 Urban Conservation Treaty
for Migratory Birds
A program working with cities and partners to conserve migratory birds
through education, hazard reductions, citizen science, conservation
actions, and conservation and habitat improvement strategies
in urban/suburban areas.
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$650,000.00 FUNDING TO TEN NEW CITIES
FOR URBAN CONSERVATION TREATY FOR MIGRATORY BIRDS
Backed by up to a $70,000 challenge grant to each city from the Service, the Urban Conservation Treaty will support bird initiatives throughout the country. The Urban Bird Treaty city and their partners develop and implement bird conservation projects and provide matching dollars and in-kind support. The Service provides the challenge grants and technical assistance. The cities of Phoenix, AZ; Kennedale, TX, Twin Cities – Minneapolis and St. Paul; Indianapolis, IN; Opelika, AL; Hartford, CT; Ogden, UT; Lewistown, MT; San Francisco, CA; and Washington DC. These cities and their partners will work to increase awareness of the value of migratory birds and their habitats, especially for their intrinsic, ecological, recreational, and economic significance. The wide variety of native birds thriving in urban areas underscores the importance of these urban/suburban habitats to the survival of many bird populations.
The Urban Conservation Treaty for Migratory Birds (Urban Bird Treaty)
program was created to help municipal governments conserve birds that
live and nest in or overwinter or migrate through their cities. Launched in
1999, the first treaty was signed with New Orleans, and the second treaty
was signed with Chicago. The treaties are a partnership agreement between
a U.S. city and the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) to conserve
migratory birds through education, habitat improvement and bird
conservation actions.
Each of us makes decisions in our daily lives that have the potential to
either help or harm wildlife. In the case of birds, it can be something as
simple as keeping pet cats inside, turning off the lights of a high‐rise office
building at night, buying shade‐grown coffee, and being sure to choose
bird‐friendly native plants for a backyard or schoolyard garden.
Cities can become effective sanctuaries for birds and other wildlife, with
an environmentally aware citizenry dedicated to conserving and enhancing
natural resources. This is not only good for the birds, but also for the
quality of life of people living in and visiting out cities.
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