Much of what is done in the name of conservation is really about entertaining humans. In Deep Ecology all life has intrinsic value separate from its usefulness to humans.
Overconsumption and over domestication have dug us into a very deep hole. A cultural change is needed which demonstrates more appreciation for otherness…human and beyond/present and future.
This grant of $25,000 resulted from several conversations with Doug Harr of Iowa Audubon regarding a definition for desirable bird habitat. Its purpose is to expand that dialog throughout Iowa’s birding community. BeWildReWild calls for the establishment of well-defined criteria clearly favoring wild things over more human-centered interests. Desired qualities include: diverse perennial ground cover, no infrastructure, no domestic animals, no hunting or fishing, no motors (electric or gas).
–Roger Ross Gipple
Grant Report
Iowa Audubon Board of Directors reviewed two possible projects provided to us, for using the $25 K gift you gave us at the end of December, 2023. The project approved by our board is acquisition and natural restoration of a 113-acre site along the North Fork Maquoketa River, in southern Dubuque Co., about a mile NW of Cascade, Iowa and US Hwy 151. Acquisition is being made by the Eastern Iowa Conservation Foundation and has seeked partnership funding to help reach the matching funds they need for project completion.
The parcel is approximately 113 acres in total size. About 50 acres is aquatic, including former sand pit mining sites and the North Fork Maquoketa River. About 60 acres of cropland all will be reconverted to native prairie. Remaining 23 acres are small grassy areas, riverside trees and small patches of trees. This old sand pit pond has become an important migration stopover site for lots of waterfowl, including large numbers of Tundra Swans.
We were assured that no hunting of any kind would be allowed anywhere on this parcel, which eventually will be managed by Dubuque Co. Conservation, especially to protect the waterfowl and all other birds using the ponds, trees, and restored prairies. Also, no vehicles of any kind will be allowed use of this area, except at a possible parking area along an adjacent state highway. Fishing will be allowed, but not by boat–only by walking in, so there may be a path across the restored prairie (to the pond), but it will not be paved or rock. We also are including a demand that any fishing be done only with lead-free sinkers, etc. in order to protect the swans from lead poisoning, and we were told that Dubuque Co. Conservation would do that. Iowa Audubon board members believe this should be a very good bird conservation site.
The Eastern Iowa Conservation Foundation also just recently received a larger federal grant (requiring more Iowa matching funds), and one of their goals is to expand protection of the North Fork Maquoketa River by acquiring more lands along this corridor, perhaps eventually connecting more protected habitats.