In February, two organizations on the PLJV management board were recognized with North American Migratory Bird Joint Venture Conservation Champion Awards in Washington D.C, honoring their contributions to bird habitat conservation across North America: ConocoPhillips and Audubon Southwest.
The awards highlight the importance of partnerships in conservation and the role organizations across sectors play in protecting habitat and sustaining bird populations across North America.
The awards were part of the Migratory Bird Joint Ventures 40th anniversary celebration. Created under the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, the Joint Venture model brings together agencies, nonprofits, corporations and private landowners to work collaboratively to protect important habitat for migratory birds across the continent.
One of this year’s honorees is ConocoPhillips, which received the Industry Partner Award. The company was recognized for decades of investment in conservation work across multiple Joint Venture partnerships. Through its support, ConocoPhillips has helped advance science-based efforts to conserve wetlands and grasslands that are critical to migratory birds, including work connected to the JV8 Central Grasslands Conservation Initiative and PLJV.
“ConocoPhillips has been a foundational partner in conservation with PLJV since its earliest days, ” said Rich Schultheis, PLJV Coordinator . The impact of their sustained investments in conservation can be seen across the landscapes of joint ventures throughout the central grasslands biome. Our work has also been shaped and strengthened by the perspective of Jesse Wood and the ConocoPhillips Management Board members that served before him.”
Jon Hayes, Audubon Southwest, accepting award. Photo by Skyler Nix.
Audubon Southwest was also recognized with the NGO Partner Award after being nominated by the Sonoran Joint Venture. The organization was honored for its leadership in bird conservation throughout the Southwest, where it conducts long-term research, habitat restoration and outreach efforts that support grassland ecosystems and the species that rely on them.
Audubon Southwest also contributes to conservation work within the PLJV region and serves alongside other partners on the PLJV management board.
“Audubon Southwest is a leading voice in conserving the birds and habitats across the Southwestern United States,” said Schultheis. “They have been a valued addition to the PLJV board, and we are excited to see their support and advocacy for the Migratory Bird Joint Venture program recognized.”
Together, the awards highlight the importance of partnerships in conservation and the role organizations across sectors play in protecting habitat and sustaining bird populations across North America.
Learn more about the Joint Venture collaborative conservation model in this video, which was also shown during the celebration in Washington D.C.