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Partnerships in Progress

To date, the NAWMP contains 12 habitat joint ventures and two species joint ventures with a wide variety of public and private partners. The U.S. Prairie Porthole Joint Venture (PPJV) is one of the original six joint ventures, and continues to be recognized in the 1994 update to the NAWMP in the following manner:

"The highest priority continues to be the mid-continent prairie breeding grounds in the United States and Canada."

During the PPJV's first 7 years, partners have raised over $139,386,609 to protect, restore, or enhance over 1,896,310 habitat acres. Although these figures are significant in their own right, the fact that this work was accomplished in a sparsely populated region where financial resources may often be lacking, makes them that much more laudable.

The PPJV continues to uphold its philosophy of working on projects at the local level, providing opportunities for a variety of partners to participate in planning, implementation, and evaluation of activities. Joint Venture partners particularly emphasize close working relationships with private landowners to integrate wildlife conservation practices while maintaining a profitable agricultural return.

The 1994 NAWMP Update states:

"The NAWMP's purpose is to achieve waterfowl conservation while maintaining or enhancing associated ecological values, in harmony with other human needs."

The PPJV Implementation Plan Update embodies the spirit of the NAWMP, endeavoring to incorporate an ecosystem approach to waterfowl management and seeking out opportunities to initiate new partnerships and enhance existing alliances.

Special opportunities exist to develop relationships and projects across international borders, particularly with the Canadian Prairie Habitat Joint Venture and Provincial Wetland Corporations.

The PPJV Management Board (Board) recognizes that PPJV partners' specific interests may vary, and each will not routinely endorse or employ every strategy discussed in the PPJV Implementation Plan. However, the Board supports the Implementation Plan's goals and objectives, and agrees upon the need for action. State Action Groups/Steering Committees will be responsible for stepping down the PPJV Implementation Plan to specific strategies and ensuring that, to the extent possible, partnership needs are met and PPJV objectives are fulfilled.

The PPJV Board acknowledges the PPJV Implementation Plan Update Committee for their contribution in developing this updated PPJV Implementation Plan: