Day after day we’re reminded of how interconnected our natural world is. Conservation efforts aimed at one species can have significant benefits for others. The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) recently recognized that opportunity when it reached out to the Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society (RGS & AWS). The organizations, eyeing similar projects in the Eastern US, have now joined forces in a three-year conservation agreement.
“Whether we’re talking about ruffed grouse or elk, there are similar habitat requirements,” said Ben Jones,President and CEO of RGS & AWS. “Like us, RMEF is focused on conservation. They saw our habitat delivery network and the success we were having on it, and they reached out to join forces. Together, we’re overlaying where we each have people on the ground—where there are Eastern elk herds and promising upland bird populations. We’re just beginning this relationship, but we’re already starting to design and assemble projects.”
Within the agreement, RMEF will supply annual grant funding to be used to match funding for RGS & AWS forest-management work in priority areas in Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin. Efforts are also intended to improve hunting opportunities, whether for elk, grouse, woodcock or other species.
“This agreement allows two longtime, hunter-based conservation organizations to pool our combined energy and resources to carry out meaningful and measurable conservation work,” said Kyle Weaver, RMEF President and CEO.
For more information, visit ruffedgrousesociety.org or rmef.org.
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