Southeast Conservation Blueprint
Stored: Southeast Conservation Blueprint
| Type | Program |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Organization | Southeast Conservation Adaptation Strategy |
| Top Organization | Department of the Interior |
| Creation Legislation | Secretarial Order No. 3289 of 2009 |
| Website | Website |
| Purpose | The Southeast Conservation Blueprint identifies priority areas for conserving ecosystems across the Southeast and Caribbean. It aims to enhance biodiversity, connectivity, and resilience through a science-based, collaborative spatial plan. |
| Program Start | 2016 |
| Initial Funding | Congressional appropriations |
| Duration | Ongoing |
| Historic | No |
Southeast Conservation Blueprint is a Department of the Interior initiative led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service within the Southeast Conservation Adaptation Strategy (SECAS), uniting over 2,000 partners across 15 Southeastern states, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands to prioritize conservation on over 400 million acres, reconnecting more than 64,000 miles of habitat and supporting over 1,093 migratory bird species and other wildlife as of 2025.
Launched in 2016 as a first-generation spatial plan, it has facilitated over 350 completed uses and 90+ ongoing projects, securing $330 million+ in funding by 2025, with its 2024 update refining indicators like grasslands and savannas, integrating tools like the Southeast Blueprint Explorer, and supporting post-Hurricane Helene recovery efforts across the region.
Goals
- Identify priority conservation areas to sustain Southeastern ecosystems.[1]
- Enhance habitat connectivity and biodiversity across 17 jurisdictions.
- Support collaborative decision-making with science-driven planning tools.
Organization
The Southeast Conservation Blueprint was sponsored by the Southeast Conservation Adaptation Strategy (SECAS), a partnership led 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 via USFWS and SEAFWA, supporting a staff of coordinators, GIS specialists, and user support teams across 10 Southeast regions, managing updates with over 180 organizations, guided by SECAS leadership and the North Atlantic LCC until 2017.
The leader at the Department of the Interior level was the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, currently Martha Williams (as of February 20, 2025), with SECAS coordinated by Amanda Sesser.
History
The Southeast Conservation Blueprint was established as a key deliverable of SECAS under Secretarial Order No. 3289 of 2009, which launched the Landscape Conservation Cooperatives, with its first-generation plan unveiled in 2016 at the SEAFWA conference.[3] Initiated in 2013 with a goal set by SECAS leadership, it evolved through annual updates (e.g., Blueprint 4.0 in 2024), integrating over 300 projects by 2025 despite LCC funding cuts in 2017, with milestones like the 2024 Southeast Blueprint Explorer enhancement and 2025’s focus on post-Helene recovery and Puerto Rico expansion.
Funding
Initial funding in 2016 came from Congressional appropriations through USFWS and SEAFWA, with unspecified startup amounts building on LCC budgets.[4] Funding began in 2016 and continues, with FY 2025 estimates supporting over $330 million in leveraged conservation funds, driven by partner contributions and appropriations, with no end date as it sustains efforts like 2025’s $46.2 million wetland grants integration.
Implementation
The program was implemented through an annually updated, data-driven spatial plan, synthesizing over 100 indicators into a mapping tool used by 450+ people across 180+ organizations via workshops and the Southeast Blueprint Explorer.[5] It operates continuously with no end date, prioritizing over 400 million acres, with 2025 efforts refining grasslands indicators and supporting recovery after Hurricane Helene across 17 jurisdictions.
Related
- Southeast Conservation Adaptation Strategy
- Landscape Conservation Cooperatives
- Migratory Bird Program
External links
- https://secassoutheast.org/blueprint
- https://www.fws.gov/program/southeast-conservation-adaptation-strategy-secas - SECAS Overview
- https://www.doi.gov/ - Department of the Interior Overview
- wikipedia:Southeast Conservation Adaptation Strategy
Social media
References
- ↑ "Southeast Conservation Blueprint Overview," Southeast Conservation Adaptation Strategy, https://secassoutheast.org/blueprint, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "SECAS Organization," Southeast Conservation Adaptation Strategy, https://secassoutheast.org/about, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "SECAS History," Southeast Conservation Adaptation Strategy, https://secassoutheast.org/about, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "USFWS Budget," U.S. Department of the Interior, https://www.doi.gov/budget, accessed February 19, 2025.
- ↑ "Blueprint Implementation," Southeast Conservation Adaptation Strategy, https://secassoutheast.org/blueprint, accessed February 19, 2025.