SYMPOSIUM PRESENTER TITLE: A 10-year vision for cranes, wetlands, and communities: insights from Wisconsin to the world ABSTRACT: In a fractured world that has lost 35% of wetlands and 3 billion birds over the past 50 years, crane conservation is a beacon of hope. Cranes serve as important indicators for the health of wetlands and their watersheds. They are powerful flagships for protecting wetlands and the many lesser-known species that share these lands. They are global ambassadors uniting conservation action across borders and political divides. The International Crane Foundation’s new 10-Year Strategic Vision (2025–2035) is an ambitious plan to secure all 15 crane species through integrated approaches that blend biodiversity conservation with community development and climate-resiliency. Our vision is about much more than cranes: it is about revitalizing wild and working landscapes in collaboration with the people who depend on wetland resources. We share lessons learned from the past decade of conservation effort and scan the horizon for emerging challenges and opportunities. We explore the model projects through which we learn, adapt, and scale-up our impact for—and through—abundant Sandhill Cranes, endangered Whooping Cranes, and other rare and threatened crane species. Climate-smart land use bolsters wetland resilience, safeguards biodiversity, and builds community adaptability. Nature-based solutions provide viable alternatives to wetland conversion, ensuring communities and governments gain from increased employment, improved livelihoods, and natural resources directly connected with conservation. One Health strategies link people, wildlife, and our environment to mitigate avian influenza, now a rising threat to cranes and many bird species worldwide. We draw insights for wetland conservation in Wisconsin and beyond. BIO: Dr. Richard Beilfuss is President & CEO of the International Crane Foundation, overseeing conservation programs across Asia, Africa, and North America. Over his 35-year career, Beilfuss has engaged in wetland management, environmental flows research, and community-based conservation efforts in over 20 countries, as well as restoration of thousands of acres of wetland, prairie, and savanna landscape in Wisconsin.