Lower Mississippi Valley Joint Venture Management Board Meeting the Expectations and Challenges of Joint Venture Implementation Buras, Louisiana June 2004

Fiscal and Functional Accountability What? You thought all that money was free?? Buras, Louisiana June 2004

What you can expect... Support for a full time joint venture coordinator and associated costs for basic program infrastructure not funding for all facets of joint venture work, contributions by other Federal and State agencies, conservation organizations, and private interests are encouraged. Buras, Louisiana June 2004

What you get FY 2004 Appropriation for LMVJV = $737,000 Rescission -$9,000 Deferred Allocation -$7,000 CAM / FWS Overhead -$65,000 Buras, Louisiana June 2004 Operational Funds Available $656,000

What We Expect FWS Policy Manual/Director’s Order Joint ventures should strive to develop the capacity to become the delivery agents for all migratory bird habitat conservation priorities in their geographic areas. Buras, Louisiana June 2004

FWS Policy Manual/Director’s Order The bird conservation objectives of joint ventures should be established through a biological planning process that establishes conservation priorities. A joint venture has the capacity to implement conservation actions identified in the implementation plan including the design, funding, and tracking of conservation projects that advance the objectives of the joint venture A joint venture has an evaluation strategy to guide monitoring and assessment activities that analyze the effectiveness of conservation actions, test the biological assumptions that underlay the joint venture strategies, and guide future conservation planning.

Biological Foundation Science Team Conservation Design Conservation Delivery Geomatics Network Agency Programs, Interagency Programs, and Partner Projects Ad Hoc State Working Groups The LMV Joint Venture Business Model Management Board JV Office Support Staff WGCP Conservation Planning Team

Buras, Louisiana June 2004 “Government likes to begin things —to declare grand new programs and causes and national objectives. But good beginnings are not the measure of success. What matters in the end is completion. Performance. Results. Not just making promises, but making good on promises. In my Administration, that will be the standard from the farthest regional office of government to the highest office of the land.” Governor George W. Bush Improving Government Performance

Performance Measurement The Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART) PART was developed to assess and improve program performance so that the Federal government can achieve better results. A PART review helps identify a program’s strengths and weaknesses to inform funding and management decisions aimed at making the program more effective. Buras, Louisiana June 2004

PART Factors Program purpose and design Strategic planning Program management Performance measurement and results Buras, Louisiana June 2004

Does the program address a specific and existing problem, interest or need? Is the program designed so that it is not redundant or duplicative of any other Federal, state, local or private effort? Buras, Louisiana June 2004 PART Questions

Does the program have a limited number of specific long-term and annual performance measures that focus on outcomes and meaningfully reflect the purpose of the program? Do all partners commit to and work toward the annual and/or long-term goals of the program? Buras, Louisiana June 2004 PART Questions

Does the agency regularly collect timely and credible performance information, including information from key program partners, and use it to manage the program and improve performance? Does the program collaborate and coordinate effectively with related programs? Buras, Louisiana June 2004 PART Questions

Has the program demonstrated adequate progress in achieving its long-term and annual performance goals? Do independent evaluations of sufficient scope and quality indicate that the program is effective and achieving results? Buras, Louisiana June 2004 PART Questions

Buras, Louisiana June 2004 What are the performance goals? MBP Outcome Measure: Percent (%) of all migratory bird species that are at healthy and sustainable levels. MBP Intermediate Strategy: Create habitat conditions necessary to achieve healthy and sustained levels of migratory birds, consistent with management documents and program objectives. JV Performance Measure: Percent (%) of habitat needs met (quantity, quality, & distribution) determined necessary to achieve healthy and sustainable levels of migratory birds.

Calculation of JV Performance Measure JV habitat objectives (quantity, quality, & distribution) X 100% Measure equals.... current habitat conditions (quantity, quality, & distribution) Buras, Louisiana June 2004

www. lmvjv.org “Since its inception, the (LMVJV) has broadened its biological scope to include strategic planning and implementation for all birds in all habitats... “ “In response to challenges inherent in landscape scale integrated bird conservation, LMVJV partners have organized their institutional capabilities and personnel expertise to (1) define a science-based biological foundation, (2) develop a spatially-explicit conservation blueprint, and (3) orchestrate habitat delivery and management. “ Buras, Louisiana June 2004

strategic planning and implementation for all birds in all habitats science-based biological foundation, a spatially-explicit conservation blueprint, habitat delivery and management. Percent (%) of habitat needs met (quantity, quality, & distribution) determined necessary to achieve healthy and sustainable levels of migratory birds. =

So What? Its only “acres” current habitat conditions sum of partner acres protected, restored & enhanced Do independent evaluations of sufficient scope and quality indicate that the program is effective and achieving results? Buras, Louisiana June 2004

LMVJV Business Model The conservation paradigm is shifting – – from a value-based, opportunistic pursuit of site-specific conservation benefits toward the science-based pursuit of predicted landscape sustainability. Buras, Louisiana June 2004

President’s Management Agenda Increased globalization, rapid technological advances, shifting demographics, changing security threats, and various quality of life considerations are prompting fundamental changes in the environment in which the government operates. Congress and the new administration face an array of challenges and opportunities to enhance performance and assure the accountability of the federal government. Buras, Louisiana June 2004