Media Advisory: Energy, Business and Conservation Leaders to Announce Strategy to Prevent Endangered Species Crisis

Blue Ribbon Panel on Sustaining America’s Diverse Fish & Wildlife Resources

MEDIA ADVISORY

Energy, Business and Conservation Leaders to Announce Strategy to Prevent Endangered Species Crisis

Press Conference at National Press Club on March 2 at 3:00 pm EST

Contact:         Jodi Stemler (703) 915-1386

                        Patricia Allen (202) 838-3461

A group of energy, business and conservation leaders will release their recommendations on how to avert the growing fish and wildlife crisis in this country. The number of species petitioned for listing under the Endangered Species Act has increased by 1,000 percent in less than a decade. In addition, over 12,000 species have been identified by states as species in greatest conservation need. The recommendations to be released on March 2 represent the vision of a diverse group of 26 conservation and business leaders and focus on how to proactively manage species to reduce taxpayer costs and the regulatory red tape that comes when species are listed under the federal Endangered Species Act.

The Blue Ribbon Panel on Sustaining America’s Diverse Fish & Wildlife Resources was created in 2014 to develop policy options on the most sustainable and equitable model to fund conservation of the full array of fish and wildlife species. The panel was co-chaired by former Wyoming governor, David Freudenthal, and John L. Morris, noted conservationist and founder of Bass Pro Shops and includes representatives from the outdoor recreation retail and manufacturing sector, the energy and automotive industries, private landowners, educational institutions, conservation organizations, sportsmen’s groups and state fish and wildlife agencies.

Who:      Dave Chanda, Director of the New Jersey Division of Fish & Wildlife and President of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies       

David Freudenthal, Former Governor State of Wyoming; Senior Counsel, Crowell and Moring

John Morris, Founder Bass Pro Shops (Invited)

Jeff Crane, President Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation

Collin O’Mara, President and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation

When:    Wednesday March 2, 2016 at 3:00 pm EST

Where: National Press Club, Murrow/White/Lisagor Room 13^th Floor

Dial In: 800-768-2950

RSVP:   detail1@fishwildlife.org

Don't Get Lost Without your Roadmap: A Webinar on Strategic Planning for Fish & Wildlife Agencies

A Timmons Group Webinar Series

In the world of Fish and Wildlife agencies, customers expect mobile solutions and the ability to interact with data from agencies anywhere and at any time.  This webinar will present case studies to show what organizations are doing well related to data management, mobile solutions for the public, and use of technology solutions to better support internal operations, create efficiency and growth.
Lowell will focus on building an effective RoadMap with an emphasis on organizations who are looking to provide better efficiencies inside their organizations and better services to their clients. Lowell will emphasize the importance of prioritizing business strategies, advise on the best practice techniques for improvement, and share how to increase internal efficiencies while improving outreach and education.

About the Presenter
Lowell has 23 years of experience and is a recognized leader in the integration of geospatial and traditional information technologies and GIS Strategic Planning. Timmons Group’s technology and geospatial division has years of strategic planning and data/application development experience.

When:
Thursday, February 25th
2-3pm EST

Presented by:
Lowell Ballard
Director of Geospatial Technology

Hosted by:
Sarah Dennis, GISP
Geospatial Client Manager

Click HERE to Register TODAY!!

ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION 101 WORKSHOP - April 26-28, 2016 – CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA

The workshop is designed to train state fish and wildlife agency and federal agency personnel who are involved in the review and permitting of electric transmission line projects.  The workshop provides the opportunity for state and federal agency staff to meet members of the electric utility industry and gain an understanding of the planning and design process for electric transmission. 

The objectives of the workshop are to: 

• Inform agency personnel about the electric transmission planning and design process
• Help agency personnel understand how to effectively integrate into the electric transmission planning, design and permitting process  
• Facilitate communication with industry and the permitting authorities to design these projects to avoid and minimize impacts to fish and wildlife resources 

The training course is based on the Electric Systems Short Course developed by the Edison Electric Institute (EEI), Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service. The instructors will include staff from EEI, Avian Power Line Interaction Committee (APLIC), Duke Energy, North Carolina Wildlife Commission and FWS Region 4 personnel.   

Where: Duke Energy Environmental Center in Huntersville, NC (just north of Charlotte)

When: April 26-28, 2016 (includes field trip to electrical transmission line rights-of way

Lodging: Country Inn and Suites Lake Norman, Huntersville, NC (704-895-6565), with a room rate of $89.00/night for April 25^th-29^th. 

Note: Make reservations BEFORE April 4th 

Food: Breakfast at the hotel, lunch will be provided all three days as well as a welcome dinner on Tuesday night.

Cost: $75 for state and federal employees and $100.00 for industry and non-governmental organizations.
Registration OPEN now until April 18th.  Click here to register.

Limit: 50 participants
Check out the Flyer here.

Travel assistance is available from AFWA for a limited number of state fish and wildlife agency personnel.  This would include airfare, hotel, per diem and registration.  Please contact Kathy Boydston (kboydston@fishwildlife.org 512-389-8522) as soon as possible if you require travel assistance. 

Pipeline Workshop - North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference

Onshore Oil and Gas Subcommittee -March 16th, 1-5 pm, Pittsburgh, PA

This is a four hour workshop during the Onshore Oil, Gas and Mineral Subcommittee.  This workshop will provide a forum for federal and state agencies, the industry and conservation organizations to discuss the pipeline permitting process at the federal and state level.  Attendees will be involved in the discussion of current permitting processes, best management practices and will be able to engage with the pipeline industry to better understand their development and permitting process and how to work together more effectively to minimize the impacts of pipelines on fish and wildlife resources. 

Speakers are from Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Williams Energy, West Virginia Department of Natural Resources, The Nature Conservancy and Integrated Vegetation Management Partners.

The conference hotel is the Wyndham Grand Hotel in Pittsburgh; 

Attendees will need to register at the one day conference rate- you can register here. 

There is some limited travel support for state fish and wildlife agencies to attend this workshop, please contact Kathy Boydston with AFWA (kboydston@fishwildlife.org  512-389-8522).  If you have questions regarding the workshop, please contact Kathy.  

Press Release- Regional Conservation Partnership Program Pools Together $220 Million Investment from USDA, up to $500 Million from Local Partnership to Improve Water Quality, Soil Health, Habitat and More

The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) applauds today’s $720 million funding announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Vilsack on the second round of Regional Conservation Partnership Programs (RCPP). The RCPP was created by the 2014 Farm Bill to support partnership-driven, innovative conservation projects on farms, ranches and private forest land.

“I’d like to thank USDA Secretary Vilsack and Chief Jason Weller of the Natural Resources Conservation Service for their continuing support of fish and wildlife conservation projects and partnerships that are important to and priorities of state fish and wildlife agencies across the country,” stated AFWA Executive Director Ron Regan. “RCPP is one of many examples of successful collaborative conservation that keeps our lands working for our nation’s fish and wildlife, and all Americans while reducing regulatory threats and risks, providing national food security, and keeping the rural economy humming.”

The 84 projects selected for 2016 included proposed partner matches totaling over $500 million, more than tripling the federal investment alone. These projec

ts will help communities improve water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect agriculture viability. The Association is pleased to see that five of the selected 2016 projects list state fish and wildlife agencies as the lead partners. Twenty-five percent of awarded funds focus on fish and wildlife habitats as the primary resource concern and address a variety of priority species including the greater sage-grouse, monarch butterfly, lesser prairie-chicken, and golden cheeked warbler.

The USDA is committed to invest $1.2 billion in RCPP partnerships over the life of the 2014 Farm Bill. Today’s announcement brings the current USDA commitment to almost $600 million for conservation activities in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

> Read the USDA’s RCCP announcement
> Learn more about AFWA’s Agricultural Conservation Focus Area

> Check out our press release online.

Webinar (recorded): Applying Diversity Best Practices to Conservation Education

We invite you to watch this recorded Conservation Education Strategy's monthly webinar that explores diversity within our agencies and the public that attend our outreach events.

David Buggs, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer with Texas Parks and Wildlife will be our guest presenter.

Click here to view the webinar. 

Webinar: Bsal Rulemaking and Permitting Q&A Session #1

This is the FIRST of three Q&A webinars sponsored by Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC) and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) to address a) the recent USFWS rulemaking listing salamanders as injurious in the Lacey Act, b) potential impacts to existing research and conservation efforts from the rulemaking, and c) permitting requirements and compliance. Two or more USFWS representatives from the branches involved in the rulemaking and in the permitting, or in law enforcement, will be on the line to answer questions directly.

Rescheduled Date: Feb 8th
Time: 2PM ET
Duration: 2 hours
Register HERE!