- Author
- The Nature Conservancy
- Publication Year
- 2008
- Species
- Taylor's checkerspot
- Habitat
- Upland Prairie
- Topic
- Planning
The January 2008 Taylor’s checkerspot workshop convened a wide variety of people who are working on conservation of this rare and declining sub-species to disseminate and discuss integral information. Participants included representatives from local, state, provincial, and federal public agencies; non-governmental organizations; academic institutions; and other interested participants from British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon.
Topics covered by the workshop presentations and discussion sessions included an update to the regulatory and biologic status of the sub-species, the known and unknown habitat requirements, the ongoing efforts to increase the population, the considerable work to enhance habitat through management, as well as survey and monitoring methodology. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the workshop provided the opportunity and significant time for discussion and conversation among biologists, land managers, and regulators. Through these interactions, entities learn from their regional counterpart’s experiences and work together to tackle emergent issues.
Several important outcomes resulted from the workshop. The most apparent were the connections made between the remarkable assemblage of experienced and expert attendees. Partnerships forged and cemented at this event are vital as we move forward on both broad- and fine-scale conservation and recovery actions. This proceedings summary reflects and documents the range-wide state of knowledge for the sub-species including site specific information such as nectaring and oviposition observations, threats to continued existence, and habitat management tools. Finally, the momentum generated and the commitment garnered from invested entities to work together to recover this rare and declining butterfly is essential to its continued survival. A Taylor’s checkerspot working group is forming and is charged to identify, prioritize, assign, and implement crucial conservation actions throughout the historic range of the butterfly.