Ecosystem Management Research Institute

Implementation Assistance Program - EMRI provided assistance to a number of landscape assessment, biodiversity conservation and species assistance projects in 2013. EMRI continued to assist SD Fish, Wildlife, and Parks on the revision of the SD Wildlife Action Plan. Work continued on the development of wildlife models for the Southwestern Crown of the Continent project to evaluate the effects of restoration actions on species of concern. EMRI conducted a final field season and produced the final report for the grassland restoration project in SD and NE funded by the NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant program with matching funds from SD Dept of Game, Fish, and Parks, NE Game and Parks Commission, NA Grouse Partnership-NE Chapter, and Pheasants Forever. Work continued on developing a sagebrush ecosystem restoration tool funded by the NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant program with matching funds provided by the Utah Department of Natural Resources, Watershed Restoration Initiative. EMRI also assisted the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies on developing a range-wide conservation strategy for recovering the lesser prairie chicken populations in OK, KS, TX, NM, and CO. EMRI also completed an update to the 2008 Seeley/Swan Fire Plan as well as an update to NCASI's summary of conservation planning on forest industry lands in the US. Reports are available at www.emri.org.

Education and training - EMRI conducted a number of educational presentations in 2013 to a variety of audiences. Presentations, webinars, and seminars were provided at 1) professional meetings (~200 attendees), and 2) mixed meetings of industry representatives, professionals and landowners (100+).

Research Program - EMRI conducted research related to biodiversity conservation and ecosystem science in 2013. Field research was completed to support and evaluate grassland restoration programs in South Dakota and Nebraska. Results and report are complete and publicly available at www.emri.org.