Lake Erie Allegheny Partnership for Biodiversity
LEAP works to protect the diverse habitats and rare ecosystems of the Lake Erie Allegheny ecoregion. Above is one of Holden Arboretum's natural areas. Photo by Brian Parsons
The Lake Erie Allegheny ecoregion is defined by the territory stretching from Sandusky Bay to western New York. This region has a common glacial history, a climate influenced by Lake Erie and contains diverse habitats and rare ecosystems that harbor many unique and rare species. Threats to this diverse region include land development, climate change, a decrease in water quality, pollution and invasive species.
The Lake Erie Allegheny Partnership for Biodiversity (LEAP) was formed to coordinate conservation efforts in this valuable ecoregion. First convened by the Cleveland Museum of Natural History in 2004, LEAP is a consortium of 40 governmental agencies, colleges/universities and conservation organizations, including park districts, watershed groups and land trusts. LEAP members are dedicated to the identification, protection and restoration of biodiversity in the region and to the increased public awareness of biodiversity. Collectively, LEAP members have protected 277,168 acres, including 219,695 acres through ownership and 57,473 acres through conservation easement or leased management contracts. LEAP members sign a memorandum of understanding which states that they as a member organization agree to adopt LEAP's policies and procedures, provide a representative to serve as a LEAP liaison, provide technical and scientific information to LEAP members, and will submit events and other information for the website (www.leapbio.org).
In three key issue areas recognized by LEAP, members are to:
- Share information about protecting and restoring the diverse native habitats of the region;
- Increase the capacity of member organizations by establishing programs to aid with recruitment and retention of paid and unpaid staff, stewardship needs, and biological inventories; and,
- Promote public awareness and visibility of the region's native plant and animal communities.
One initiative being coordinated by LEAP members is the development of a science-based conservation plan to help guide the future of conservation in the region. This plan will provide a strategy and vision for conservation and restoration in the region by setting specific goals, and prioritizing and identifying objectives—and will include a mechanism for monitoring progress. Several other committees within LEAP also work to preserve our natural heritage. One such committee is the West Virginia White Butterfly (Pieris virginiensis) Committee formed to address the threats to a LEAP-designated "species of concern." LEAP members monitor for the butterfly during its short flight season in April and May in order to determine abundance of the butterfly in the region and to further identify and address threats to this species. This past year completed the third year of monitoring in coordination with the Ohio
Lepidopterists Society.
The Native Plant Promotion Committee was created in order to focus on educating the public and the nursery and landscaping trade on the importance of buying, selling, propagating and planting our area's native plant species. The Conservation Fund Committee was formed as the result of an initiative begun by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to provide a vehicle for capturing new (or previously unattainable) sources of funding to preserve and restore natural areas. When fully funded, this resource will be made available to applicants through a competitive granting process.
In 2007, A Legacy of Living Places: Conserving the Diversity of Nature in the Lake Erie Allegheny Ecoregion was published by LEAP members. This beautiful booklet describes 14 of the ecoregions, or natural communities, represented in the Lake Erie Allegheny region and offers suggestions for how each individual can play a role in conserving diversity in the region. To download a copy of this booklet visit www.leapbio.org/legacy.php.
Regional partnerships, such as LEAP, are unique within this country. As urban growth continues, a new relationship must be formed between the environment and urban areas and these regional partnerships will provide the agencies responsible for protecting these areas with new opportunities and resources. With this in mind, representatives from the regional partnerships, including LEAP, traveled to Washington, D.C. to seek federal funding for these unique and very essential partnerships. It is hoped that with assistance from our legislators we will soon see federal funding to support the efforts of LEAP members.
One of only a handful of regional partnerships in the country, LEAP is a unique and valuable consortium formed for the preservation of our natural heritage. By working together LEAP members hope to save for the future the diverse ecosystems in the Lake Erie Allegheny ecoregion.
For more information, contact Renee Boronka at botany@cmnh.org or visit www.leapbio.org.