Life Management Inc

NE LCC CONSERVATION SCIENCE NEEDS MOD 3

SCIENCE APPLICATIONS, NORTHEAST REGION, LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION COOPERATIVE SUPPORT

INTERMOUNTAIN WEST JOINT VENTURE STAFF - PHASE 2

SCIENCE SUPPORT AND LCD; SCIENCE COORDINATION; LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION

SCIENCE APPLICATIONS SA IS A PROGRAM IN THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE FWS ORGANIZED TO CARRY OUT AT RISK SPECIES CONSERVATION, COLLABORATIVE LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION, AND SCIENCE SUPPORT SA FACILITATES A COLLABORATIVE APPROACH TO FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT, WITH ACCOMPANYING SHARED GOALS, PLANNING, STRATEGIC ACTIONS, AND MEANS TO MEASURE PROGRESS A PRIMARY GOAL FOR THE AT RISK MISSION FOCAL AREA IS TO WORK WITH PARTNERS TO IDENTIFY GAPS IN KNOWLEDGE AROUND SHARED CONSERVATION PRIORITIES, AND WORK COLLABORATIVELY TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TOOLS, AND COORDINATION SUPPORT TO INFORM CONSERVATION STRATEGIES AND MANAGEMENT ACTIONS THE PROGRAM DELIVERS THE BEST AVAILABLE LANDSCAPE LEVEL TOOLS TO COLLABORATIVE CONSERVATION PLANNING PARTNERSHIPS AND SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION IN SUPPORT OF POLICY RELEVANT DECISION MAKING SPECIFICALLY, IN THE FWS NORTHEAST REGION R5 SUPPORT IS FOCUSED ON ADDRESSING THE CONSERVATION AND POLICY NEEDS OF IMPERILED OR AT RISK SPECIES, WITH A FOCUS ON APPLIED CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS PRIORITY LANDSCAPES SUCH SPECIES ARE MANAGED UNDER THE LEGAL AUTHORITY OF THE STATE WILDLIFE AND NATURAL RESOURCE AGENCIES WORKING THROUGH A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT, IN WHICH FWS SCIENTISTS AND TECHNICAL STAFF ARE SUBSTANTIVELY INVOLVED, ALLOW SA TO LEVERAGE THE EXTENSIVE CAPACITY OF THE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE WMI AND ITS LONG HISTORY AND TRUST WORKING WITH STATE AND NON GOVERNMENTAL PARTNERS TOWARD STRATEGIC SPECIES, COLLABORATIVE LANDSCAPE, AND HABITAT CONSERVATION THE OVERALL SCOPE OF THE AGREEMENT IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF CUTTING EDGE SCIENCE AND CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES TO PRODUCE CURRENT AND FUTURE MODELED INFORMATION AND CONSERVATION ACTIONS IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE STAFF CAPACITY TO MANAGE THESE TOOLS AND DATA, GIVEN THE EXPECTED MIGRATION ONTO APPROVED AND SECURE CLOUD BASED SERVERS WE WILL NEED A COMBINATION OF COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH GRANTS, SMALL GRANT ADMINISTRATION, AND STAFF SUPPORT SERVICES TO CONDUCT THE WORK

GREAT PLAINS LCC REGIONAL CONSERVATION NEEDS

THE NORTH AMERICAN BAT MONITORING PROGRAM (NABAT) IS AN INTERAGENCY PROGRAM DESIGNED TO MONITOR BAT DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE ON A CONTINENTAL SCALE. NABAT PROVIDES INFORMATION TO NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGERS, INFORMING MANAGEMENT DECISIONS BY DETECTING POPULATION CHANGES AND DECLINES. NABAT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2015 IN RESPONSE TO THE THREAT OF WHITE-NOSE SYNDROME AND OTHER IMPACTS TO NORTH AMERICAN BATS. SINCE ITS FOUNDING, THE PROGRAM HAS GROWN INTO THE MAIN REPOSITORY FOR BAT DATA FOR FEDERAL PROGRAMS, A ROLE THAT WAS RECENTLY REINFORCED BY A MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) BETWEEN THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (USFWS) AND THE US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY (USGS) DETAILING AN AGREEMENT OF SHARED RESPONSIBILITIES AND JOINT MANAGEMENT OF THE NABAT PROGRAM.USFWS HAS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SUPPORT ROBUST DATA COLLECTION TO ADDRESS DATA NEEDS IN THE NABAT DATABASE THROUGH FUNDING ALLOCATED BY THE FEDERAL PERMITTING IMPROVEMENT STEERING COUNCIL (FPISC) AND TITLE 41 OF FIXING AMERICAS SURFACE TRANSPORTATION ACT (FAST-41). THROUGH CONTRACTING COLONY COUNTS, ACOUSTIC SURVEYS, DATA MANAGEMENT, AND ANALYSIS TO AN EXTERNAL PARTNER, USFWS WILL BOOST THE COVERAGE OF NABAT IN THE EASTERN U.S., THUS IMPROVING DISTRIBUTION MODELS FOR ENDANGERED AND THREATENED BATS. THIS WORK WILL IMPROVE PERMITTING EFFICIENCIES THROUGH INCREASING THE AMOUNT AND EXTENT OF DATA FOR THE NABAT PROGRAM, WHICH STRENGTHENS DATA PRODUCTS USED IN ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT SECTION 7 CONSULTATIONS.

INTERMOUNTAIN WEST JOINT VENTURE STAFF

WHITE-NOSE SYNDROME RESEARCH AND WORKSHOP COORDINATION SUPPORT

CONSERVATION OF AT-RISK SPECIES ACROSS THE NORTH ATLANTIC-APPALACHIAN REGION (PHASE 2)

BAY/GULF RECOVERY PROJECT

SUPPORT FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION DESIGN THROUGH ALASKA S LCCS

RACHEL CARSON NWR HABITAT MANAGEMENT

WHITENOSE SYNDROME COORDINATION SUPPORT: RESEARCH AND WORKSHOP SUPPORT

HINCHLIFFE STADIUM, A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK BUILT IN 1932, WAS AN IMPORTANT VENUE AS A HOST FOR BLACK PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL, BOTH FOR INDEPENDENT BLACK TEAMS AND FOR THE NEGRO NATIONAL LEAGUE THIS GRANT WILL PERFORM CONCRETE REPAIRS TO THE STADIUM THE APPLICANT WILL PROVIDE 10,150,418 IN MATCHING FUNDS

LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION COOPERATIVE PARTNERSHIPS

RECOVERY AT RISK SPECIES

NEW ENGLAND COTTONTAIL HABITAT RESTORATION PARTNERSHIP

WHITE-NOSE SYNDROME IS A FUNGAL DISEASE RESPONSIBLE FOR UNPRECEDENTED MORTALITY IN HIBERNATING BATS IN NORTH AMERICA. THIS DISEASE HAS SPREAD VERY RAPIDLY SINCE ITS DISCOVERY IN 2007. THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE IS LEADING A MULTI-ORGANIZATIONAL EFFORT TO INVESTIGATE AND MANAGE WNS. GIVEN THE COMPLEXITY OF THE RESPONSE TO THIS DISEASE, A HIGHLY COORDINATED EFFORT IS REQUIRED FOR STATE, FEDERAL, AND TRIBAL WILDLIFE AGENCIES, AND PRIVATE PARTNERS TO RESPOND EFFECTIVELY TO WNS AND CONSERVE BATS.THE SERVICE AND THE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE RECOGNIZE THE NEED FOR FACILITATION OF MULTI-STATE AND INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATION SCIENCE CENTERED ON FISH AND WILDLIFE POPULATIONS AND HABITAT CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT CONSISTENT WITH A LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION APPROACH. THIS PROJECT IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THE OVERALL GOALS OF THE WNS NATIONAL RESPONSE TO FACILITATE CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND ENHANCE COMMUNICATION AMONG PARTNERS IN SETTING COMMON GOALS AND ASSESSING COMMON SCIENCE NEEDS. FUNDS FOR THIS PROJECT WILL SUPPORT BASIC AND APPLIED RESEARCH, INFORMATION MANAGEMENT, COMMUNICATION, AND TRAVEL TO FACILITATE ALL OF THE ABOVE.

A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO CONNECT MILLENNIALS AND GENERATION Z WITH HUNTING, SHOOTING, AND THE OUTDOORS

THE NORTHEAST ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES (NEAFWA) IS PARTNERING WITH THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (FWS) AND THE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE (WMI) TO HIRE A NORTHEAST REGIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE HEALTH COORDINATOR. THE COORDINATOR WILL ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT THE NETWORK OF FISH AND WILDLIFE HEALTH PRACTITIONERS IN THEIR WORK TO ADDRESS ZOONOTIC DISEASES AND OTHER FISH AND WILDLIFE HEALTH ISSUES ACROSS THE NORTHEAST REGION. THE ABILITY TO COLLABORATE WILL BE CRITICAL, AND THE COORDINATOR WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH THE NEAFWA MEMBER STATES, THE FWS, OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES, ACADEMIA AND OTHER INTERESTED STAKEHOLDERS TO DEVELOP REGIONAL STRATEGIES FOR PREVENTING, DETECTING, CONTROLLING AND POTENTIALLY ERADICATING IMPORTANT WILDLIFE DISEASES IN AN EFFORT TO MINIMIZE IMPACTS TO WILDLIFE, LIVESTOCK AND PEOPLE.

ENHANCING THE WILDLIFE AND SPORT FISH RESTORATION PROGRAM

IMPLEMENTING BIRD ACTION PLANS FOR SHRUBLAND DEPENDENTS IN THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS BIRD CONSERVATION REGION

F12AC01605- FACILITATION OF COMMUNICATION AND CONSERVATION THROUGH ALASKAS LCCS

HABITAT RESTORATION FOR AT-RISK SPECIES

FUNDS UNDER THIS AWARD ARE TO BE USED TO SUPPORT COLLABORATIVE PLANNING, PERMITTING, AND IMPLEMENTATION EFFORTS TO IMPROVE AND RESTORE HABITAT FOR AT-RISK SPECIES.

PROJECT PURPOSE:RECRUITMENT, RETENTION AND REACTIVATION (R3) THROUGH MARKETING IS THE PROJECTS PURPOSE. USING 5 TRIAL STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES (SFWA), WE WILL IMPLEMENT MARKETING EFFORTS VIA A $50,000 SUBAWARD TO EACH SFWA TO ACCOMPLISH R3 OF HUNTERS AND OR TARGET SHOOTERS AS THIS PROJECT HAS SUCCESSFULLY DONE SINCE 2020.ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED:THE ASSOCIATION FOR CONSERVATION INFORMATION (ACI) ALONG WITH WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE (WMI) WILL OPENAPPLICATIONS FOR STATES TO APPLY FOR SUBAWARD GRANT FUNDS FOR A MARKETING CAMPAIGN THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO DO. WE WILL SELECT THE 5 BEST PROPOSALS AS SCORED BY ACI WMI COMMITTEE AND IMPLEMENT THEM. THE 5 TRIAL SFWAS WILL COMPLETE THEIR MARKETING CAMPAIGNS WITHIN THE 2025 CALENDAR YEAR AND DEVELOP A CASE STUDY.EXPECTED OUTCOMES:1. INCREASED PARTICIPATION AS INDICATED BY ENGAGEMENT WITH MARKETING ASSETS AND NUMBER OF LICENSES SOLD LINKED TO CAMPAIGN.2. CASE STUDIES FOR OTHER STATES TO LEARN FROM.3. HELP STATES LEARN MARKETING STRATEGIES AND TRY NEW THINGS.THIS PROJECT WILL FURTHER DEVELOP THE ABILITY OF SFWA TO INNOVATE AND CONTINUALLY IMPROVE R3 MARKETING TECHNIQUES. OVER THE 2020-2024 AWARDED R3 MARKETING GRANTS, WE HAVE AN ESTABLISHED WORKING COMMITTEE AND 20 STATES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PUT $1 MILLION TOWARD MARKETING TACTICS THAT HAVE ACCOMPLISHED R3. THE CASE STUDIES OUTLINE THE SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES OF EACH $50,000 PROJECT AND DETAIL THE INCREASE IN PARTICIPATION WHERE POSSIBLE. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS WE HAVE PROVEN THIS PROGRAM THROUGH HELPING STATES INVEST IN MARKETING AND ASSISTING THEM IN IMPLEMENTING EFFECTIVE, TRACKABLE CAMPAIGNS THAT ARE TIED DIRECTLY TO INCREASING PARTICIPATION. THIS YEAR WE EXPECT THE SAME. THE GRANT FUNDS WILL INCREASE PARTICIPATION IN HUNTING AND TARGET SHOOTING IN A MEASURABLE WAY AS HAS BEEN DONE IN EVERY YEAR THIS HAS BEEN FUNDED. THIS PROGRAM CONTINUES TO BE ONE THAT TEACHES THROUGH CASE STUDIES AND INCREASES PARTICIPATION IN A PROVEN WAY ALSO INCREASING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR CONSERVATION FUNDING SYSTEM.DELIVERABLES: 1. 5 MARKETING CAMPAIGNS THAT WILL INCREASE PARTICIPATION IN 5 TRIAL STATES.2. R3 STATS FOR NUMBER OF PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THESE CAMPAIGNS.5. 5 CASE STUDIES FROM THE 5 TRIAL STATES.THERE IS STILL A GREAT NEED TO INCREASE MARKETING EFFORTS AND TRY NEW EXPERIMENTAL EFFORTS AND SHARE THESUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES OF DOING THOSE EFFORTS USING MARKETING TO ACCOMPLISH R3.INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: 5 TRIAL STATES WILL BE BENEFICIARIES. EVERY STATE CAN LEARN FROM THESE PROJECTS THAT CAN BE REPLICATED IN ANY STATE IF THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL OR LEARN FROM THE CHALLENGES THAT ARE FACED. PEOPLE THAT WILL BE RECRUITED, RETAINED, OR REACTIVATED! SUBRECIPIENTS WILL BE ASSOCIATED WITH THE PROJECT. DEPENDING ON THE TRIAL STATE PROJECTS CHOSEN, SUBRECIPIENTS COULD INCLUDE STATE AGENCIES, A STATE AGENCY FOUNDATION, MARKETING FIRM, OR OTHER RELATED FIRM.

THE COMMUNICATORS AND R3 PROFESSIONALS WORKING TO ENGAGE AMERICANS IN OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES FACE MAJOR HURDLES IN THE EFFORT TO DEVELOP MESSAGES TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN HUNTERS, SHOOTERS, ARCHERS AND ANGLERS AS WELL AS REPRESENTING THE DIVERSITY OF INCREDIBLY RICH COMMUNITY THAT PARTICIPATES IN THESE ACTIVITIES.1) TODAY S MEDIA SAVVY PUBLIC EXPECTS INTERESTING, ATTRACTIVE, DEMOGRAPHICALLY REPRESENTATIVE, HIGH QUALITY PHOTOGRAPHY. MESSAGES WITH DULL OR UNATTRACTIVE IMAGES ARE LOST IN THE SHUFFLE. R3 PRACTITIONERS NEED HIGH QUALITY PHOTOS.2) TARGETING DIVERSE AUDIENCES ACROSS VARIOUS TYPES OF HUNTING, SHOOTING AND FISHING MULTIPLIES THE NUMBER AND VARIETY OF PHOTOS NECESSARY SEVERAL FOLD. R3 PRACTITIONERS NEED A LARGE VARIETY OF IMAGES.3) EVEN IF THE EXACT PHOTO AN R3 PRACTITIONER NEEDS EXISTS, IT MIGHT BE IN ANY ONE OF SEVERAL PLACES AND IT IS NOT CATALOGUED IN SUCH A WAY TO MAKE IT EASY TO LOCATE FOR DOWNLOAD. R3 PRACTITIONERS NEED A CENTRAL, ORGANIZED DIGITAL ASSET MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.THIS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE MORE, BETTER, MORE DIVERSE AND EASIER TO FIND AND DOWNLOAD HUNTING, FISHING, SHOOTING, AND ARCHERY IMAGES TO R3 PROFESSIONALS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY TO ENABLE THEM TO ATTRACT MORE INDIVIDUALS TO THE OUTDOORS WITH LESS EFFORT THAN EVER BEFORE.OBJECTIVE 1 CROSS COUNTRY, PROFESSIONAL HUNTING PHOTO SHOOTOBJECTIVE 2 HUNTING, FISHING, SHOOTING AND ARCHERY MANUFACTURER PHOTO POOLOBJECTIVE 3 CENTRALIZED DIGITAL ASSET MANAGER

AN AGENCY PATH FORWARD: DESIGNING EFFECTIVE ENGAGEMENT AND BUILDING CAPACITY FOR RELEVANCE

GIVEN THAT MOST R3 MARKET RESEARCH OF THE PAST DECADE HAS PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON RESIDENT HUNTERS, MANY STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES (SFWAS) KNOW RELATIVELY LITTLE ABOUT NON-RESIDENT HUNTERS MOTIVATIONS OR EXPECTATIONS WHEN CONSIDERING (AND ULTIMATELY CHOOSING) AN OUT-OF-STATE HUNTING OPPORTUNITY. IN 2024, WITH ASSISTANCE FROM CHASE CHASE CONSULTING AND SOUTHWICK ASSOCIATES, THE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE (WMI) CONDUCTED A MULTI-STATE CONSERVATION GRANT PROJECT THAT QUANTIFIED BOTH THE MOTIVATIONS DRIVING HUNTERS TO VISIT OTHER STATES AS WELL AS THE REASONS THEY SELECT SPECIFIC LOCATIONS.FINDINGS OF THIS RESEARCH DEMONSTRATED THAT NON-RESIDENT HUNTERS ARE MOTIVATED BY VALUES AND DESIRES STRONGENOUGH TO OVERCOME SOME OF THE TYPICAL, WELL-DOCUMENTED BARRIERS THAT AFFECT MOST HUNTERS, AND NON-RESIDENTHUNTERS ARE WILLING TO SPEND FAR MORE EFFORT IN THEIR PURSUITS THAN THE AVERAGE RESIDENT HUNTER. PERHAPS MOSTIMPORTANTLY FOR HUNTER R3, NON-RESIDENT HUNTERS ARE ATTRACTED TO SPECIES AND LANDSCAPES UNCOMMON TO THEIR HOME STATES BUT MAY BE COMMONPLACE AND POTENTIALLY UNDERUTILIZED BY THE RESIDENT HUNTERS OF THE DESTINATION STATE. THOUGH THIS RECENTLY COMPLETED RESEARCH PROVIDES AN IN-DEPTH UNDERSTANDING OF THE MOTIVATIONS THAT ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO HUNT IN OTHER STATES, IT DOES NOT PROVIDE R3 PRACTITIONERS WITH STRATEGIES OR TACTICS CAPABLE OFCAPITALIZING ON NON-RESIDENT HUNTERS ATTRACTION TO PLACES AND HUNTABLE SPECIES THAT ARE NOVEL TO THEM.FROM A HUNTER R3 STRATEGY PERSPECTIVE, NON-RESIDENT HUNTERS POSE A UNIQUE CHALLENGE TO R3 PRACTITIONERS GIVENTHEIR PARTICULARLY HIGH EXPECTATIONS AND MYRIAD HUNTING OPPORTUNITY OPTIONS. IF SFWAS BETTER UNDERSTOOD HOW,WHEN, AND WHERE TO BEST ENGAGE AND CONNECT WITH NON-RESIDENT HUNTERS, THEY COULD BE MORE EFFECTIVE AT ATTRACTING THEM TO THEIR STATE AND ITS UNDERUTILIZED HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES. IF SFWAS CAN STRATEGICALLY ATTRACT NON-RESIDENTS TO SPECIES AND ENVIRONMENTS THAT ARE IN LESS DEMAND BY RESIDENT HUNTERS, THEY COULD INCREASE THEIR HUNTING NUMBERS WITHOUT EXACERBATING REAL AND PERCEIVED CROWDING ISSUES OR INCREASING COMPETITION FOR LIMITED AVAILABILITY TAGS AND PRIVILEGES. FOR THE HUNTER, INCREASING AWARENESS OF NEW AND NOVEL HUNTING OPPORTUNITIESAVAILABLE TO THEM MAY MAINTAIN THEIR ENTHUSIASM AND ENGAGEMENT IN HUNTING, LIKELY SERVING AS A RETENTION TOOL TOINCREASE OVERALL HUNTING PARTICIPATION NATIONALLY IN BOTH HUNTERS HOME AND VISITED STATES.USING LICENSE DATA AUGMENTED BY GENERAL POPULATION SAMPLES TO SUPPORT A MIXED METHOD RESEARCH DESIGN, THISPROJECT WILL 1) IDENTIFY AND RECOMMEND THE OPTIMAL MIX OF MESSAGING, IMAGERY, TIMING, AND PLACEMENT OF MARKETING THAT SFWAS CAN USE TO ATTRACT SEGMENTS OF NON-RESIDENTS, AND 2) WILL TEST THE RECOMMENDED MATERIALS AND APPROACHES VIA PILOT CAMPAIGNS TO IDENTIFY THE MIX OF CAMPAIGN ELEMENTS THAT WILL MAXIMIZE SFWA EFFECTIVENESS IN RECRUITING THE TARGETED NON-RESIDENT HUNTERS. THE PILOT CAMPAIGNS WILL BE EVALUATED BY MEASURING WHICH MARKETING TREATMENT GENERATES THE GREATEST ENGAGEMENT. THE RESULTS WILL BE PACKAGED IN AN EASILY ACCESSIBLE REPORT THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE TESTED MATERIALS AND MAKES CLEAR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR HOW SFWAS SHOULD EMPLOY THE MATERIALS THROUGH THEIR OWN CUSTOM MARKETING EFFORTS. THE INTENDED OUTCOME WILL BE AN INCREASE IN NON-RESIDENTS HUNTING STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND GREATER UTILIZATION OF HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE UNDERVALUED BY RESIDENT HUNTERS. STATE WILDLIFE AGENCIES AND THEIR HUNTER R3-VESTED PARTNERS ARE THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES OF THIS EFFORT.

MARKETING IS AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO ACCOMPLISH RECRUIT, RETAIN, REACTIVATE (R3). THE FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMUNITY IS LEARNING THIS AND BEGINNING TO SEE WHAT AGENCIES CAN DO AND HOW MUCH SHOULD BE INVESTED IN MARKETING. FURTHERMORE, WITH THE NEW ALLOWANCES IN WILDLIFE SPORT FISH RESTORATAION SINCE MODERNIZATION PASSED, THERE ARE NEW WAYS TO FUND MARKETING IN STATES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO IN THE PAST. THIS MAKES INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THE MOST EFFECTIVE MARKETING TECHNIQUES ARE TO ACCOMPLISH R3 VERY TIMELY INFORMATION.ASSOCIATION FOR CONSERVATION INFORMATION (ACI), WITH OVER 40 STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCY MEMBERS WHO ARE PRACTITIONERS OF MARKETING AND R3, AND AN ORGANIZATION THAT EXISTS ONLY TO ADVANCE AGENCY COMMUNICATION ABILITIES. SINCE MODERNIZATION, ACI HAS GARNERED 3 GRANTS TO ACCOMPLISH R3 THROUGH MARKETING. WE HAVE THE 2020 AND 2021 CASE STUDIES PUBLISHED AND ARE IN THE MIDST OF THE 2022 CAMPAIGNS BEING IMPLEMENTED. ACI HAVING LED 10 COMPLETED PROJECTS AND IS CURRENTLY LEADING 5 MORE PILOT STATES TO INNOVATE AND CONTINUALLY IMPROVE R3 VIA NEW MARKETING TECHNIQUES, HAS HELPED STATES WITH LITTLE TO NO RESOURCES DIRECTED TOWARD MARKETING INVEST IN THESE ACTIVITIES AND SEE THE VALUE THAT MARKETING CAN BRING TO THESE EFFORTS. THE 15 STATES THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED SO FAR HAVE LEARNED A LOT THROUGH THESE PILOT PROJECTS AND ARE CONSTANTLY SHARING THEIR CASE STUDIES WITH OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY. IF WE WANT ALL AGENCIES TO CONTINUE TO ADOPT MARKETING AS AN INTEGRAL PRACTICE TO HOW WE ACCOMPLISH R3, WE NEED TO CONTINUE THESE EFFORTS THIS PROJECT WILL FURTHER DEVELOP THE PRACTICES FOR STATES TO INNOVATE AND CONTINUALLY IMPROVE R3 MARKETING TECHNIQUES. OVER THE 2020 2022 AWARDED R3 MARKETING GRANTS WE HAVE AN ESTABLISHED COMMITTEE AND 15 STATES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PUT 50,000 EACH TOWARD MARKETING TACTICS THAT HAVE ACCOMPLISHED R3. THIS YEAR WE WILL HAVE AN APPLICATION PROCESS AS WE HAVE IN YEARS PAST AND THE ACI COMMITTEE WILL CHOSE 5 PROJECTS THAT RISE TO THE TOP. WE WILL STRIVE TO HAVE ONE BE FROM EACH AFWA REGION.OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS WE HAVE PROVEN THIS PROGRAM THROUGH IMPLEMENTING EFFECTIVE, TRACKABLE CAMPAIGNS THAT ARE TIED DIRECTLY TO THE REVENUE THAT THE CAMPAIGN RETURNS. THE INVESTMENT OF THESE GRANT DOLLARS IN MARKETING HAS BEEN MULTIPLIED AND RETURNED TO EACH AGENCY THAT HAS BEEN THE RECIPIENT OF THIS PROJECT S GRANT FUNDING FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS. THERE IS STILL A GREAT NEED TO PILOT NEW EFFORTS AND SHARE THE SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES OF DOING THOSE EFFORTS WITH OTHERS WORKING TO USE MARKETING TO ACCOMPLISH R3.

ASSOCIATION FOR CONSERVATION INFORMATION: EFFECTIVE R3 MARKETING STRATEGIES

THIS PROPOSAL BUILDS ON PREVIOUS EFFORTS TO USE VISUALLY AND EMOTIONALLY APPEALING RECRUITMENT MATERIALS CREATED AND TESTED UNDER TWO PRIOR MULTI STATE AWARDS (F19AP00100, F22AP00531). THE AIM IS TO ATTRACT POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS AGED 18 TO 34 TO VISIT AGENCY HOW-TO-HUNT HOW TO SHOOT WEB PAGES. BY EMPLOYING CUTTING-EDGE MARKETING STRATEGIES, WE WILL DISTRIBUTE THESE MATERIALS AND MONITOR CONVERSION RATES IN THE SOUTHEAST REGION. THESE PRODUCTS ARE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT THE VITAL ROLE OF HUNTING AND SHOOTING IN CONSERVATION, WITH THE GOAL OF FOSTERING EMOTIONAL CONNECTIONS AND ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR BROADER CONSERVATION SYSTEM AMONG THE TARGET AUDIENCE. OUR OBJECTIVES ARE TO SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE CONVERSION RATES AMONG THESE GENERATIONS AND DRIVE THE SALE OF EQUIPMENT AND LICENSES, RESULTING IN FUNDING FOR STATE AGENCIES. WE WILL COLLABORATE WITH FOUR SOUTHEASTERN STATES TO IMPLEMENT A REGIONAL MARKETING PROGRAM IN DESIGNATED TEST MARKETS, PARTNERING WITH ESTABLISHED MARKETING FIRMS THAT HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD WITH STATE WILDLIFE AGENCIES. THE DISTRIBUTION OF MARKETING MATERIALS WILL BE EVENLY SPREAD ACROSS THE TEST STATES, ENABLING US TO TRACK THEIR IMPACT EFFECTIVELY. ANTICIPATED OUTCOMES INCLUDE MEASURABLE INCREASES IN LICENSE SALES AND RETENTION WITHIN THE TEST MARKETS, AS WELL AS AN UPSURGE IN PRODUCT SALES GENERATING WILDLIFE SPORT FISH RESTORATION FUNDING FOR STATES. THESE OUTCOMES WILL YIELD TANGIBLE CONSERVATION IMPACTS THROUGH INCREASED FUNDING FROM LICENSE AND PERMIT SALES, AS WELL AS EQUIPMENT PURCHASES.

ASSOCIATION FOR CONSERVATION INFORMATION: EFFECTIVE R3 MARKETING STRATEGIES

ACI: R3 THROUGH MARKETING VIA PILOT STATES

MARKETING IS AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO ACCOMPLISH R3 (RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, REACTIVATION). THE FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMUNITY IS LEARNING THIS AND BEGINNING TO SEE WHAT AGENCIES CAN DO AND HOW MUCH SHOULD BE INVESTED IN MARKETING. FURTHERMORE, WITH THE NEW ALLOWANCES IN WILDLIFE AND SPORT FISH RESTORATION SINCE THE PITTMAN-ROBERTSON (PR) MODERNIZATION ACT PASSED, THERE ARE NEW WAYS TO FUND MARKETING IN STATES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO IN THE PAST. THIS MAKES INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT THE MOST EFFECTIVE MARKETING TECHNIQUES ARE TO ACCOMPLISH R3 VERY TIMELY INFORMATION. ASSOCIATION FOR CONSERVATION INFORMATION (ACI), WITH OVER 40 STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCY MEMBERS WHO ARE PRACTITIONERS OF MARKETING AND R3, IS AN ORGANIZATION THAT EXISTS ONLY TO ADVANCE AGENCY COMMUNICATION ABILITIES. SINCE PR MODERNIZATION, ACI HAS GARNERED 3 GRANTS TO ACCOMPLISH R3 THROUGH MARKETING. WE HAVE THE 2020, 2021 AND 2022 CASE STUDIES PUBLISHED AND ARE IN THE MIDST OF THE 2023 CAMPAIGNS BEING IMPLEMENTED. ACI HAS LED 15 COMPLETED PROJECTS AND IS CURRENTLY LEADING 5 MORE PILOT STATES TO INNOVATE AND CONTINUALLY IMPROVE R3 VIA NEW MARKETING TECHNIQUES, HAS HELPED STATES WITH LITTLE TO NO RESOURCES DIRECTED TOWARD MARKETING INVEST IN THESE ACTIVITIES AND SEE THE VALUE THAT MARKETING CAN BRING TO THESE EFFORTS. THE 15 STATES THAT HAVE BEEN INVOLVED SO FAR HAVE LEARNED A LOT THROUGH THESE PILOT PROJECTS AND ARE CONSTANTLY SHARING THEIR CASE STUDIES WITH OTHERS IN THE COMMUNITY. IF WE WANT ALL AGENCIES TO CONTINUE TO ADOPT MARKETING AS AN INTEGRAL PRACTICE TO HOW WE ACCOMPLISH R3, WE NEED TO CONTINUE THESE EFFORTS. THIS PROJECT WILL FURTHER DEVELOP THE PRACTICES FOR STATES TO INNOVATE AND CONTINUALLY IMPROVE R3 MARKETING TECHNIQUES. OVER THE 2020-2023 AWARDED R3 MARKETING GRANTS WE HAVE AN ESTABLISHED COMMITTEE AND 20 STATES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PUT 50,000 EACH TOWARD MARKETING TACTICS THAT HAVE ACCOMPLISHED R3. THIS YEAR WE WILL HAVE AN APPLICATION PROCESS AS WE HAVE IN YEARS PAST AND THE ACI COMMITTEE WILL CHOSE 5 PROJECTS THAT RISE TO THE TOP. WE WILL STRIVE TO HAVE ONE PROJECT FROM EACH ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES REGION. OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS WE HAVE PROVEN THE BENEFITS OF THIS PROGRAM THROUGH IMPLEMENTING EFFECTIVE, TRACKABLE CAMPAIGNS THAT ARE TIED DIRECTLY TO THE REVENUE THAT THE CAMPAIGN RETURNS. THE INVESTMENT OF THESE GRANT DOLLARS IN MARKETING HAS BEEN MULTIPLIED AND RETURNED TO EACH AGENCY THAT HAS BEEN THE RECIPIENT OF THIS PROJECTS GRANT FUNDING FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS. THERE IS STILL A GREAT NEED TO PILOT NEW EFFORTS AND SHARE THE SUCCESSES AND CHALLENGES OF DOING THOSE EFFORTS WITH OTHERS WORKING TO USE MARKETING TO ACCOMPLISH R3.

TOWARDS AN INTEGRATED NATIONWIDE BIODIVERSITY DATA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES (SFWA) WERE RECENTLY AUTHORIZED TO SPEND FEDERAL FUNDS ON ADVERTISING MARKETING. THIS PROVIDES UNPRECEDENTED AND OFTEN UNDERUTILIZED OPPORTUNITIES FOR AGENCIES TO OPTIMIZE THEIR R3(RECRUIT, RETAIN, REACTIVATE) EFFORTS TO CAPITALIZE ON UNIQUE, REGION SPECIFIC GAME AND HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES ESPECIALLY WITH UNDER UTILIZED HUNTS THAT HAVE FEW RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS BUT MAY HAVE HIGH MARKET DEMAND. GIVEN THAT MOST R3 MARKETING RESEARCH HAS FOCUSED ON RESIDENTS, MANY AGENCIES KNOW LITTLE ABOUT NON RESIDENT (NR) MOTIVATION AND DEMAND OF THEIR HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES.NR HUNTERS ARE UNIQUE IN THAT THEY ARE MOTIVATED BY VALUES AND DESIRES THAT OVERCOME TYPICAL, WELL DOCUMENTED BARRIERS TO PARTICIPATION. PLUS, NR HUNTERS MAY BE ATTRACTED TOWARDS SPECIES AND HUNTING LANDSCAPES UNCOMMON TO THEIR HOME STATES AND ARE UNDERUTILIZED BY RESIDENTS. IF AGENCIES BETTER UNDERSTOOD NR MOTIVATIONS AND BEHAVIORS MODIFIERS, THEY COULD MORE STRATEGICALLY PROMOTE UNDERUTILIZED HUNTS AND BOOST NR LICENSE REVENUES AND VISITORS WHILE POTENTIALLY MINIMIZING RESOURCE CONSTRAINTS OF HIGHER DEMAND HUNTS. USING LICENSE DATA AND GEOSPATIAL ANALYSES COMBINED WITH FOCUS GROUPS AND STATE LEVEL SURVEYS, THIS PROJECT WILL 1) IDENTIFY NR HUNTER LOCATIONS AND DEMOGRAPHICS, THEIR MOTIVATIONS, INTERESTS AND EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS, AND 2) PROVIDE AGENCIES WITH GUIDANCE ON HOW TO CAPITALIZE AND MANAGE LATENT NR DEMAND FOR THEIR UNIQUE HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES.

THE BULK OF RECRUITMENT, RETENTION AND REACTIVATION (R3) EFFORTS THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES IN THE PAST DECADE HAVE FOCUSED ON THE CONTINUOUS R3 OF HUNTERS AND ANGLERS AT A TIME WHEN THE PERCENTAGE OF PARTICIPANTS PER CAPITA CONTINUES TO FLUCTUATE AND DECREASE, CREATING LONG-TERM CONCERNS FOR THE VIABILITY OF THESE OUTDOOR PURSUITS AND THE CONSERVATION OUTCOMES TIED TO THEIR PARTICIPANTS. RESEARCH GOING BACK AS FAR AS 1990 IN PREVIOUS ITERATIONS OF THE FUTURE OF HUNTING AND FISHING PROJECT (CHASE, 2012 CHASE, 2017 CHASE DUNFEE, 2022) IDENTIFIED A DISTINCT COMMITTED COHORTCURRENTLY IN THEIR LATE-50S AND EARLY 60STHAT HAS EXHIBITED HIGHER THAN AVERAGE RATES OF PARTICIPATION IN HUNTING ACTIVITIES, REGARDLESS OF TEMPORAL CONTEXT OR LIFE STAGE. HOWEVER, THIS COHORT IS NOW AGING INTO A STAGE OF LIFE WHERE PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS, FISCAL CONSTRAINTS, AND SHIFTING RESPONSIBILITIES ASSOCIATED WITH RETIREMENT MAY PRECLUDE ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT IN OUTDOOR RECREATION. CONSEQUENTLY, A GRADUAL DECLINE IN NATIONAL PARTICIPATION IS ANTICIPATED, BUT ANALYSIS OF RELIABLE DATA SOURCED DIRECTLY FROM STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES (SFWAS) IS CRITICALLY NEEDED TO DOCUMENT THE VALIDITY OF THIS PREDICTION AND TO ILLUMINATE OTHER TRENDS THAT MAY BE EMERGING IN, AND PREDICTIVE OF, HUNTER AND ANGLER POPULATION DYNAMICS. THE FUTURE OF HUNTING AND FISHING: A NEW VISION REPRESENTS A FIVE-YEAR REASSESSMENT OF NATIONAL TRENDS IN HUNTING AND FISHING, WHICH WILL ALLOW THE NATIONAL R3 COMMUNITY TO COMPARE THE SPECIFIC STATE-WIDE AND NATIONAL LICENSE PURCHASING BEHAVIOR OVER THE PAST 25 YEARS. DUE TO ITS RELIANCE ON ACTUAL LICENSE AND CUSTOMER DATA SOURCED DIRECTLY FROM SFWAS, THIS STUDY, LIKE ITS PREVIOUS ITERATIONS, WILL YIELD THE MOST RELIABLE HISTORICAL AND FUTURE PROJECTIONS OF AMERICAN HUNTING AND ANGLING PARTICIPATION OF ANY SIMILAR STUDY OR LICENSE DATA DASHBOARD CURRENTLY AVAILABLE. SINCE THE PREVIOUS STUDY PERIOD, COMPLETED IN 2021, SFWA AND R3-VESTED ORGANIZATION EFFORTS HAVE CONTINUED TO FOCUS ON R3 AND HAVE EXPANDED BOTH IN SCOPE AND EFFECTIVENESS, POTENTIALLY ALTERING THE TRAJECTORY OF PARTICIPATION. ADDITIONALLY, THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC CATALYZED A TEMPORARY INCREASE IN OUTDOOR RECREATION, AS INDIVIDUALS SOUGHT SOCIALLY DISTANCED ACTIVITIES AND RECONNECTED WITH NATURE. THESE AND OTHER TRENDS NEED TO BE DOCUMENTED AND UNDERSTOOD TO ENSURE THAT THE NATIONAL R3 COMMUNITY DIRECTS ITS EFFORTS TOWARD EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES AND AVOIDS WASTING FINITE RESOURCES AND EFFORT ON UNIMPACTFUL INITIATIVES. THIS STUDY PROPOSES CONDUCTING AN AGE-PERIOD-COHORT (APC) ANALYSIS UTILIZING DATA FROM A BROAD SAMPLE OF STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES. THE GOAL IS TO ASSESS THE EXTENT TO WHICH CONTEMPORARY DEVELOPMENTS, SUCH AS INTENSIFIED R3 INITIATIVES, PANDEMIC-RELATED BEHAVIORAL SHIFTS, AND GENERATIONAL SHIFTS HAVE INFLUENCED PARTICIPATION TRENDS AND WHETHER EARLIER FORECASTS, INCLUDING THE PROJECTED GRADUAL DECREASE IN PARTICIPATION BY THE COMMITTED COHORT, REMAIN VALID. THIS ITERATION OF THIS ONGOING LONGITUDINAL STUDY IS PARTICULARLY NECESSARY AS THE LEADING EDGE OF THE COMMITTED COHORT WAS PREDICTED TO START DECREASING ACTIVITY IN 2024. FURTHERMORE, THE STUDY WILL CAPITALIZE ON RECENT ADVANCEMENTS IN DATA SCIENCE TO EXTRACT NEW INSIGHTS. THE FINDINGS WILL OFFER CRITICAL GUIDANCE TO ALL SFWAS AND R3-VESTED ORGANIZATIONS, SUPPORTING INFORMED DECISIONS IN STRATEGIC PLANNING FOR DECLINING PARTICIPANTS AND SUBSEQUENT NEEDS FOR ADAPTABLE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT.

ADVANCING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FISH AND WILDLIFE RELEVANCY ROADMAPPROJECT ABSTRACT:UNDER THIS PROJECT, THE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE WILL WORK WITH FOUR STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES TO ADVANCE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FISH AND WILDLIFE RELEVANCY ROADMAP. THE PROJECT INVOLVES WORKING THROUGH A THREE PHASED PROCESS WITH EACH STATE. PHASE 1 CONSISTS OF AN ASSESSMENT OF THE AGENCY'S READINESS TO ENGAGE WITH PREVIOUSLY UNDER-SERVED CONSTITUENCIES BASED ON AN INTERNAL SURVEY AND DISCUSSIONS WITH AGENCY LEADERSHIP, IDENTIFICATION OF DEMOGRAPHIC OR GEOGRAPHIC POPULATION SEGMENTS OF INTEREST THAT HAVE BEEN UNDER-SERVED BY THE AGENCY, AND QUALITATIVE SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH CONDUCTED BY INNOVATIVE OUTCOMES, INC. TO BEGIN TO DEVELOP AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE POPULATION SEGMENT(S) OF INTEREST. PHASE 2 CONSISTS OF A QUANTITATIVE SURVEY OF THE STATE'S GENERAL POPULATION AND/OR THE POPULATION SEGMENT(S) OF INTEREST CONDUCTED BY RESPONSIVE MANAGEMENT, INC. TO IDENTIFY THEIR WILDLIFE-RELATED NEEDS, INTERESTS, AND CONCERNS, AND THEIR AWARENESS OF AND TRUST IN THE STATE WILDLIFE AGENCY. PHASE 3 USES THE RESULTS OF THE EARLIER PHASES TO DEVELOP A SET OF RELEVANCY GOALS, OBJECTIVES, STRATEGIES, AND EVALUATION CRITERIA THE STATE CAN APPLY TO ENGAGE AND SERVE THE POPULATION SEGMENT(S) OF INTEREST. TO DATE, CONNECTICUT, NEVADA, AND OKLAHOMA HAVE AGREED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROJECT. A FOURTH STATE FROM THE SOUTHEASTERN REGION OF THE COUNTRY WILL BE SELECTED IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

YOUTUBE HAS BECOME THE GO-TO LOCATION FOR LEARNING HOW TO DO NEARLY EVERYTHING. REGARDLESS OF THEIR DEMOGRAPHICS, IF YOU ASK ANY GROUP OF ADULTS WHERE THEY GO TO LEARN A SKILL, MOST OF THEM ANSWER YOUTUBE. ACCORDING TO OMNICORE, A TEAM OF DATA-DRIVEN DIGITAL MARKETING EXPERTS: 81 OF U.S. ADULTS USE YOUTUBE. 95 OF 1829-YEAR-OLDS IN THE U.S. USE YOUTUBE. 91 OF 3049-YEAR-OLDS IN THE U.S. USE YOUTUBE. 62 OF U.S. YOUTUBE USERS SAY THEY VISIT THE SITE DAILY.YOUTUBE ADVERTISING TOOLS PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TARGET THESE VIEWERS BY AGE, GENDER, LOCATION, AND INTERESTS. WHILE MANY STATES ALREADY UTILIZE YOUTUBE TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO THEIR AUDIENCE OF NEW AND EXISTING HUNTERS, ITS USE AS A MARKETING TOOL IS UNDERUTILIZED AND NOT WELL-KNOWN. IF THE HUNTING COMMUNITY CAN CAPITALIZE ON THIS OPPORTUNITY TO REACH MORE PEOPLE, IT COULD BE AN EFFECTIVE TOOL FOR COMMUNICATING WITH A LARGER AUDIENCE. USING A 2023 MULTI STATE FUNDS, WE WORKED WITH IDAHO, TENNESSEE, MARYLAND, AND IOWA TO DEVELOP AND PLACE YOUTUBE ADS TO DRIVE INTERESTED PARTIES TO LEARN-HUNTING CONTENT. IN THIS PROJECT, WE WILL DEVELOP YOUTUBE ADVERTISING FOR FOUR NEW STATES USING LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE PREVIOUS AWARDS. IN ADDITION TO INTRODUCING NEW PARTICIPANTS TO HUNTING IN FOUR STATES, THIS SECOND EFFORT WILL BE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE EVEN DEEPER UNDERSTANDINGS OF YOUTUBE AS A MARKETING PLATFORM FOR COMMUNICATING WITH A STATES HUNTING POPULATION. WE WILL PLACE THE ADS TO REACH ADULT RESIDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN OUTDOOR RECREATION, FOOD, AND SUSTAINABILITY. AS THE ADS RUN, WE WILL STUDY CONVERSION RATES AND MAKE MID-COURSE ADJUSTMENTS TO MAXIMIZE CAMPAIGN SUCCESS. IN OTHER WORDS, WE WILL LET REAL PEOPLE IN OUR TARGET AUDIENCES SHOW US BY THEIR ACTIONS WHAT MAKES A SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN. ALL THIS NEW UNDERSTANDING WILL BE CAPTURED IN RECOMMENDATIONS AND BEST PRACTICES TO BE SHARED THROUGHOUT THE R3 COMMUNITY.

BLACK HUNTERS: RECLAIMING THE TRADITION

ACCORDING TO THE MULTISTATE CONSERVATION GRANT (MSCG) FUNDED DASHBOARD PROJECT, HUNTING LICENSES HAVE DECLINED TOPRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS. THESE DECLINES ARE NATIONAL, BUT PARTICULARLY APPARENT IN THE MIDWEST, WHERE 2021 VS 2022SALES DECLINED 2.5% FOR 11 REPORTING STATES . ANOTHER RECENT MSCG EXAMINING THE AGE-PERIOD-COHORT EFFECT ONLICENSE SALES SHOWED THAT COHORT (GENERATIONAL) EFFECTS WERE THE STRONGEST DRIVERS IN PARTICIPATION. AN ENTIRECOHORT OF HUNTERS (BABY BOOMERS) ARE GETTING OLDER, AND THEY ARE DROPPING OUT WITH DECLINES BECOMING MOREPRECIPITOUS AS THEY AGE. SIMPLY, WE CANT STOP THE AGING PROCESS, BUT THERE ARE REGULATORY TOOLS WE CAN USE TOSLOW THE DECLINE IN PARTICIPATION.WHILE YOUNGER HUNTERS HAVE BEEN A PRIMARY FOCUS FOR RECRUITMENT EFFORTS, TOO LITTLE ATTENTION HAS BEEN PAID TOKEEPING OLDER LICENSED CUSTOMERS ENGAGED AND PARTICIPATING. ONCE A PERSON QUITS, IT IS DIFFICULT TO BRING THEMBACK, REGARDLESS OF THE ACTIVITY. RETENTION, WHETHER IN THE CONSUMER MARKET OR R3 COMMUNITY, IS MUCH EASIER ANDLESS COSTLY THAN CREATING NEW CUSTOMERS. HISTORIC OPPOSITION FROM BOTH STAKEHOLDERS AND AGENCY STAFF TO SOMEREGULATORY TOOLS (E.G., CROSSBOWS FOR DEER, GAME ATTRACTANTS, LONGER SEASONS) HAS PRESENTED HURDLES WHILECHANGES IN ONES SOCIAL AND LIFESTYLE PREFERENCES AFTER MIDDLE-AGE MAY MAKE IT EASIER FOR COMPETING ACTIVITIES TOCAPTURE OUR HUNTERS TIME AND ATTENTION. FOR EXAMPLE, IN THE MIDWEST, THERE ARE AMPLE HUNTING OPPORTUNITIES FORBOTH BIG AND SMALL GAME, AS LICENSES ARE EASILY AVAILABLE, AND BAG LIMITS (PARTICULARLY FOR DEER) OFTEN EXCEEDTHE NUMBER OF ANIMALS A PERSON IS WILLING TO TAKE IN A YEAR. CONSEQUENTLY, WHILE OPPORTUNITIES ARE READILYAVAILABLE, INDIVIDUALS ARE STILL DROPPING OUT. GIVEN THE OVERALL DECLINE IN HUNTER NUMBERS, PARTICULARLY AMONGOLDER HUNTERS, THERE IS A NEED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE LIMITATIONS, MOTIVATIONS, AND PREFERENCES OF OLDERHUNTERS. THIS INFORMATION IS CRITICAL, AND THE KNOWLEDGE GAINED CAN BECOME PART OF STATES RETENTION EFFORTS, TOEXTEND CUSTOMERS YEARS OF PARTICIPATION.THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO RETAIN LICENSED HUNTERS FOR A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME. STATE AGENCIES ARE THEINTENDED BENEFICIARIES. WORK WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED BY FIRST WORKING WITH STATE BIOLOGISTS AND R3 MANAGERS TOIDENTIFY HUNTING STATUTES AND RULES THAT PRESENT BARRIERS OR OPPORTUNITIES FOR OLDER HUNTERS AND RELATED ISSUES.WE WILL THEN CONDUCT QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENTS OF HUNTERS AT LEAST 50 YEARS OLD TO DETERMINEPOTENTIAL SOLUTIONS MANAGEMENT STRATEGY TO FACILITATE THEIR CONTINUED PARTICIPATION. ONCE COMPLETE, WE WILLDISSEMINATE RECOMMENDATIONS AND RESEARCH FINDINGS TO THE R3 COMMUNITY IN READER-FRIENDLY FORMATS. THE OUTCOMEWILL BE GREATER NUMBERS OF PEOPLE HUNTING ANNUALLY.

THE R3 (RECRUIT, RETAIN AND REACTIVATE) COMMUNITY HAS HEAVILY INVESTED IN REVERSING THE DOWNWARD TREND IN HUNTING PARTICIPATION BY EXPANDING ITS SELF LIMITED UNDERSTANDING AND VALUATION OF THE NATION S POPULATIONS OF PROSPECTIVE HUNTERS. A CRITICAL PART OF THIS EXPANSION IS UNDERSTANDING AND ENGAGING THE SO CALLED ADULT ONSET HUNTERS PEOPLE WHO DID NOT GROW UP IN HUNTING FAMILIES BUT WHO HOLD AN INTEREST IN THE ACTIVITY BASED UPON COMPLEX AND DURABLE HUNTING ADJACENT VALUES. AS PART OF PREVIOUS MULTISTATE CONSERVATION GRANTS, THE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE (WMI), DJ CASE AND ASSOCIATES, AND SOUTHWICK ASSOCIATES USED QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH TO INVESTIGATE THIS HIGH PRIORITY AUDIENCE AND CATEGORIZE THEM BY VALUE PERSONAS AND THE LIKELY CUSTOMER JOURNEY FOR EACH. AS A RESULT OF THAT RESEARCH, THE R3 COMMUNITY NOW UNDERSTANDS WHO THIS AUDIENCE IS, WHAT MOTIVATES THEM, AND THE JOURNEY THEY ARE LIKELY TO TAKE TO BECOME NEW HUNTERS. HOWEVER, IN ORDER TO OPERATIONALIZE THESE DATA, IT IS CRITICAL TO DEVELOP, TEST, AND VALIDATE MESSAGING MOST EFFECTIVE AT MOTIVATING THESE MARKET SEGMENTS TO MOVE BEYOND JUST THINKING ABOUT BECOMING HUNTERS AND MODIFY THEIR BEHAVIOR TO BEGIN THEIR HUNTING JOURNEY. THIS PROJECT WILL GENERATE A MARKETING STRATEGY AND TESTED MESSAGING TO EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE WITH THE NEW ADULT AUDIENCE ON HOW TO BEGIN HUNTING.THIS PURPOSE AND INTENT OF THE PROJECT IS TO BUILD UPON PREVIOUS MARKET RESEARCH INTO NEW, PRIORITY AUDIENCES MOST LIKELY TO ADOPT HUNTING AND GENERATE A MARKETING STRATEGY BASED UPON MESSAGE TESTING TO EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE WITH THE NEW ADULT AUDIENCE ON HOW TO BEGIN HUNTING. BY USING MARKETING AD TEMPLATES AND MARKETING STRATEGIES, STATE AGENCIES, NGOS AND OTHER PARTNERS WILL BE ABLE TO USE THE RESULTS TO ACTIVATE MORE NEW ADULT HUNTERS WITH A SMALLER INVESTMENT OF MARKETING EFFORT AND BUDGET.THIS PROJECT WILL GENERATE A MARKETING STRATEGY AND TESTED MESSAGING TO EFFECTIVELY COMMUNICATE WITH NEW, PRIORITY ADULT AUDIENCE ON HOW TO BEGIN AND CONTINUE HUNTING. BY USING MARKETING AD TEMPLATES AND MARKETING STRATEGIES, STATE AGENCIES, NGOS AND OTHER PARTNERS WILL BE ABLE TO USE THE RESULTS TO ACTIVATE MORE NEW ADULT HUNTERS WITH A SMALLER INVESTMENT OF MARKETING EFFORT AND BUDGET.

YOUTUBE HAS BECOME THE GO TO LOCATION FOR LEARNING HOW TO DO NEARLY EVERYTHING. REGARDLESS OF THEIR DEMOGRAPHICS, IF YOU ASK ANY GROUP OF ADULTS WHERE THEY GO TO LEARN A SKILL, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM ANSWER YOUTUBE. ACCORDING TO OMNICORE, A TEAM OF DATA DRIVEN DIGITAL MARKETING EXPERTS 81 OF U.S. ADULTS USE YOUTUBE. 95 OF 18 29 YEAR OLDS IN THE U.S. USE YOUTUBE. 91 OF 30 49 YEAR OLDS IN THE U.S. USE YOUTUBE. 62 OF U.S. YOUTUBE USERS SAY THEY VISIT THE SITE DAILY.YOUTUBE ADVERTISING TOOLS PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TARGET THESE VIEWERS BY AGE, GENDER, LOCATION, AND INTERESTS.WE WILL WORK WITH 4 STATES (ONE FROM EACH AFWA REGION) TO DEVELOP AND DELIVER YOUTUBE ADVERTISEMENTS OFFERING AN OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN ABOUT HUNTING TO ADULT RESIDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN OUTDOOR RECREATION, FOOD, AND SUSTAINABILITY. AS THE ADS RUN, WE WILL STUDY CONVERSION RATES AND MAKE MID COURSE ADJUSTMENTS TO THEM TO MAXIMIZE CAMPAIGN SUCCESS. IN OTHER WORDS, WE WILL LET REAL PEOPLE IN OUR TARGET AUDIENCES SHOW US BY THEIR ACTIONS WHAT MAKES A SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN. ACI GRANTS COMMITTEE WILL SELECT THE 4 STATES THAT WILL BE CHOSEN BASED ON AFWA REGION AND WILLINGNESS TO PARTICIPATE AND ABILITY TO TRACK RESULTS AND TIE REVENUE RETURNED BASED ON THESE ADS.

HURRICANE SANDY; ASSESS ROAD-STREAM CROSSINGS FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCE AND AQUATIC CONNECTIVITY IN THE SANDY-IMPACTED NORTHEAST

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO CREATE A NATIONAL COALITION OF STAFF IN STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES AND OTHER ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS TO SERVE AS EXPERT PRACTITIONERS (COACHES) TO TEACH AND LEARN FROM EACH OTHER TO SUPPORT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE FISH AND WILDLIFE RELEVANCY ROADMAP. THE COACHES WILL BE PROVIDED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FROM WILDLIFE PROFESSIONALS THAT ARE DEEPLY EMBEDDED IN CONSERVATION RELEVANCY WORK AND PROVIDED OPEN SOURCE CUSTOMIZABLE MATERIALS TO HELP THEIR OWN AND OTHER CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS 1) ARTICULATE WHAT RELEVANCY MEANS IN AN ORGANIZATIONS OR STATE S CONTEXT, 2) ASSESS WHY AND TO WHOM A CONSERVATION AGENCY OR ORGANIZATION WANTS TO INCREASE RELEVANCY, AND 3) DEVELOP ACTIONABLE PLANS TO ENGAGE AND SERVE BROADER CONSTITUENCIES TO ENHANCE CONSERVATION.STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES ARE STRUGGLING TO UNDERSTAND AND ADAPT TO THE CHANGING INTERESTS, NEEDS AND CONCERNS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN PUBLIC ABOUT FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION. TO ADDRESS THIS CHALLENGE, THE ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES (AFWA) AND THE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE (WMI) WORKED WITH OVER 60 WILDLIFE PROFESSIONALS TO DEVELOP THE FISH AND WILDLIFE RELEVANCY ROADMAP (HTTPS WWW.FISHWILDLIFE.ORG AFWA INFORMS RESOURCES BLUE RIBBON PANEL RELEVANCY ROADMAP). ADOPTED BY AFWA DIRECTORS IN 2019, THE ROADMAP IS A PRACTICAL GUIDE THAT OFFERS OVER 100 RECOMMENDATIONS STATE AND PROVINCIAL FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES CAN USE TO OVERCOME BARRIERS TO BROADER RELEVANCE, IMPROVE PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT AND SUPPORT, AND ENHANCE CONSERVATION OUTCOMES. AFTER WORKING WITH 14 STATE AGENCIES THAT ARE EXPERIMENTING WITH IMPLEMENTING THE ROADMAP RECOMMENDATIONS, OUR PROJECT TEAM HAS IDENTIFIED SEVERAL KEY COMPETENCIES THAT ARE CRITICAL TO EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ROADMAP. THESE COMPETENCIES ARE MISSING OR INSUFFICIENTLY DEVELOPED IN MANY STATE AGENCIES.OBJECTIVE 1 TITLE UPDATE EXISTING RELEVANCY RELATED TRAINING MATERIALS.OBJECTIVE 2 TITLE PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO UP TO 75 PEOPLE (REPRESENTING EACH AFWA REGION) TO IMPROVE COMPETENCIES TO IMPLEMENT THE RELEVANCY ROADMAP BY DECEMBER 31ST, 2023.THE ULTIMATE OUTCOME OF THIS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE RELEVANCY COACHES COALITION A COHORT OF STAFF EMBEDDED IN STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES AND OTHER AFWA MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS THAT HAVE THE FOUNDATIONAL COMPETENCIES THAT ARE NEEDED TO SUPPORT AND IMPLEMENT THE RELEVANCY ROADMAP. THESE COACHES WILL BECOME THE CONVENERS OF INTERNAL DISCUSSIONS ABOUT RELEVANCY AND WILL FACILITATE IMPLEMENTATION OF RELEVANCY RELATED PROJECTS. AS RELEVANCY AMBASSADORS THEY WILL HELP CREATE THE NECESSARY TIME FOR REFLECTION, DIAGNOSIS, PLANNING AND PRIORITIZATION TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS, INTERESTS AND CONCERNS OF CURRENT AND FUTURE STAKEHOLDERS. THEY WILL HAVE DEVELOPED FOUNDATIONAL COMPETENCIES THAT ALLOW AGENCIES TO BETTER ADAPT TO CHANGING SOCIETAL AND ECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS. THEY WILL HAVE ACCESS TO CONTEMPORARY MATERIALS AND EXPERTISE THAT SUPPORT RELEVANCY RELATED PROJECTS. THEY WILL HAVE THE SKILLS TO AMPLIFY AND ACCELERATE EXPERIMENTATION AND ADOPTION OF NEW APPROACHES TO ENGAGE CURRENT AND BROADER CONSTITUENCIES. THE RELEVANCY COACHES WILL FUNCTION AS COMMUNICATION HUBS WITHIN THEIR ORGANIZATION AND CAN SUPPORT RELEVANCY EFFORTS IN NEARBY STATES BY OFFERING COLLABORATIVE IN KIND SERVICES. WMI STAFF WILL COORDINATE AND MANAGE THE RELEVANCY COACHES COALITION.

BY 2020, APPROXIMATELY 11 OF AMERICANS 16 AND OLDER WENT TARGET SHOOTING ANNUALLY, BUT ONLY 9 OF YOUTH FROM 9 TO 15 YEARS PARTICIPATED. SIMILARLY, 61 OF HUNTERS HAD STARTED BY THE AGE OF 17. RECOGNIZING MOST ADULTS ADOPT THEIR PREFERRED RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN THEIR YOUTH, THE FUTURE OF TARGET SHOOTING AND ITS CORRELATED CONSERVATION FUNDING MANDATES THAT YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE SAFE OPPORTUNITIES TO TRY THE SPORT. HOWEVER, CONSIDERING A MAJORITY OF YOUTH LIVE IN URBAN AND SUBURBAN AREAS, WITH MOST IN NON-SHOOTING OR NON-HUNTING HOUSEHOLDS, THE OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUTH TO TRY TARGET SHOOTING IS LIMITED. IT IS PARAMOUNT WE BRING SHOOTING EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES TO YOUTH WHERE THEY LIVE RATHER THAN EXPECT THEM TO FIND US. TO REACH YOUTHS WHERE THEY LIVE, THE STUDENT AIR RIFLE PROGRAM (SAR) WAS CREATED. MODELED AFTER THE NATIONAL ARCHERY IN THE SCHOOLS PROGRAM (NASP) AND WITH THEIR HELP, SAR WORKS WITH STATE WILDLIFE AGENCIES TO PROVIDE YOUNG PEOPLE WITH A SAFE INTRODUCTION TO FIREARMS. SAR EMPLOYS A TEACH THE TEACHER APPROACH. ONCE TRAINED, SARS INSTRUCTORS INITIATE SAFE AND FUN AIR RIFLE PROGRAMS AS PART OF SCHOOLS PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS USING SARS EDUCATION MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT RESOURCES. SAR CONTINUES TO EXPAND INTO PARKS AND OTHER RECREATION PROGRAMS, SCOUTING PROGRAMS, AND SIMILAR. THE PROGRAM IS FUNDED BY SPONSORS, PARTNERS, EQUIPMENT SALES, AND TOURNAMENT PARTICIPATION. FOCUSED ON YOUTH IN GRADES 4 THROUGH 12 AND LAUNCHED IN 2014, SAR NOW HAS NEARLY 500 TRAINED BASIC AIR RIFLERY INSTRUCTORS IN EIGHT STATES WHO HAVE SERVED OVER 18,000 YOUTH, WITH ANNUAL PARTICIPATION GROWING RAPIDLY. WE CURRENTLY HAVE FORMAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE WILDLIFE AGENCIES IN KS, PA AND TX WITH TN SCHEDULED TO COME ON BOARD IN 2023. WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ASSOCIATION FOR CONSERVATION INFORMATION (ACI), THE GOAL IS TO EXPAND SAR INTO MANY MORE STATES, WITH THE SUPPORT AND INPUT FROM STATE WILDLIFE AGENCIES. HOWEVER, EXPANSION WILL BE DIFFICULT UNTIL STATES AND POTENTIAL PARTNERS KNOW KEY POINTS ABOUT SAR SUCH AS THE CONVERSION RATES (STUDENTS BECOMING INDEPENDENT TARGET SHOOTERS), THE SALES OF TAXABLE PRODUCT GENERATED BY STUDENTS, IF STUDENTS LATER INTRODUCE OTHERS TO THE SHOOTING SPORTS, IF PARTICIPATION ACTUALLY OR POTENTIALLY LEADS TO AN INTEREST IN HUNTING, AND MORE. ONCE THESE RESEARCH TASKS ARE COMPLETED THROUGH INTERVIEWS AND SURVEYS OF STUDENTS, VOLUNTEERS AND STATE AGENCIES, FOUR STATES WILL BE ENGAGED TO LAUNCH NEW SAR PROGRAMS IN PART USING THE RESEARCH RESULTS TO EVALUATE EFFECTIVENESS. THESE STATES WILL SERVE AS MODELS FOR OTHER STATES TO CONSIDER. THE ULTIMATE RESULTS WILL BE INCREASED NUMBER OF YOUTH TARGET SHOOTING PARTICIPANTS VIA SCHOOL-BASED PROGRAMS.

THIS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES (SFWAS) WITH A RELIABLE, REPLICABLE, AND FIELD-TESTED METHODOLOGY FOR INITIATING NEW PARTNERSHIPS THAT INCREASE THEIR CAPACITY TO EFFECTIVELY DELIVER HUNTING, ANGLING, AND SHOOTING SPORTS RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, AND REACTIVATION (R3) EFFORTS. THE NEED FOR EFFECTIVE METHODS OF FINDING AND PARTNERING WITH NEW, R3-VESTED GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS HAS ONLY INCREASED IN RELEVANCE WITHIN THE PROFESSIONAL R3 COMMUNITY IN RECENT YEARS AS NUMEROUS RESEARCH EFFORTS AND R3 COMMITTEE REPORTS HAVE DOCUMENTED THE FAILURE POINTS OF EXISTING PARTNERSHIP MODELS. THESE SHORTCOMINGS HAVE PROVIDED NEW INSIGHTS INTO HOW AND WHY SFWAS STRUGGLE TO SECURE AND MAINTAIN THE PARTNER RELATIONSHIPS THEY RELY ON TO DELIVER SIGNIFICANT PORTIONS OF R3 STRATEGIES AND OBJECTIVES. AS NOTED BY MULTIPLE RESEARCH EFFORTS LED BY THE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE (WMI) AND PARTNER SFWAS, THE MOST SUCCESSFUL SFWA PARTNERSHIP-BUILDING EFFORTS HAVE BEEN THOSE THAT, WHETHER BY DESIGN OR NOT, IDENTIFIED AND EMPOWERED AT LEAST ONE EXISTING STAFF MEMBER TO PLAY KEY ROLES IN CONNECTING AGENCIES WITH NEW PARTNER GROUPS. THESE STAFF MEMBERS BRING CRUCIAL SKILLS, INSIGHTS, AND ENTHUSIASM TO THE PARTNERSHIP-BUILDING PROCESS IN ADDITION, THEY ALSO HAVE PRE-EXISTING CONNECTIONS, EITHER WITH THE SPECIFIC NEW PARTNER GROUP OR WITH THE GROUP TYPE (E.G., WITH VALUES OR PERSPECTIVES THAT DIFFER FROM THOSE THAT PREDOMINATE IN THE AGENCY). BASED ON THESE OBSERVED PATTERNS, WMI HAS DEVELOPED A PROVISIONAL PARTNERSHIP-BUILDING MODEL THAT WILL, OVER THE COURSE OF THIS PROJECT, BE SUBJECTED TO REAL-WORLD EXPERIMENTAL TESTING. IN THIS INTENSIVE APPLIED RESEARCH EFFORT, WMI AND DJ CASE ASSOCIATES (DJ CASE) WILL COLLABORATE WITH AT LEAST ONE AGENCY FROM EACH OF THE FOUR SFWA REGIONAL ASSOCIATIONS IN DESIGNING, IMPLEMENTING, AND EVALUATING AGENCY-SPECIFIC STRATEGIES FOCUSED ON ESTABLISHING, IN EACH STATE, AT LEAST ONE NEW PARTNERSHIP THAT CAN EFFECTIVELY CONTRIBUTE TO R3 OUTCOMES. THE TEAM WILL USE THE RESULTS OF RIGOROUS EVALUATION METHODOLOGY TO REFINE THE PARTNERSHIP-BUILDING MODEL, THEN SYNTHESIZE AND PACKAGE TACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USE BY R3 STAFF AND PRACTITIONERS. ANTICIPATED PROJECT OUTCOMES INCLUDE ENHANCED STAFF CAPACITY FOR BUILDING LASTING R3 PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS A RANGE OF VALUES AND PERSPECTIVES INCREASED CONFIDENCE OF SFWA LEADERSHIP THAT THEIR AGENCY HAS THE TOOLS IT NEEDS TO BUILD EFFECTIVE R3 PARTNERSHIPS AN INCREASE IN HUNTERS, ANGLERS, AND SHOOTING SPORTS PARTICIPANTS WITH A WIDER RANGE OF VALUES AND PERSPECTIVES NEW AGENCY RELATIONSHIPS WITH ACTIVE PARTNERS WILLING TO ENGAGE IN R3 AND OTHER CONSERVATION-SUPPORTIVE BEHAVIORS INCREASED AGENCY CREDIBILITY INAND INCREASED FUTURE SUPPORT FOR AGENCY-RECOMMENDED POLICY AND PRACTICE MEASURES FROMBROADER SEGMENTS OF THE PUBLIC WITH BROADER VALUES AND PERSPECTIVES. PROJECT DELIVERABLES WILL INCLUDE TESTED TACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS PRESENTED AS A PRACTICAL, ACCESSIBLE PARTNER ENGAGEMENT MANUAL THAT CAN BE USED BY STAFF AT ANY LEVEL WITHIN AN AGENCY, DESCRIPTIONS OF PROCESSES USED DURING THE PROJECT, LINKS TO RESOURCES USED DURING THE PROJECT, AND AN EVALUATION OF PROJECT OUTPUTS AND OUTCOMES. ADDITIONAL DELIVERABLES WILL INCLUDE DURABLE R3-FOCUSED PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE FOUR OR MORE PARTICIPATING SFWAS, AND REAL-WORLD VALIDATION OF THE PROJECT PARTNERSHIP MODEL FOR ALL SFWAS IN NEED OF A RELIABLE METHODOLOGY FOR DEVELOPING NEW PARTNERSHIPS.

VERMONT WETLAND RESTORATION PROJECT - WMI