportunity number F13AS00119  Additional application instructions and materials are available for download below:

2013 RFP Application Template (404 kb Word)
Peer Input Process and Data Management Policy (163 kb PDF)
Communications Plan Template (25 kb Word)