National Wildlife Federation/ San Diego County

Flyway Cities Coalition

Join the Flyway Cities Coalition

Flyway Cities Coalition

Join the Flyway Cities Coalition!

"There are holes in the flyways." -- Kevin Coyle, National Wildlife Federation

Natural influences and human activity continue to threaten native wildlife habitats and the many species they support. Urban sprawl, drought, wildfires, invasive species, and pollution have fragmented natural landscapes and isolated wildlife populations. Add to these global warming, caused by society's increasing carbon footprint, and many species may not exist at the end of this century.

Although we don't know all of the long-term impacts on wildlife in our communities, we must act now to restore and protect native habitat, especially in North America's flyway corridors.

Using the term "flyways" to describe large corridors of habitat and the wildlife that depend on them, urban areas often represent insurmountable "holes" in those corridors. Expanses of asphalt and grass lawns don't offer the food or shelter needed by migratory species or resident plants and animals. Flyways aren't just for the birds.

Addressing this Urgent Need

To successfully solve the problem of dwindling flyway habitat, we must unite our efforts. National Wildlife Federation (NWF) is forming a Flyway Cities Coalition of elected officials, city and county planners, state and federal agencies, non-profit organizations, nature centers, educational institutions, faith-based organizations, volunteers, and local civic groups to work together within the four major flyways of the United States.

In 2008, Flyway Cities will launch in three flyway corridors:

Atlantic --- Metropolitan Atlanta and Fort Lauderdale
Central --- Austin
Pacific --- San Diego
Launches are planned in 2009 for:

Atlantic --- Boston
Mississippi --- Chicago
Central --- Denver
Pacific --- Seattle
Coalition working groups will be formed in other cities in the following years, increasing and connecting quality land and water habitats within each flyway as the Coalition grows.

Your involvement is essential to the future of wildlife in -- and around -- your city.

Flyway Cities Goals

Partners of each city's Flyway Cities Coalition will come together in working groups to identify the best ways to protect and develop sustainable environments in their communities. Each working group will set its own goals, striving for an annual increase of at least 10 percent of wildlife habitat acreage protected or restored.

Coalition working groups will also:

increase environmental stewardship by raising awareness about environmental issues among community leaders
empower citizens with information
ignite personal responsibility for improving urban ecosystems
restore and increase wildlife habitat
cross-promote organizational efforts and projects to meet common goals, and
strengthen social networks to create more effective advocacy for local, regional and state solutions to wildlife and habitat programs
Strategies

We can more effectively leverage our individual resources and strengths by joining together to create and restore native habitats and aid wildlife. The process of implementing the Coalition's work will be unique to each city, based on its specific needs and the strengths of Coalition partners.

National Wildlife Federation will serve both as a partner and a source of key resources, providing:

a community action "toolkit"
marketing and other collateral, including fact sheets, brochures, and other promotional materials
curriculum and educator-based materials
volunteers
new volunteer recruitment and training
policy and advocacy expertise
fundraising support
Sign Up Today!!

Become a Flyway Cities Coalition partner now. Join with others in your metropolitan area to protect and restore wildlife habitat.

To sign up and learn more, contact:

Kimberly Winter, Ph.D.

Manager, Habitats Program

National Wildlife Federation

winterk@nwf.org

703-438-6278

or

Nicole Rousmaniere, M.E.M.

Senior Coordinator, Habitats Program

National Wildlife Federation

rousmanieren@nwf.org

703-438-6310

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