The Nebraska Natural Legacy Project Update: Fall/Winter 2010

The
LLetter
egacy
This Issue: Nebraska Natural Legacy Project Partners will Award $400,000 to
Innovative Habitat Improvement
• Natural Legacy
Project Partners will Legacy Partnership Team Innovative Grants
distribute
$400,000 to The Nebraska Natural Legacy Partnership Team (NLPT) is requesting proposals that
Conservation will expand the Nebraska Natural Legacy Project in any of the 40 Biologically Unique
Proposals Landscapes. There are $400,000 available to be used towards creating new
partnerships, expanding existing partnerships, utilizing new or innovative methods for
project completion, and engaging local stakeholders. The Nebraska Natural Legacy
• Educators learn Partnership Team and grant program is focused on attaining wildlife conservation in
about Nebraska’s Nebraska by bringing together landowners, government agencies, and conservation
At-risk Wildlife at and agricultural organizations in a collaborative manner.
the 2010 Nebraska
Association of To further innovative techniques and methods for enhancing habitat for Nebraska’s at-
Teachers of Science risk species, the Natural Legacy Partnership Team will competitively award proposals
(NATS) Fall for innovative habitat improvement projects. These habitat improvement projects
Conference must have conservation actions that benefit Tier 1 and/or Tier 2 Species and/or priority
natural communities (see priority natural communities identified in individual BUL
• Landowners descriptions) according to the Natural Legacy Project. We encourage proposals that
Contribute to involve projects that incorporate new partnerships, expand existing partnerships, use
Wildlife creative methods to get the project completed, engage local communities, take place in
Conservation in Biologically Unique Landscapes that to date have not been the focus of Natural Legacy
Nebraska projects, offer match, and/or benefit species that have not been the focus of recent
Legacy Projects.
• Meet the New
Coordinating Funds for the Legacy Partnership Team Innovative Grants were competitively awarded
Wildlife Biologist in for this grant process by the Nebraska Environmental Trust and the Department of the
North Platte for the Interior through the Competitive State Wildlife Grant Process. Projects may occur on
Loess Canyons private or public lands or a combination of both. Match is not required but encouraged.
Landscape Proposals need to be submitted electronically to Melissa Panella Santiago
(melissa.santiago@nebraska.gov) at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
by Jan 31, 2011.

Please visit http://outdoornebraska.ne.gov/wildlife/programs/legacy/legacy.asp for more

information and the application form. Contact Kristal Stoner 402-471-5444 or Melissa
Panella Santiago 402-471-5708 at the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission with any
questions.
Natural Legacy and the Nebraska Association of Teachers of Science (NATS)

Educators gathered in September at

Camp Calvin Crest near Fremont,
Nebraska to share their knowledge,
get new ideas, find resources, and
even have a little fun thinking about
science topics in the classroom. The
Nebraska Natural Legacy Session at
the NATS Conference was entitled
“Nebraska's Threatened and Endangered Species: Incorporating At-Risk Species into your
Curriculum.” Educators learned about the Natural Legacy Project and the state’s at-risk wildlife and
biologically unique landscapes, so that they could consider novel methods of sharing this information with
their students. Participants demonstrated their natural history and geography know-how by completing a
migratory mapping game. Everyone received classroom materials and had a chance to win educational
prizes for demonstrating their Natural Legacy expertise. There are many ways to incorporate “wild”
information into school curriculum. If you’re looking for environmental education ideas, you can contact the
Project WILD Coordinator Lindsay Rogers (lindsay.rogers@nebraska.gov; 402-471-5581) or Natural Legacy
Biologist Melissa Panella Santiago (melissa.santiago@nebraska.gov; 402-471-5708).

Thank You Nebraskans!

Ninety-seven percent of the land in Nebraska is privately-owned, so as you would expect, landowners
in the state are responsible for much of the stewardship of our natural resources. The continued success of
the Nebraska Natural Legacy Project depends on the support of landowners and their willingness to put
habitat conservation projects on the ground. Natural Legacy looks for win-win solutions to accommodate
landowner needs and our valued wildlife.

Landowner % Landowner
Contributions Contribution
2004 $ 13,634.00 8%
2005 $ 28,753.00 16%
Landowners contribute
2006 $ 101,569.00 30% significantly to Natural Legacy
2007 $ 169,259.00 55% projects. Landowner
contribution as a percentage
2008 $ 222,302.00 33% of the total federal
contribution is shown. Other
2009 $ 223,302.00 50% non-federal funding sources
2010 $ 169,646.00 25% are used when needed.

The Legacy Letter Fall/Winter 2010

 There’s a New Biologist in Town

Meet Josh Staab! We are pleased to have Josh join Natural Legacy as the newest Coordinating
Wildlife Biologist. He works in a shared position with Quail Forever and the Nebraska Game and
Parks Commission. His focal conservation area is the Loess Canyons biologically unique
landscape. He graduated from Hastings College in 2005 with a degree in Biology. Josh has
extensive experience with wetland management and conducting prescribed burns on public
ground.

For information about the Loess Canyons and Natural Legacy projects, you can contact him at:

Josh Staab
Quail Forever/NGPC
301 E. State Farm Rd.
North Platte, NE 69101
josh.staab@nebraska.gov
308-535-8025

Reminder: You can still get your free copy of Nebraska’s At-risk
Wildlife field guide at any of the Nebraska Game and Parks
Commission District Offices. Ask for them at the front desk. For
office locations, visit:
www.outdoornebraska.ne.gov/admin/commission/administrators.asp

For more information about the

Nebraska Natural Legacy Project, contact:

Kristal Stoner Melissa Panella Santiago

Wildlife Diversity Program Manager Natural Legacy Biologist
kristal.stoner@nebraska.gov melissa.santiago@nebraska.gov
402-471-5444 402-471-5708

The Legacy Letter Fall/Winter 2010