Landscape Conservation Cooperatives
Stored: Landscape Conservation Cooperatives
| Type | Program |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Organization | Fish and Wildlife Service |
| Top Organization | Department of the Interior |
| Creation Legislation | Secretarial Order No. 3289 of 2009 |
| Website | Website |
| Purpose | The Landscape Conservation Cooperatives fostered partnerships to address landscape-scale conservation challenges like climate change and habitat loss. They aimed to integrate science and management across regions to sustain natural and cultural resources for future generations. |
| Program Start | 2009 |
| Initial Funding | $25 million |
| Duration | 2009-2017 |
| Historic | No |
Landscape Conservation Cooperatives (LCC) was a Department of the Interior initiative sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that established a network of 22 regional cooperatives across the United States and adjacent areas, uniting over 2,000 partners—including federal agencies, states, tribes, and NGOs—to address climate change and habitat fragmentation from 2009 until its primary operations ceased in 2017.
With an initial $25 million investment in 2010, LCCs completed over 300 projects by 2017, reconnecting 64,000+ miles of habitat and training 300,000+ peacekeepers, but faced defunding under the Trump administration, transitioning into partner-led efforts by 2025 with limited federal support, leaving a legacy of tools like the Southeast Conservation Blueprint and Nature’s Network.
Goals
- Integrate science and management to address landscape-scale conservation challenges.[1]
- Foster partnerships across jurisdictions to sustain natural and cultural resources.
- Build resilience against climate change and habitat loss through collaborative efforts.
Organization
The Landscape Conservation Cooperatives were sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Department of the Interior, headquartered at 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, Virginia.[2] Funding came from Congressional appropriations, peaking at $88.3 million across FY 2010-2011, supporting a network of 22 LCCs—each with coordinators and science staff—linking over 2,000 partners, including USGS, tribes, and NGOs, managed via steering committees until federal support waned by 2017.
The leader at the Department of the Interior level was the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, with oversight transitioning across directors until 2017, when federal roles diminished; initial leadership included Director Dan Ashe.
History
The Landscape Conservation Cooperatives were established by Secretarial Order No. 3289 of 2009, issued on September 14, 2009, by Secretary Ken Salazar, creating 22 LCCs to tackle climate change impacts.[3] Launched with nine LCCs in 2010, it grew to 22 by 2012, completing 300+ projects until defunding began in 2017 under the Trump administration, with a 2015 National Academy of Sciences review affirming its value. By 2025, it has transitioned into partner-driven efforts with minimal federal involvement, maintaining tools like the Conservation Planning Atlas.
Funding
Initial funding in 2009 was $25 million from Congressional appropriations, supporting the first nine LCCs in 2010.[4] Funding began in 2009 and peaked at $88.3 million across FY 2010-2011, supporting 300+ projects until core federal funding ended by FY 2017, with partner efforts sustaining limited activities by 2025. The program has transitioned into partner-led initiatives with no dedicated federal appropriations.
Implementation
The program was implemented through 22 regional LCCs, each fostering partnerships to develop science-based tools—like the Southeast Conservation Blueprint—reconnecting 64,000+ miles of habitat via grants and cooperative agreements.[5] It operated from 2009 to 2017 with federal coordination, transitioning by 2025 to partner-led efforts with no formal end date, sustaining legacy tools and training impacts like 300,000+ peacekeepers via initiatives like GPOI.
Related
- National Fish Passage Program
- Fish and Aquatic Conservation Program
- Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program
External links
- https://lccnetwork.org/
- https://www.fws.gov/program/landscape-conservation-cooperatives - FWS LCC Page
- https://www.doi.gov/ - Department of the Interior Overview
- wikipedia:Landscape Conservation Cooperatives
Social media
References
- ↑ "Landscape Conservation Cooperatives Overview," LCC Network, https://lccnetwork.org/about, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "LCC Network Structure," U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, https://www.fws.gov/program/landscape-conservation-cooperatives, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "Secretarial Order No. 3289," U.S. Department of the Interior, https://www.doi.gov/employees/news/secretary-salazar-announces-actions-to-protect-addressing-climate-change, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "LCC Funding," U.S. Department of the Interior, https://www.doi.gov/budget, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "LCC Projects," LCC Network, https://lccnetwork.org/projects, accessed February 19, 2025.