State Fish & Wildlife Agency Directors Approve Slate of National Conservation Needs for the 2015 Multistate Conservation Grant Program

The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies' National Grants Committee reviewed 13 proposed National Conservation Needs (NCNs) and recommended the approval of 11 NCNs for the 2015 cycle of the Multistate Conservation Grant Program. NCNs are the foundation of the multistate program and establish the states’ funding priorities for the grant cycle.

State fish and wildlife agency directors approved the list of 11 at AFWA's spring Business Meeting held March 14, 2014 during the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference. The MSCGP funding opportunity/letter of intent solicitation will be posted the week of March 24.

2015 Multistate Conservation Grant Program NCNs

NCN 1: Outdoor Heritage – Participation, Recruitment and Retention in Hunting, Fishing, Boating and Conservation-related Recreational Activities; Enhanced Relations among State Fish and Wildlife Agencies and the Related Industries

NCN 2: Multistate Conservation Grant Program Coordination

NCN 3: Improve Benefits for Fish, Wildlife, and their Habitats through Evaluation of Efficacious Management Strategies for Feral Swine

NCN 4: Strengthening the National Fish Habitat Partnership

NCN 5: Incorporating Fish and Wildlife Considerations into Energy Development Decisions

NCN 6: Policy and Legislative Advocacy – Implementing Goal 2 of AFWA’s Strategic Plan

NCN 7: Strengthening State Fish and Wildlife Agency Capacity to Understand and Respond to Changing Trends in Constituent Values and Demographics

NCN 8: The 2016 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife Associated Recreation (National Survey)

NCN 9: Protecting State Fish and Wildlife Agencies Ability and Authority to Manage and Conserve Furbearers through Regulated Trapping Programs

NCN 10: State Fish and Wildlife Agency Coordination and Administration

NCN 11: Improve Benefits for Fish, Wildlife, and their Habitats as the 2014 and Future Farm Bills are Implemented 

The MSCGP was established in 2000 by the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act, which amended the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act and the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act. AFWA and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) cooperatively administer the Multistate Conservation Grant Program.


> Read the full description of each NCN


> Learn more about the Multistate Conservation Grant Program

The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies Concerned about Major, Unexpected Cut to the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program in the President's FY15 Budge

The successful and popular State and Tribal Wildlife Grants program was targeted for a 15% cut in the Administration's budget released on March 4, 2014. The proposed cut would drop funding to state fish and wildlife agencies to$50 million for the next fiscal year, down from $58.7 million this current fiscal year. State and Tribal Wildlife Grants are critical to state agencies for funding on-the-ground conservation to prevent fish and wildlife from becoming endangered. 

The cut to the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program was unexpected since overall spending in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service budget is higher than last year.  Similar cuts were not made to other grant programs.

On March 18, Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies President Dan Forster sent a letter to the U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Sally Jewell on behalf of the Association expressing AFWA's disappointment with the 15% cut to the program. 

The State and Tribal Wildlife Grants program has endured a 35% cut since FY10, despite being the only federal grant program with the specific purpose of preventing expensive, last-ditch recovery efforts once a species is listed as federally endangered.  The program has successfully prevented new federal listings and is used by states and their partners to implement Congressionally mandated State Wildlife Action Plans that prioritize species conservation. 

Each state, territorial and district state fish and wildlife agency is a recipient of formula-based State Wildlife Grant funding. The  program is supported by the more than 6,400 organizations that make up the national Teaming With Wildlife coalition, representing millions of birders, hunters, anglers, hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts.

The Association implores Members of Congress, at a minimum, to continue the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program at its current funding level. 

Teaming With Wildlife Lauds Members of Congress for Supporting Conservation to Safeguard Imperiled Fish and Wildlife Species Before They Become Endangered

Washington, DC -- The Teaming With Wildlife Coalition and the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies today lauded Senators James Risch (R-ID) and Mary Landrieu (D-LA), and Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN) and Congressman Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE) for their leadership in championing legislation that supports on-the-ground conservation to prevent fish and wildlife from becoming endangered.

The Congressional Awards presentation culminated the Teaming With Wildlife Coalition’s annual, two-day advocacy Fly-In on Capitol Hill to raise awareness of the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program, the only federal program providing funding to states and their partners to conserve the more than 12,000 species that are at risk of landing on the endangered species list.

“I recognize that I am receiving this award because of hardworking Idahoans who work to maximize every dollar of the state wildlife grant funding I’ve worked to secure and to keep species off of the endangered species list,” said Senator Risch. [View Senator Risch's full acceptance speech]

“I’m very gratified by your recognition of me for, hopefully, what is our good contribution to your work to educate, promote and protect that which is wholesome, natural and good for the well-being of our country,” said Congressman Fortenberry.

I’m very, very grateful to what you all are doing to be good stewards of the land and water and to protect our wildlife so that we can enjoy, truly enjoy, the abundance of this wonderful gift that we have in our country,” said Congressman Fortenberry.

The State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program provides each state and territory with approximately $1 million annually to develop and implement their congressionally mandated State Wildlife Action Plans. The Plans assess the health of each state’s wildlife and habitats; identify the problems they face; and outline the actions needed to conserve them over the long term.

“Whether it is management of sage grouse and lesser prairie chickens in the West or gopher tortoises and declining bat populations in the East, pro-active conservation programs are more effective and less costly than an ‘emergency room’ approach,” said Dan Forster, director of the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division and 2013-2014 president of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies. “The State and Tribal Wildlife Grants program is our best prescription for preventative care.” 

However, since 2010, funding for the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program has been cut by more than 35 percent. In addition, further cuts to program lead to increased federal ESA listings and threaten the associated jobs and local economies tied the $45 billion wildlife recreation industry.

In addition to recognizing Members of Congress for their support of the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program, the Teaming With Coalition’s Steering Committee presented two awards to Coalition members.

The Virginia Conservation Network, an affiliate of the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), received the Teaming With Wildlife Member Achievement Award for outstanding achievement in supporting funding for state wildlife diversity conservation. 

The Network has worked in partnership with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and NWF’s Mid-Atlantic office over the past five years. Accomplishments include developing a strategy for safeguarding species of greatest conservation need from the effects of climate change by co-hosting two statewide workshops; and helping to grow the Virginia Teaming With Wildlife coalition by 60 members to reach a total of 188.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) and the Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP) Research Institute received the State Wildlife Action Plan Partnership Award for outstanding achievement in implementing that state’s wildlife action plan. 

IUP researchers are among the Commission’s most valuable partners as a result of the Institute’s understanding of the Pennsylvania Wildlife Action Plan coupled with experience finding and implementing solutions to the state’s conservation needs.

Joint efforts implemented by PGC and IUP include preparing and/or treating approximately 18,200 acres to create young forest habitat for golden-winged warblers since 2011; increasing monitoring of bat populations; surveying hibernacula for evidence of White Nose Syndrome; and researching new techniques to monitor bat populations and combat infections of hibernating bats.

Approximately 100 attendees participated in the annual Teaming With Wildlife Fly-in held February 25-26 in Washington, DC. Fly-in advocates held meetings with Members and staff in more than 150 congressional offices.

For more information about Teaming With Wildlife and State Wildlife Action Plans, go to www.teaming.com.


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Teaming With Wildlife, a national coalition of more than 6,400 conservation organizations and nature-based businesses—including state fish and wildlife agencies, wildlife biologists, hunters and anglers, birdwatchers, hikers and other conservationists—is working to prevent wildlife from becoming endangered by supporting increased state, federal and private funding for wildlife conservation.

Found on the web at www.teaming.com or follow updates on Teaming with Wildlife's Facebook page at facebook.com/Teaming-with-Wildlife and on Twitter @teamingwildlife.

Congress Completes the 2014 Farm Bill with Important Wins for Conservation

With a bipartisan vote of 68-32, the Senate today passed the Agricultural Act of 2014. The House of Representatives passed the bill on January 29, and it now goes on to the President for signature.

In what is a major win for conservation, the 2014 Farm Bill includes key provisions to protect wetlands and native grasslands, and continues effective, voluntary conservation programs.

“The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies is very pleased that this bill meets our top priorities. It protects fragile soils and wetlands by linking conservation compliance to crop insurance and also conserves grasslands in six prairie states through a regional Sodsaver policy,” said Dan Forster, President of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies and Director of Georgia Wildlife Resources Division. “We sincerely thank Chairwoman Stabenow and Ranking Member Cochran for their dedication and leadership, which made this strong conservation bill possible.”

The farm bill conservation title is the single, largest federal investment for natural resources conservation - including fish and wildlife conservation - on private lands in the nation. The Agricultural Act of 2014 continues funding and enhances policies for voluntary, private lands conservation, including conservation easements and the Conservation Reserve Program. 

Farm bill conservation programs are critical to state fish and wildlife agencies for conserving and improving millions of acres of habitat and for providing opportunities for hunting and angling. This investment, in turn, helps sustain rural economies; improve the quality of life through cleaner water, fresher air and healthier places to live; and provide affordable food and fiber in environmentally sustainable ways.

“We urge the President to sign The Agricultural Act of 2014 into law so that critical conservation efforts can soon resume and so that America’s farmers and ranchers can have the certainty they need to produce abundant food and fiber,” said Forster.

Joint Committee Meeting to be Held at AFWA's Annual Meeting to Discuss the 75th Anniversary of the Wildlife & Sport Fish Restoration Program

The success of the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs and its 75 years of partnership to restore America's fish and wildlife may be the greatest untold conservation story. But, you can help tell the story by celebrating WSFR’s 75th Anniversary with us in 2012.

The Education, Outreach & Diversity Committee of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies invites members of the Angler/Boater and Hunting and Shooting Sports Participation Committees (and anyone interested) to participate in a joint collaborative session to learn more about the timeline and tools available to promote the anniversary as well as to brainstorm ideas for celebrating 75 years of better hunting, fishing and wildlife-related recreation through WSFR. This joint session will lead off the scheduled EOD Committee meeting on Tuesday, September 13, 2011 from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. at the Omaha Hilton, Murray Room.

> View the meeting agenda

The Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports Names Bill Creighton as Its Inaugural CEO

WASHINGTON, DC — The Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports, a national coalition focused on the recruitment and retention of hunters and shooters, today announced that Bill Creighton has been selected as the recently formed organization’s first chief executive officer.

Mr. Creighton brings more than 25 years of senior executive leadership experience spanning 76 countries at leading global media, Internet and technology companies. He previously served as the president and CEO of Fotoglif where he successfully repositioned and commercialized the Toronto-based start-up company’s digital media business. He also served as managing director of Newscom, vice president of sales and marketing for United Press International and is an award-winning journalist with two Pulitzer Prize nominations.

“Bill’s creative marketing, partnership-building and fundraising expertise, plus his extensive track record of growing new businesses, are exactly what the Council needs to lead the development of a national strategy for sustaining America’s hunting and shooting sports traditions,” said Ron Regan, the Council’s chairman and executive director of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies. “As an avid hunter himself, Bill understands that hunting and shooting are cornerstones of wildlife conservation and an important part of our nation’s history and identity.”

With a 28-member board of directors, the Council unites state fish and wildlife agencies, the hunting, shooting sports and greater conservation communities and the archery and firearms industries to focus on the recruitment and retention of hunters and shooters, the development of shooting facilities and the protection and expansion of access for hunting. In the short-term, the Council is focused on developing a national recruitment and retention strategic plan and a sustainable funding model to support its efforts and those of the state agencies.

“I have seen the very positive impact that hunting and shooting have had on me, my family and my friends and this is my opportunity to share the wonderful gift that is hunting with this and future generations,” said Mr. Creighton. “I am honored and humbled to become a part of the Council and look forward to working together to grow the hunting and shooting communities.”

Mr. Creighton earned a Bachelor of Arts from the College of Charleston (SC). As a journalist, he covered four Olympic Games, the Masters, the Soviet Union collapse, the Middle East conflict, G-8 Summits, the U.S. invasion of Grenada, five U.S. presidents and 15 Space Shuttle launches and earned two Pulitzer Prize nominations for photography. He is a native of the South Carolina Lowcountry and was introduced to shooting sports at age nine.

Mr. Creighton begins his tenure as CEO on August 15, 2011. His office will be located in Washington, DC with the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies.

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The Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports is a coalition of state fish and wildlife agencies and hunting and shooting-related companies, organizations and associations that have joined together to focus on the recruitment and retention of hunters and shooters, the development of shooting facilities and the protection and expansion of access for hunting. Established in 2010, the Council is a non-profit, 501(c) 3 tax-exempt, educational organization.

Commissioner of the Kentucky Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Resources Testifies before House Subcommittee on White-Nose Syndrome and Bats

Dr. Jon Gassett, Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, testified on June 24, 2011 before a House Natural Resources Subcommittee concerning the incidence and spread of White-Nose Syndrome (WNS) in hibernating bat species, and the development and implementation of a federal-state national response plan.

WNS has devastated populations of several species of hibernating bats since it was first identified in the United States in 2006. State and federal agencies are mobilizing efforts to monitor the disease and hopefully bring it under control.

"During the last several years, my personal involvement with WNS has grown from watching its advance--moving southward and westward--to bearing responsibility in my own state upon confirming WNS in Kentucky this spring," said Gassett. "I am encouraged at the the amount of dedication and commitment by a community of individuals who care deeply about our bat resources. At the same time, I am concerned at the rate of spread, the high suspect ability of certain species and the lack of available treatment options."

Dr. Gassett is the Vice President of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and Chair of AFWA's WNS Working Group.

Read Dr. Jon Gassett's full testimony >

Senator Lieberman Introduces the National Fish Habitat Conservation Act to Protect Fish Habitats, Improve Health of Waterways

Senator Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) today announced the introduction of the National Fish Habitat Conservation Act to significantly advance ongoing efforts to restore and protect fish habitats by establishing the most comprehensive effort ever attempted to treat the causes of fish habitat decline. This legislation would improve the health of America’s waterways and ensure that the United States has robust fish populations well into the future.

“Healthy waterways and robust fish populations are vital to the well-being of our society and are essential in many communities throughout the United States,” said Lieberman. “This bill will help provide clean water and sustainable fisheries in this country and provide recreational value to those who fish, whether it is in wild waters or canoeing through peaceful streams. I look forward to working with my colleagues to pass this important legislation and reverse the decline of our ailing waterways and fisheries.”



The National Fish Habitat Conservation Act authorizes assistance grants for fish habitat projects that are supported by pre-existing regional Fish Habitat Partnerships. Based on the highly successful North American Wetlands Conservation Act model, the bill establishes a multi-stakeholder National Fish Habitat Board to recommend science-based conservation projects to the Secretary of Interior for assistance. Regional partners will then work to implement those conservation projects to protect, restore and enhance fish habitats and fish populations. 



The bill is co-sponsored by Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID), Jon Tester (D-MT), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Mark Begich (D-AK), Ben Cardin (D-MD) and Mark Udall (D-CO).
The Bill number is S.1201 and should be available soon at thomas.gov.

For more information about fish habitat conservation, go to www.fishhabitat.org.

2011 State of the Birds Report Assesses Bird Conservation on America’s Publicly Owned Lands and Waters

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Agriculture Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment Harris Sherman released the 2011 State of the Birds Report this week. The third in the series, this year’s State of the Birds report is the first assessment of the status of and tremendous potential for bird conservation on the more than 850 million acres of land and 3.5 million square miles of ocean that are publicly owned in the Unites States. These habitats support more than 800 bird species, one-third of which are endangered, threatened or of conservation concern.

The report highlighted findings especially relevant to state fish and wildlife agencies. These include:
• State wildlife agencies set regulations and provide management recommendations for all of the nation’s 19 native resident game bird including grouse, ptarmigan, turkey and quail. Many native resident game bird species have a high distribution on state lands such as Spruce Grouse (22%) and Montezuma Quail (14%).

• Funding and capacity are two of the greatest challenges limiting state agencies’ efforts to implement priority resident game bird conservation plans at scales that are relevant on public lands.

• Wild turkey restoration is one of the nation’s greatest conservation success stories—in the 1920s, wild turkey populations hovered around 30,000 birds total, today there are more than 7 million wild turkeys largely due to conservation on public lands.

• State wildlife agencies participate in the stewardship of migratory birds with Canada and Mexico to conserve waterfowl through efforts such as the North American Waterfowl Management Plan and the Flyway Councils. Through the Southern Wings program, many states participate in bird conservation activities with Latin America and the Caribbean and 10 states have developed their own state-specific initiatives to conserve species such as Greater Prairie-Chicken and Upland Sandpiper.

• State lands are home to more boreal forest (34%), marsh (24%) and grassland (4%), more than any single federal entity.

The report concludes that America’s public lands and waters, ranging from national wildlife refuges to national parks to national forests, offer significant opportunities to halt or reverse the decline of many species. The report provides a scientific tool to help public agencies, including state fish and wildlife agencies, identify the most significant conservation opportunities in each habitat.

The 2011 State of the Birds report is a collaborative effort as part of the U.S. North American Bird Conservation Initiative, involving federal and state wildlife agencies, and scientific and conservation organizations. These include the American Bird Conservancy, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, the Bureau of Land Management, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the Department of Defense, the National Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy, the National Park Service, the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Geological Survey.

The full report is available at www.stateofthebirds.org.

> Learn more about AFWA's bird conservation initiatives.

Montezuma Quail photo by George Andrejko, Arizona Game and Fish Department