Sentinel Landscapes Winter 2024 Update
Message from Federal Coordinating Committee
As we reflect on a successful 2023, the Sentinel Landscapes Partnership Federal Coordinating Committee expresses gratitude to our partners for their invaluable contributions - please stay tuned for the release of the 2023 Sentinel Landscapes Accomplishments Report. We also look forward to exciting developments in 2024, in particular, the announcement of new landscapes from the 2024 Sentinel Landscape Designation Cycle in the spring. Read on for Winter 2024 updates from the partnership.
2024 Sentinel Landscapes Webinar Series
The Sentinel Landscapes Partnership is thrilled to announce our 2024 Webinar Series! Webinars will provide insights into projects balancing military readiness, environmental stewardship, and cultural preservation, as well as spotlight the newly designated landscapes from the 2024 Sentinel Landscape Designation Cycle. All webinars are scheduled from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Eastern Time, and recordings will be available on our website. For detailed webinar descriptions and dates, access the schedule here.
2023 Funding Spotlight
2023 again showcased the skill of partners in sentinel landscapes to successfully pursue large federal funding awards. A few of these awards are outlined below. Congratulations to all of our sentinel landscapes for their continued funding success!
Regional Conservation Partnership Program
In November 2023, two projects within sentinel landscapes received funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP):
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In the Southern Indiana Sentinel Landscape, the Conservation Law Center is leading a project to protect farms and forests by securing conservation easements and restoring oak-hickory forest ecosystems, benefiting federally endangered bat species. The initiative, with a total RCPP funding request of over $24.6 million, also provides support for implementing conservation systems among producers, cropland owners, and forestland owners. |
In the Georgia Sentinel Landscape, the Georgia Conservancy, Inc. is leading a project implementing traditional and climate-smart agriculture and forestry practices to protect wildlife habitat by preserving historic longleaf forest lands through conservation easements. The project, with a total RCPP funding request surpassing $10.3 million, also benefits from matching funds provided by the Department of Defense Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration Program.
For more information on these RCPP projects, read more here.
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Joint Chiefs' Landscape Restoration Partnership
In February, the Fort Huachuca Sentinel Landscape was one of 14 projects to receive funding through the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and NRCS Joint Chiefs’ Landscape Restoration Partnership.
The USFS Sierra Vista Ranger District and the NRCS Douglas Field Office secured $1 million for a project that focuses on various restoration initiatives, including vegetation treatment, watershed restoration, road decommissioning, and aquatic habitat improvement. The project collaborates with the Fort Apache Fuels Crew and aligns with a $1.5 million National Fish and Wildlife Foundation America the Beautiful Challenge proposal. Read more here.
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