Sustainability Roundtable: Urban Bird Treaty Program
| When |
Apr 12, 2022
from 04:00 PM to 04:50 PM |
|---|---|
| Where | Microsoft Teams |
| Contact Name | Tamara Slus |
| Contact Phone | (502) 529-1602 |
| Add event to calendar |
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Join Microsoft Teams Meeting or dial-in at 502-792-9582 (Conference ID: 930 044 957#)
Join the UofL Sustainability Council for the very last in our Spring Sustainability Roundtable series. Our speaker on April 12th will be UofL Biology professor, Mikus Abolins-Abols, discussing the Urban Bird Treaty program.
The Treaty supports city partners in conserving birds and their habitats, while providing opportunities for people in diverse, underserved communities to engage in bird-related recreation, education, science, and conservation activities in urban areas. The Urban Bird Treaty Program is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and partners in participating U.S. cities. Launched in 1999, the first treaty was signed with New Orleans and the second with Chicago in 2000. Since that time, an additional 28 cities have become Urban Bird Treaty cities, for a total of 30 spanning from Alaska to Alabama.
Read about the Urban Bird Treaty cities on the program’s Story Map. The UBT Program supports federal, state, and municipal agencies, non-governmental organizations, community groups, and academic institutions working to create bird-friendly environments and provide people, especially in historically excluded, diverse communities, with opportunities to connect with nature through bird-related activities. Cities can become healthier places for birds and other wildlife with an environmentally aware citizenry dedicated to learning about, enjoying, and conserving birds and their habitats. This is not only good for birds but also for the health and well-being of people living in and visiting urban areas. There are 2.9 billion fewer breeding birds in North America than there were in 1970. Even common species like Chimney Swifts have undergone staggering losses.
Through programs like the Urban Bird Treaty Program, we can help bring them back by promoting sustainable actions to help birds. Program Goals: 1. Protect, restore, and enhance urban habitats for birds; 2. Reduce urban hazards to birds; and 3. Educate and engage urban communities in caring about and conserving birds and their habitats. The Urban Bird Treaty program emphasizes bird habitat conservation through invasive species control and native plant restoration; hazard reduction efforts through bird-friendly building and Lights Out programs; community science activities involving bird and habitat monitoring; and collaborative and inclusive engagement programs that provide people with opportunities to appreciate birds and participate in their conservation. Other key features of the program include habitat acquisition and management; learning about and adopting sustainable practices that benefit birds; and providing opportunities for wildlife and natural resource job skill and career development for young people from diverse, underserved communities.
No pre-registration is required. The format is a 30-40 minute presentation from a variety of speakers throughout the year, followed by 20-30 minutes of open discussion. Anyone with an interest in sustainability can give talks at the speaker series and participate in the audience, including faculty, staff, students, practitioners, teachers, government officials, and members of the public. If you would like to give a presentation, or would like to hear a particular speaker, please contact Tamara Sluss.
