North American Bird Conservation Initiative

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NABCI Strategy and Annex 1
 

ANNEX 1

Background Information Key Action Items

Tri-National Steering Committee

Organization

The Tri-National Steering Committee (TNSC) should take advantage of existing structures, programs and initiatives but should retain autonomy and independence. The TNSC will work closely with the CEC and the Trilateral Committee to assist in bird conservation functions for both of those organizations. There will be three co-chairs, one from each country, and one chair, which will rotate among countries perhaps every other year.

The TNSC will be able to form and maintain subcommittees to address specific topics. At least two subcommittees, Monitoring and Support, should emerge from the Puebla meeting.

The CEC working group will begin performing the role of the TNSC on an interim basis immediately. Members will be replaced or confirmed by national committees in the relatively near future.

Function

The TNSC will be the international expression of the NABCI and will serve as a liaison to increase cooperation and effectiveness of other conservation efforts and bird initiatives without in any way reducing their autonomy. The TNSC will:

  • guide all aspects of NABCI that require international cooperation as well as to help advance the strategic vision of NABCI;
  • act as a forum to provide guidance for implementation and future thought regarding bird conservation issues affecting the three countries;
  • encourage and review international actions or agreements relevant to bird conservation;
  • support bird conservation interests in international initiatives (i.e., Ramsar);
  • address and support emerging bird conservation issues that transcend national boundaries;
  • coordinate and facilitate transfer of technical information among countries;
  • identify potential international funding sources for bird conservation and facilitate allocation of resources for bird conservation; and
  • facilitate and improve political and financial support for bird conservation; and
  • build relationships with national committees and other entities.

 

National Steering Committees

Organization

As appropriate, national and international bird and other conservation initiatives and organizations should be represented in National Steering Committees. The Canadian, Mexican and US National Steering Committee structures, however, need not be the same.

Function

While many of the functions of a National Steering Committee will be the purview of the committee and the country itself, the following functions are anticipated to be common to all National Steering Committees:

  • serve as a focal point for communication among initiatives, organizations and individuals within each country;
  • foster at the national level the NABCI objectives and principles;
  • promote and steward the development and implementation of national strategies;
  • encourage, support and provide direction for regional and local delivery mechanisms that seek to fulfill NABCI goals;
  • facilitate the marketing and "buy-in" to NABCI;
  • where other mechanisms do not exist, or are insufficient, serve as or develop another mechanism to serve as the funding review board for national projects and priorities;
  • provide combined strength and sectoral consensus to influence legislation, policy and funding;
  • nominate representatives to the Tri-National Steering Committee; and
  • assist in the development and support of tri-national strategies.

 

National Coordinators

National Steering Committees will hire a National Coordinator for NABCI in each country. While the precise responsibilities of National Coordinators may vary from country to country, the following functions are anticipated be common to all National Coordinators:

  • working directly with National Steering Committees, serve as a coordinator of the NABCI at the National level;
  • serve as a highly visible and effective spokesperson able to effectively market the NABCI;
  • facilitate the development and implementation of a national NABCI action plan;
  • coordinate the meetings of National Steering Committees;
  • follow up on National Steering Committee agreements and action items;
  • serve as a liaison with coordinators and committees in the other two countries; and
  • participate in the TNSC meetings.

 

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