The Cerulean Warbler is a small migratory songbird that breeds in mature deciduous forests of eastern North America, migrates across the Gulf of Mexico and through Central America, and winters in evergreen forests of the northern Andes Mountains in South America. Habitat loss and degradation across all these areas have contributed to Cerulean Warbler population declines of about 3% per year over the last 40 years. A remarkable overlap occurs between Cerulean Warbler habitat and existing areas of Appalachian coal and Andean coffee production. Therefore, these two industries are closely intertwined with the status of this bird.

Endangered Species Act Listing
Continued declines of Cerulean Warblers could lead to Endangered Species Act (ESA) listing, which would impose additional regulations onto industrial activities involving Cerulean Warbler habitat in the United States.

High Profile Opportunities
Industries seek opportunities to demonstrate environmental friendliness, bolster their environmental image, and develop ‘name recognition’ for their environmental activities by implementing ecologically appropriate practices. This partnership will strive to provide effective, proactive, and high profile conservation opportunities to industry partners while recognizing the need for companies and producers to remain competitive in their respective markets.

Connections and Collaborations
Cerulean Warblers connect the Americas through migration and the need for habitat conservation. Both the coal and coffee industries have connections throughout the Americas given the global nature of their products. The following collaborations could be developed to help strengthen connections between potential partners:

• Bird-friendly certification processes and products could link the two industries, such that they are promoted cooperatively through collaborations on marketing and public relations campaigns; 
   

• Carbon sequestration markets could link carbon credits from shade grown agriculture or forest restoration programs to coal or other industries seeking carbon offsets; and,
   

• Partners could work collaboratively to support forest conservation and shade grown agriculture in South America through mitigation or conservation funds.

Partnership Goals
A. Reverse population declines of Cerulean Warblers and reduce the likelihood of ESA listing by strategically conserving/restoring forest habitat on breeding and non-breeding grounds in a coordinated manner (i.e., formal industry-conservation partnership) and improve ecosystem functions in these areas.

• Develop new programs and job opportunities in rural communities to help achieve partnership goals for habitat restoration;
• Build community awareness of the natural world and its interface with industry
  activities, as well as awareness of international connections among people,
  industry, birds, and the environment;
• Develop positive public relations opportunities; and,
• Develop new markets for bird-friendly certified products/processes.

Developing and implementing several key strategies will assist the partnership in achieving its goals; potential strategies include:

• Cerulean Warbler-based certifications for coffee products and mine reclamation processes;
• Research, develop, and market a Cerulean Warbler Conservation coffee that supports farmers producing bird-friendly coffee;
• Develop and implement a bird-friendly certification process for mine reclamation that uses the 5-step Forestry Reclamation Approach;
• Public relations campaigns promoting certified products and procedures;
• Educational programs that build awareness of the natural world in local communities; develop international links among communities across the Americas;
• Develop job opportunities through reforestation of mined lands in the U.S. and through shade farming and restoring native forest in South America;
• Use carbon sequestration credits/markets to support industry-related reforestation efforts in both North and South America;
• Establish conservation funds provided to South American farmers to produce bird-friendly coffee and/or support critical bird research and monitoring; and
• Identify and create "Conservation Focus Areas" where Cerulean Warblers occur at high densities and a broad range of conservation activities could be targeted.

(Above) A parade with children dressed as Cerulean and Golden-winged Warblers as part of an education program.

Learn more about the upcoming meeting at the Summit Conference

DOCUMENTS
Draft Proposal - The Coffee Coal Cerulean Warbler Connection - A Partnership Proposal for Conservation Action (PDF)
Agenda - Summit Conference Agenda (PDF)