SYMPOSIUM PRESENTER TITLE: Wetland restoration to ensure flyway connectivity for migratory cranes ABSTRACT: One of the primary drivers of biodiversity decline is the reduction in the extent and quality of habitat. The Great Plains of North America are no exception and represent one of the most transformed landscapes in the world. The region is facing sustained developmental pressure that is leading to the continued loss of herbaceous wetlands and grasslands. Moreover, surface and groundwater resources in the region continue to be divided and overappropriated, further degrading wetland ecosystems. The Whooping Crane is one of the most iconic endangered species in North America and, with intensive and targeted effort, the Aransas Wood Buffalo Population has recovered from a low of 16 individuals in the winter of 1941 to an estimated ~560 individuals today. Nonetheless, we are seeing signs of stress in this population as indicated by altered behavior and movement patterns in migration. Protecting the integrity of the Whooping Crane migration corridor can benefit a host of other species such as other migratory waterbirds including the Red Knot as well as aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates such as the Regal Fritillary. We have used Whooping Crane habitat needs to direct restoration work at the stopover and flyway scale with broad coalitions, which have included >10 organizations at times for individual projects. It is very challenging for a single conservation NGO, state agency, federal agency, or well-meaning private interest to affect habitat conditions at the scale necessary to ensure resilience and connectivity across wetland and grassland communities in the Great Plains. However, together we can significantly scale up our impacts. We contend that the Whooping Crane migration corridor can serve as a starting point in the Great Plains. BIO: Andy Caven's work focuses on conservation policy, delivery, and research regarding Whooping Cranes, Sandhill Cranes, and their habitats. His overarching goal is to bring diverse interests together to solve intractable conservation problems. Previous to coming to International Crane Foundation in 2022 he worked for the Crane Trust as well as the US National Park Service’s Inventory and Monitoring Program.