Purpose and Goal of this. CCAA/CCA This CCAA/CCA represents an unprecedented opportunity in terms of scale and scope for collaborative conservation. More than 30 initial organizations involved in the development of the Agreement collectively manage millions of acres of rights-of-way and other associated lands across the lower 48 states. Over the duration of this Agreement, we envision that the acreage expected for enrollment could potentially double. Considering this potential interest, this Agreement presents a valuable opportunity to connect available habitats, provide diverse breeding and foraging habitat, and offer areas that are generally safe xxxxxx from major disturbances or future development. The goal of this CCAA/CCA is to encourage participation in voluntary conservation on energy and transportation lands that results in a net benefit to monarchs. With this goal in mind, the conservation potential of the Agreement anticipates the enrollment of up to 26 million acres of energy and transportation lands, which could contribute over 300 million stems of milkweed, and 2.3 million acres of monarch foraging habitat, over the coming decades.1 However, this potential is based on broad estimates of potential involvement in the Agreement. Actual on-the-ground contributions will be determined by the enrolled lands and adopted acres targets included in Partner applications. The Parties, in a collaborative effort organized by UIC, have pursued this programmatic CCAA. This programmatic CCAA led by UIC is aligned with the intent of the Rights-of-Way as Habitat Working Group (Working Group) facilitated by UIC’s Energy Resources Center. The Working Group provides educational and networking opportunities, leverages knowledge and resources across sectors, and serves as a central 1 See Appendix C (Supplemental Information) for additional details regarding development of this conservation potential estimate. point for coordination and information exchange on managed habitat in the transportation and energy sectors. The Working Group builds broad industry engagement in strategies that will benefit not only the monarch butterfly but also model conservation collaboration for other pollinator species of concern. The development of joint conservation agreements (such as this CCAA/CCA) is one such strategy that promotes voluntary conservation action among non-Federal landowners. Implementation of this Agreement is directed by the two integrated conservation agreements consisting of this Candidate ...
