The Scientific Foundation for Conservation
of Great Lakes Biodiversity
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Ron Panzer has spent years studying and monitoring the diverse species that make their home at Indian Boundary Prairies, an important prairie in the Great Lakes Basin. © The Nature Conservancy
Science and the Blueprint
Science is the foundation of all conservation work, providing an understanding of ecological systems and processes as well as factors that influence them. This understanding guides everything, from site selection to threat assessment, land protection and management strategies. To fulfill long-term vision and achieve conservation goals, the Conservancy employs an integrated conservation process, called Conservation by Design.
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Diversity of Life in the Great Lakes Threats to the Great Lakes Organizations Taking Action |
The Binational Conservation Blueprint for the Great Lakes identifies both the rarest and the best examples of species, natural communities and ecological systems remaining in the Great Lakes ecoregion. By working in partnership to protect and restore these places, we can preserve the biodiversity and ecological processes unique to the Great Lakes. To effectively protect the full range of living things, conservation efforts must incorporate all species and natural communities, from the rare lakeside daisy to widespread hardwood forests.
The Binational Conservation Blueprint lays out the foundation and necessary components for success, while leaving room for growth and change. It will be refined as we gain knowledge and understanding of the biological diversity of the ecoregion and the forces that influence it.
Benefits of the Binational Conservation Blueprint
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It is science-based and encompasses the biodiversity of the Great Lakes ecoregion.
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Prepared in concert with scientists and experts from all areas of the Great Lakes, the Blueprint incorporates the best available knowledge.
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Because it was prepared with information from the entire Great Lakes region, actions can be more easily coordinated across jurisdictions.
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By using the Blueprint, agencies and organizations can be assured that their actions—and their limited resources—are leveraged in the most effective way to preserve the health of the Great Lakes ecosystem.