Editors' Page

Editors: We asked the heads of the federal offices that support the publication of Birdscapes: News from International Habitat Conservation Partnerships to write a few words about this magazine's premiere issue.

The dawning of another millennium has prompted reflection - personally and professionally - of our past and the path that lies ahead. As conservationists, we wonder about the survival of species in a rapidly changing world. Increasingly, we recognize that wildlife and habitat conservation will depend on our success in forming strategic alliances among diverse interests. Embracing the concept of expanded partnerships and working in cooperation across North America's landscapes will be the cornerstones to effective conservation efforts.

Since its first issue in 1988, the pages of Waterfowl 2000 have chronicled the successes of the most ambitious international conservation plan ever undertaken on this continent: the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. During the Plan's first 15-year phase, partnerships have fundamentally changed the context and framework for conservation delivery across the continent. Sound science, partnerships, and an emphasis on a landscape approach that balances conservation and socio-economic needs are now widely accepted as the keys to successful conservation efforts.

In response to the changes occurring in conservation, Waterfowl 2000 is also evolving. The year 2000 brings both a new name - Birdscapes: News from International Habitat Conservation Partnerships - and a new format: from newsletter to magazine. The changes respond to the tremendous success and continuing growth of joint venture and regional partnerships that are delivering habitat conservation for birds and other wildlife. Birdscapes will continue to profile projects, share research results, and portray the breadth and diversity of these accomplishments - all in living color! The magazine is a reflection of our collective sense of anticipation and excitement as we take on the evolving conservation challenges of a new millennium.