Association Of Fish And Wildlife Agencies

INTERMOUNTAIN WEST JOINT VENTURE STAFF 2021

PURPOSE: THIS PROJECT WILL MAINTAIN THE ESTABLISHED SARS-COV-2 SURVEILLANCE NORTH AMERICAN CERVID POPULATIONS STARTED BY APHIS WS. THIS PROJECT WILL MAINTAIN THE CURRENT TRAJECTORY AND CONTINUES VITAL RESEARCH AIMED AT BETTER UNDERSTANDING HOW THE SCV-2 VIRUS BEHAVES IN VARIOUS ANIMALS, HOW IT MOVES BETWEEN HUMANS AND ANIMALS, AND WHAT WE AND OUR PUBLIC HEALTH PARTNERS CAN DO TO INTERRUPT THE CHAINS OF TRANSMISSION. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: 1) COORDINATE SAMPLE COLLECTION AND SHIPPING TO APHIS; 2) CONDUCT OUTREACH TO WAFWA MEMBER STATES; 3) CONDUCT OUTREACH TO ALL ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES (AFWA) AND SUBGROUP MEMBER STATES; 4) PROCURE, DISTRIBUTE, AND COORDINATE SAMPLING SUPPLIES TO PARTICIPANTS; 5) COLLABORATE ON ANY MANUSCRIPTS RESULTING FROM THIS COLLABORATION AND RETAIN AUTHORSHIP(S) ON ALL PUBLISHED MANUSCRIPTS; 6) REVIEW ALL REPORTS RESULTING FROM THE COLLABORATION WITHIN 30 DAYS OF RECEIPT. ALL DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS WILL BE SENT TO APHIS. THESE RESULTS WILL BE SHARED WITH PARTICIPATING AGENCIES WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE. THIS IS A POPULATION LEVEL SARS-COV-2 SURVEILLANCE EFFORT TARGETING WHITE-TAILED DEER, MULE DEER AND OTHER CERVIDS. RESULTS FROM STATEWIDE SAMPLING WILL BE PROVIDED TO THE COOPERATING STATE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AGENCY AS THE DATA BECOMES AVAILABLE. WS ENCOURAGES THE COOPERATOR TO WORK JOINTLY WITH APHIS LEGISLATIVE AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS TO PUBLISH OR OTHERWISE MAKE PUBLICLY AVAILABLE THE RESULTS OF THE WORK PERFORMED UNDER THIS AGREEMENT. TEST RESULTS FOR INDIVIDUAL DEER WILL NOT BE MADE PUBLIC. POSITIVE RESULTS WILL BE SHARED WITH THE STATE WILDLIFE AGENCIES PRIOR TO SHARING WITH OTHER STAKEHOLDERS AND THE PUBLIC. EXPECTED OUTCOMES: THE COOPERATOR WILL WORK TOGETHER WITH THE APHIS PROGRAM MANAGER TO COORDINATE COLLECTION OF SARS-COV-2 SAMPLES FROM NORTH AMERICAN CERVID SPECIES BY PARTNERING WITH STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES. TO DATE, THE FIRST YEAR OF WHITE-TAILED DEER SURVEILLANCE, 3 APHIS-LED MANUSCRIPTS ARE CURRENTLY INTHE PEER-REVIEW PROCESS, AND APHIS IS CO-AUTHOR ON AN ADDITIONAL MANUSCRIPT CURRENTLY IN REVIEW. AT LEAST ONE PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATION IS LIKELY TO BE PRODUCED FROM THIS WORK. PRINCIPAL AUTHORSHIP WILL BE RETAINED BY THE COOPERATOR AND CO-AUTHORSHIP WILL BE OFFERED TO THE ASSOCIATED APHIS COLLABORATORS. THE COOPERATOR WILL COORDINATE WITH APHIS TO ENSURE THAT THE TARGET NUMBERS OF SAMPLES FROM HUNTER-HARVEST WHITE-TAILED DEER, MULE DEER AND OTHER CERVIDS ARE COLLECTED TO MEET THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: ALL FUNDS WILL BE USED TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE SARS-COV-2 IN WILD NORTH AMERICAN CERVID SPECIES. THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH WAFWA FOR CONTINUED SURVEILLANCE OF SARS-COV-2 IN CERVIDS WILL BENEFIT WILDLIFE MANAGERS AND RESEARCHERS, THE HEALTH OF WILDLIFE POPULATIONS, AND POTENTIALLY, HUMAN HEALTH AND SAFETY ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES: THE RECIPIENT INTENDS TO SUBAWARD FUNDS TO WAFWA MEMBER STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF THE OTHER AFWA SUBGROUPS (MAFWA, SEAFWA, NEAFWA). WAFWA WILL SUBAWARD FUNDS TO PARTICIPANTS TO COLLECT SARS-COV-2 SAMPLES FROM WHITE-TAILED DEER, MULE DEER, AND OTHER CERVIDS FROM HUNTER-HARVESTED ANIMALS, AND ANIMALS HANDLED VIA OTHER MANAGEMENT ACTIONS.

INTERMOUNTAIN WEST JOINT VENTURE (IWJV) STAFF

MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE TEAM - 2013

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT OF WILDLIFE AND WILDLIFE HABITATS

USGS/AFWA SCIENCE AND RESEARCH SUPPORT, DATED 9/14/2021

THIS ACTION PROVIDES FUNDING IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,000,000 FOR SOUTHEASTERN ASSOCIATION OF FISH & WILDLIFE AGENCIES TO IMPLEMENT AGRICULTURAL BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN CRITICAL HABITAT AREAS TO PROTECT ECOSYSTEM FUNCTION ALONG THE CHIPOLA RIVER, IN THE APALACHICOLA-CHATTAHOOCHEE-FLINT RIVER BASIN. THE PROJECT WILL PROTECT AND RESTORE CRITICAL HABITAT, PROVIDE CLEAN AND SAFE WATER, AND ENHANCE ENVIRONMENTAL FUNCTION OF THE WATERSHED AND AQUATIC RESOURCES FOR LISTED SPECIES AND PUBLIC USE.

FISH AND WILDLIFE COOPERATIVE EFFORTS

UNDERSTANDING TRENDS IN PUBLIC VALUES TOWARD WILDLIFE

COLLABORATIVE RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT OF WILDLIFE AND WILDLIFE HABITATS

IN NORTH AMERICA, BIRD, BAT, AND INSECT POPULATIONS ARE ALL AT RISK OF SEVERE POPULATION DECLINES OR EXTINCTIONWITHOUT SIGNIFICANT CONSERVATION ACTION. OUR ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT CONSERVATION ACTIONS IS LIMITED BY INSUFFICIENTINFORMATION ON BASIC NATURAL HISTORY FOR MANY SPECIES SUCH AS MIGRATORY PATHWAYS AND HABITAT USED ACROSS LIFECYCLES. THE MOTUS WILDLIFE TRACKING SYSTEM IS A NETWORK OF AUTOMATED RADIO TELEMETRY RECEIVING STATIONS THATDETECTS TRANSMITTERS IN A STANDARDIZED FORMAT AND IS ACCESSIBLE COLLABORATIVELY TO RESEARCHERS. THIS NETWORKENABLES RESEARCHERS TO TRACK LARGE AND SMALL-BODIED, HIGHLY MOBILE ANIMALS REGIONALLY OR CONTINENTALLY TO OBTAINIMPORTANT DATA NEEDED TO PROTECT SPECIES OF GREATEST CONSERVATION NEED (SGCN) AND THEIR HABITATS. THIS PROJECTPROPOSES TO EXPAND THE MOTUS NETWORK IN THE PACIFIC AND INTERMOUNTAIN WESTERN UNITED STATES BY INSTALLING 30 NEWSTATIONS AND RETROFITTING 50 EXISTING STATIONS WITH NEW RECEIVERS THAT ENABLES DETECTIONS OF MULTIPLE TRANSMITTERFREQUENCIES. IN ADDITION, WE WILL USE THE EXPANDING MOTUS NETWORK TO UNDERSTAND THE MIGRATORY AND MOVEMENTPATHWAYS FOR FOUR SGCN, THE MONARCH BUTTERFLY (DANAUS PLEXIPPUS), HOARY BAT (LASIURUS CINEREUS), SILVER-HAIREDBAT (LASIONYCTERIS NOCTIVAGANS), AND WESTERN PURPLE MARTIN (PROGONE SUBIS ARBORICOLA). UNDERSTANDING MIGRATORYPATTERNS AND HABITAT USE WILL SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVE THE POPULATION STATUS OF THESE RARE AND OR DECLINING SGCN ANDPROVIDE SECONDARY BENEFIT TO ADDITIONAL SGCN THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THESE HABITATS AND PATHWAYS IN PACIFIC ANDINTERMOUNTAIN REGIONS. WE EXPECT TO ELUCIDATE FULL LIFE CYCLE BEHAVIORS AND IMPORTANT HABITAT USED BY THESE SGCNUSING THIS EXPANDING MOTUS NETWORK. THIS WILL PROVIDE CRITICAL INFORMATION NEEDED TO INFORM CONSERVATION ANDADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT OF POPULATIONS AND HABITATS, SUCH AS HABITAT RESTORATION AND OR PROTECTION THAT REDUCESTHREATS EFFECTING THESE SGCN AND THAT AIMS TO BUILD CLIMATE RESILIENCY.

SARP MARINE HABITAT RESTORATION

PROJECT TITLE ADVANCING STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE CLIMATE ADAPTATION THROUGH STATE AGENCY AND CLIMATE ADAPTATION SCIENCE CENTER (CASC) COORDINATIONPROJECT DATES 5 17 2023 THROUGH 5 16 2026AWARD PURPOSE FISH AND WILDLIFE PROVIDE MANY IMPORTANT ECOSYSTEM AND CULTURAL SERVICES THAT SUPPORT PEOPLE, COMMUNITIES, AND ECONOMIES ACROSS THE NATION. MANY OBSERVED CHANGES IN THE GLOBAL CLIMATE ARE ALREADY IMPACTING THE NATIONS VALUABLE NATURAL RESOURCES. THESE IMPACTS ARE EXPECTED TO INCREASE WITH CONTINUED CHANGES IN THE CLIMATE SYSTEM, PUTTING OUR NATIONS FISH AND WILDLIFE AT RISK. STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES ARE AT THE FOREFRONT OF ADDRESSING THESE RISKS BUT WOULD GREATLY BENEFIT FROM LEVERAGING THE EXPERTISE AND RESOURCES OF THE ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES (AFWA) AND FEDERAL PARTNERS. THIS PROJECT WILL IDENTIFY AND MEET SPECIFIC NEEDS OF THE NATIONS STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES AS THEY ADDRESS CLIMATE IMPACTS ON NATURAL RESOURCES. THIS PROJECT WILL HELP TO IDENTIFY WHAT ADAPTATION STRATEGIES ARE WORKING BEST AND WHAT GAPS IN KNOWLEDGE STILL REMAIN. SPECIFICALLY, THIS PROJECT WILL 1) PROMOTE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL FISH, WILDLIFE, AND PLANT CLIMATE ADAPTATION STRATEGY TO INCREASE CLIMATE ADAPTATION IN FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT 2) IDENTIFY BARRIERS TO CLIMATE ADAPTION IDENTIFIED BY STATES AND THE SCIENCE NEEDED TO OVERCOME THOSE BARRIERS 3) COORDINATE WITH NATIONAL AND REGIONAL CASCS TO IDENTIFY SCIENCE NEEDS AND SHARE AND IMPLEMENT CASC SCIENCE.ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED EXPAND AND PROMOTE THE NATIONAL FISH, WILDLIFE, AND PLANTS CLIMATE ADAPTATION NETWORK. UPDATE THE NATIONAL FISH, WILDLIFE, AND PLANT CLIMATE ADAPTATION STRATEGY AND PROMOTE AND TRACK ITS IMPLEMENTATION. CONDUCT SURVEY WITH STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES TO UNDERSTAND THEIR PERSPECTIVES AND CAPACITY FOR ADAPTATION, SCIENCE NEEDS AND GAPS, AND ON THE GROUND ADAPTATION EFFORTS. CONNECT STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES WITH REGIONAL CASCS AND HOLD WORKSHOPS TO SHARE CASC SCIENCE AND RESEARCH PRODUCTS AND IDENTIFY EXISTING BARRIERS AND SCIENCE NEEDS OF STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES. DELIVERABLES AND EXPECTED OUTCOMES DELIVERABLES 1. REVISED NATIONAL FISH, WILDLIFE, AND PLANT CLIMATE ADAPTATION STRATEGY 2. EXPANDED NATIONAL FISH, WILDLIFE, AND PLANT CLIMATE ADAPTATION NETWORK 3. WEBINAR SERIES HIGHLIGHTING RESEARCH, DECISION SUPPORT TOOLS, CASE STUDIES OF IMPLEMENTATION. 4. 2024 STATE CLIMATE ADAPTATION SURVEY REPORT 5. NINE WORKSHOPS, SYMPOSIA, MEETINGS WITH REGIONAL CASCS AND STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES.OUTCOMES 1. USGS CASCS WILL BE BETTER EQUIPPED TO UNDERSTAND AND ADDRESS THE NEEDS, PRIORITIES, AND KNOWLEDGE GAPS THAT REMAIN FOR STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES TO ADAPT TO CLIMATE CHANGE. 2. STATE AGENCY RESOURCE MANAGERS WILL INCREASE THEIR EFFECTIVENESS IN MEETING THE CHALLENGES OF SAFEGUARDING THE NATIONS FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES IN A CHANGING CLIMATE. INTENDED BENEFICIARY(IES) THE PROJECT WILL RESULT IN A VARIETY OF MUCH NEEDED PRODUCTS AND RESULTS THAT WILL BE USEFUL FOR BOTH CASCS AS WELL AS STATE AGENCIES AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IMPLEMENTING CLIMATE ADAPTATION.BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES, NATIONAL FISH, WILDLIFE, AND PLANT CLIMATE ADAPTATION NETWORK, AFWA CLIMATE ADAPTATION COMMITTEE, DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR USGS CLIMATE ADAPTATION SCIENCE CENTERS, RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PARTNERS AND STAKEHOLDERS, AND THE PUBLICSUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES N A

INCREASING CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT CAPACITY THROUGH SKILLS, LEADERSHIP, AND KNOWLEDGE DEVELOPMENT

SOUTHEAST AQUATIC RESOURCES PARTNERSHIP MARINE HABITAT CONSERVATION

SUSTAINABLE AND EFFECTIVE CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT OF OUR WILDLIFE AND NATURAL RESOURCES RELIES ONTHE CREATIVITY AND INNOVATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE STAFF IN FEDERAL, STATE, NON PROFIT, TRIBAL, ANDINDUSTRY ORGANIZATIONS. THESE STAFF MUST BE EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH THE INTRICATE AND COMPLEXPROBLEMS THAT CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS FACE EVERY DAY. HOWEVER, HIGH RETIREMENT RATES ANDSTRUGGLES WITH RECRUITMENT WITHIN THESE AGENCIES CONTINUES TO IMPACT AND PUT CONSERVATION GAINS ATRISK. DATA REVEAL THE TENURE OF A STATE DIRECTOR IS AN AVERAGE OF THREE YEARS. THIS STAGGERING LOSSOF LEADERSHIP, COUPLED WITH THE CHALLENGES FACING STATE AGENCIES TO REMAIN RELEVANT, ADAPT TOCHANGING LANDSCAPES AND CONSTITUENCIES, AND SECURE STABLE SOURCES OF FUNDING, REQUIRES CONSISTENTLEADERSHIP AT ALL LEVELS WITHIN AN AGENCY. EMPOWERING AGENCY STAFF WITH THE SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, ANDEFFICACY TO MANAGE PROJECTS WITH DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS, ACROSS GEOGRAPHIC RANGES, AND WITHIN THEIROWN AGENCIES IS ESSENTIAL TO WELL MANAGED AND THRIVING ORGANIZATION.OFFERING LEADERSHIP PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR STAFF AT ALL LEVELS WITHIN CONSERVATION AGENCIESAND ORGANIZATIONS IS CRITICAL TO MOVING THE NEEDLE ON THESE COMPLEX ISSUES. THE MANAGEMENTASSISTANCE TEAM AND THE NATIONAL CONSERVATION LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE OFFER A MULTITUDE OF COURSES ANDTRAININGS VIRTUALLY AND IN PERSON TO MEET THOSE NEEDS. FROM ONLINE SYNCHRONOUS COURSES,MULTI DAY WEBINARS, AND ASYNCHRONOUS OPTIONS TO LONG TERM, IN DEPTH, AND COMPREHENSIVE LEADERSHIPTRAINING, THE MAT AND NCLI CONTRACT WITH TOP NOTCH PROFESSIONALS TO DELIVER HIGH QUALITY TRAINING.WE VE REACHED THOUSANDS OF STATE AGENCY PERSONNEL, EMPOWERING THEM TO MAKE LASTING CHANGES WITHIN THEIR ORGANIZATIONS.

THE PUBLIC HAS COME TO RELY ON EFFECTIVE, COST-EFFICIENT, AND TRUSTWORTHY MANAGEMENT OF OUR NATURAL RESOURCES FROM OUR STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AGENCIES. THE MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE TEAM (MAT) AT THE ASSOCIATION OF FISH WILDLIFE AGENCIES (AFWA) GOES BEYOND THE SCIENCE OF MANAGING SPECIES WE TAKE AGENCY STAFF TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE. INCREASINGLY, WE SEE THAT CONSERVATION PROFESSIONALS MUST BE EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH THE INTRICATE AND COMPLEX NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ISSUES THAT CROSS STATE AND NATIONAL BOUNDARIES. HOWEVER, RECRUITING AND RETAINING TALENTED POOLS OF EMPLOYEES CONTINUES TO IMPACT AND PUT CONSERVATION GAINS AT RISK. DATA REVEAL THE TENURE OF A STATE DIRECTOR IS AN AVERAGE OF THREE YEARS. THIS STAGGERING LOSS OF LEADERSHIP, COUPLED WITH THE CHALLENGES FACING STATE AGENCIES TO REMAIN RELEVANT, ADAPT TO CHANGING LANDSCAPES AND CONSTITUENCIES, AND SECURE STABLE FUNDING SOURCES, REQUIRES CONSISTENT LEADERSHIP AT ALL LEVELS WITHIN AN AGENCY. EMPOWERING AGENCY STAFF WITH THE SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND EFFICACY TO MANAGE PROJECTS WITH DIVERSE STAKEHOLDERS ACROSS GEOGRAPHIC RANGES AND WITHIN THEIR OWN AGENCIES IS ESSENTIAL TO A WELL-MANAGED AND THRIVING ORGANIZATION.THE MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE TEAM OFFERS IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO PEOPLE AT ALL STAGES OF THEIR CAREERS, ALL AT A REASONABLE COST. FROM ONLINE SYNCHRONOUS COURSES, MULTI-DAY WEBINARS, AND ASYNCHRONOUS OPTIONS TO LONG-TERM, IN-DEPTH, AND COMPREHENSIVE LEADERSHIP TRAINING, THE MAT AND THE NATIONAL CONSERVATION LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE (NCLI) CONTRACT WITH LEADERS IN THE FIELD TO DELIVER HIGH-QUALITY TRAINING. WE VE REACHED THOUSANDS OF STATE AGENCY PERSONNEL, EMPOWERING THEM TO MAKE LASTING ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES.

THE ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES (AFWA) MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE TEAM (MAT) PROPOSES A NATIONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE TO STRENGTHEN THE LEADERSHIP AND CAPACITY OF STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES. THE PROJECT WILL DELIVER HIGH-QUALITY TRAINING, CONSULTING AND RESOURCES TO ENHANCE STAFF EFFECTIVENESS, IMPROVE RETENTION, AND SUPPORT CONSERVATION PROGRAMS FUNDED THROUGH THE WILDLIFE RESTORATION AND SPORT FISH RESTORATION ACTS. THIS INITIATIVE ADDRESSES A CRITICAL NEED: STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES ARE FACING RAPID CHANGES IN WORKFORCE SKILLS REQUIREMENTS, LOSS OF INSTITUTIONAL KNOWLEDGE, AND INCREASING CONSERVATION CHALLENGES. ACCORDING TO A JANUARY 2025 REPORT FROM THE WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM: OVERALL, EMPLOYERS EXPECT 39% OF WORKERS CORE SKILLS TO CHANGE BY 2030. STATE AGENCY STAFF HAVE ALSO NOTED THE LACK OF COORDINATED, CROSS-AGENCY TRAINING EFFORTS, RESULTING IN MISSED OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLABORATION AND EFFICIENCY. AFWAS MAT IS A TRUSTED PROVIDER OF LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO STATE AGENCIES AND IS UNIQUELY EQUIPPED TO ADDRESS THIS NEED. WITH DECADES OF EXPERIENCE AND DEEP CONNECTIONS TO STATES, MAT IS POSITIONED TO SCALE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY, COST-EFFECTIVE TRAINING AND BUILD STRONGER CROSS-AGENCY COLLABORATION. WITH SUPPORT FROM THE MULTISTATE CONSERVATION GRANT PROGRAM (MSCGP), THIS PROJECT WILL SCALE UP DELIVERY AND COORDINATION OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES NATIONWIDE. THIS PROJECT WILL SUPPORT TWO PRIMARY OBJECTIVES: (1) DELIVER AT LEAST 800 TRAINING ENGAGEMENTS THROUGH ONLINE COURSES, LIVE WEBINARS, IN-PERSON WORKSHOPS AND ON-DEMAND TRAININGS AND (2) DEVELOP A DYNAMIC TRAINING AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT RESOURCE GUIDE AND DIRECTORY TO SHARE BEST PRACTICES, BUILD COMMUNITY AMONG TRAINING LEADS AND PROMOTE CROSS-AGENCIES LEARNING. MAT WILL EXPAND ACCESS TO ITS COURSES AND WEBINARS, WHILE MAINTAINING HIGH STANDARDS OF INSTRUCTIONAL QUALITY AND PARTICIPANT ENGAGEMENT. THE TEAM WILL TRACK PARTICIPATION AND OUTCOMES TO ENSURE BROAD REACH ACROSS AGENCIES. BY INVESTING IN THE PEOPLE BEHIND CONSERVATION, THIS PROJECT DIRECTLY SUPPORTS AFWA S MSCGP STRATEGIC PRIORITIES TO ENHANCE WORKFORCE EFFECTIVENESS AND PROGRAM OUTCOMES. THE BENEFITS WILL EXTEND WELL BEYOND THE GRANT PERIOD, AS TRAINING RESOURCES REMAIN AVAILABLE, AND THE TRAINING LEADS NETWORK CONTINUES TO DRIVE COLLABORATION AND SHARED GROWTH NATIONWIDE.

STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCY COORDINATION AND ADMINISTRATION

THE YY MALE CONSORTIUM CONSORTIUM IS AN INITIATIVE SPONSORED BY THE WESTERN ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFEAGENCIES WAFWA TO DEVELOP NEW APPROACHES FOR ERADICATING INVASIVE FISH SPECIES FOR THE BENEFIT OF SPORTFISHING AND NATIVE FISH CONSERVATION. WAFWA REPRESENTS 24 STATES AND CANADIAN PROVINCES COVERING NEARLY 3.7 MILLION SQUARE MILES OF SOME OF NORTH AMERICAS MOST WILD AND SCENIC COUNTRY INHABITED BY OVER 1500 PREMIER WILDLIFE SPECIES. SINCE 1922 WAFWAS GOAL HAS BEEN TO SUPPORT SOUND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT AND BUILD PARTNERSHIPS AT ALL LEVELS TO CONSERVE WILDLIFE FOR THE USE AND BENEFIT OF ALL CITIZENS NOW AND IN THE FUTURE. OUR MISSION IS TO ADVANCE COLLABORATIVE PROACTIVE SCIENCEBASED FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT ACROSS THE WEST.ANNUALLY FISH MANAGERS SPEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ATTEMPTING TO ERADICATE INVASIVE FISH SPECIES THROUGH CHEMICALAND MECHANICAL REMOVAL WITH FEW DOCUMENTED CASES OF SUCCESS. IN ADDITION WITH NEW INTRODUCTIONS OF INVASIVEFISH MANAGERS HAVE FEW TOOLS TO STOP AN INTRODUCTION BEFORE THE INVASIVE FISH GETS ESTABLISHED. THE CONSORTIUMSWORK IS BASED ON THE FOLLOWING APPROACH. MALE FISH TYPICALLY HAVE AN X AND A Y CHROMOSOME BUT IN THE HATCHERYSCIENTISTS HAVE DEVELOPED GENETICALLY ALL YY MALE BROODSTOCKS CAPABLE OF PRODUCING LARGE NUMBERS OF YY MALE FISH FOR USE IN COMBATING INVASIVE FISH. THE BASIC APPROACH IS SIMPLE. FOR ERADICATION EFFORTS YOU REMOVE 2550% OF THE TARGET INVASIVE FISH SPECIES ANNUALLY AND THEN STOCK AN EQUIVALENT NUMBER OF YY MALES TO REPLACE THE FISHTHAT ARE REMOVED. THE YY MALES BREED WITH WILD FEMALES AND PRODUCE ONLY MALE OFFSPRING. OVER TIME THE INVASIVE POPULATION BECOME ALL MALES. WHEN THIS OCCURS YOU CONTINUE STOCKING YY MALES UNTIL THE INVASIVE POPULATION DIES OUT IN A MATTER OF YEARS DEPENDING ON HOW LONG LIVED THE SPECIES IS. BECAUSE THE YY MALES ARE NOT GENETICALLY MODIFIED ORGANISMS GMO IF THE DECISION IS MADE TO STOP THE PROGRAM THE SEX RATIO WILL RETURN TO 50:50 MALE TO FEMALE AND CONTINUE ON COMPLETELY REVERSIBLE.IN THE CASE OF NEW INTRODUCTIONS IF THEY ARE DETECTED EARLY AND A YY MALE BROODSTOCK IS AVAILABLE FOR THE TARGETSPECIES YOU SIMPLY STOCK THE YY MALES WITH THE INVASIVE POPULATION AND CONVERT THEM TO ALL MALES QUICKLY NEVERALLOWING THE INTRODUCTION TO GET GOING. IN ADDITION WHERE CONCERNS ABOUT REINVASION ARE ELEVATED ONCEERADICATION IS ACHIEVED YY MALES CAN CONTINUE TO BE STOCKED AT LOW LEVELS TO PREVENT ANY REINVASIONS FROMTAKING OFF. ONGOING FIELD STUDIES ACROSS THE WEST ARE NOW DEMONSTRATING THAT INVASIVE BROOK TROUT CAN BEERADICATED FROM SMALL STREAMS IN LESS THAN 10 YEARS USING YY MALE BROOK TROUT. CURRENTLY THE YY MALE BROOK TROUT HATCHERY STOCK IS THE ONLY ONE FULLY DEVELOPED AND BEING FIELD TESTED.THE CONSORTIUM WAS FORMED IN 2018 AND HAS CONTINUED TO PIONEER THE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF YY MALE FISH AS A TOOL TO COMBAT INVASIVE FISHES. THE CONSORTIUM HAS FOCUSED ON DEVELOPING THE SCIENCE THAT WILL LEAD TO THE CREATION OF YY MALE BROODSTOCKS FOR FIVE INVASIVE SPECIES COMMON CARP WALLEYE AND LAKE TROUT BROWN TROUT AND NORTHERN PIKE. WITH THIS PROPOSAL THE CONSORTIUM SEEKS ADDITIONAL FUNDING TO ACCELERATE AND ENHANCE THREE CRITICAL COMPONENTS OF THEIR RESEARCH MONITORING AND EVALUATION PLAN OVER THE NEXT 3YEARS. THEY ARE 1 COMPLETE THE SCIENCE FOR BROWN TROUT AND COMMON CARP YY MALE BROODSTOCKS 2 WORK WITH FEDERAL REGULATORY AGENCIES TO PROVIDE REGULATORY APPROVAL FOR DEVELOPMENT OF NEW YY MALE BROODSTOCKS AND 3 INCREASE FUNDING FOR THE CONSORTIUM COORDINATOR CURRENTLY TIME TO ENSURE THE EXPANDED SCOPE AND ACTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FUNDING HAVE THE NECESSARY OVERSIGHT. BENEFICIARIES WILL INCLUDE THE GENERAL PUBLIC WHO WILL BENEFIT WITH THE RESTORATION OF NATIVE FISHES AND THEIR ASSOCIATED FISHERIES ALONG WITH FISHERIES MANAGERS WHO WILL HAVE NEW TOOLS TO COMBAT ONE OF THE MOST PERVASIVE IMPACTS TO THE RIVERS AND LAKES THEY MANAGE FOR THE PUBLIC.

AFWA MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE TEAM (MAT) AND NATIONAL CONSERVATION LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE (NCLI) -LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT FOR AFWA MEMBERS AND THE CONSERVATION COMMUNITY.

SARP COORDINATION, FISH BARRIER INVENTORY DATABASE - PHASE II, STREAM RESTORATION ON PICKWICK LAKE, VALLEY RIVER WATERSHED

RESTORING AQUATIC HABITAT CONNECTIVITY IN TENNESSEE AND ALABAMA

NATIONAL FISH HABITAT PARTNERSHIP

WSFR: AFWA, MS MAT TEAM TRAINING

MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE TEAM (MAT) AND THE NATIONAL CONSERVATION LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE

NATIONAL FISH HABITAT ACTION PLAN IMPLEMENTATION AND PROMOTING STRATEGIC FISH HABITAT CONSERVATION THROUGH REGIONALLY-COORDINATED SCIENCE

THE PURPOSE OF THIS AWARD IS FOR AFWA TO PARTNER WITH THE USFWS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND COORDINATION ONISSUES AND SUBJECTS WITHIN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION. THE SUBJECTS BEING FOCUSED ON WITHIN THE SCOPE OF WORKARE CLIMATE CHANGE, AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE CONSERVATION, INVASIVE SPECIES, BAT CONSERVATION, BIRDCONSERVATION, INVERTEBRATE AND POLLINATOR CONSERVATION AND INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATION. AFWA WILLSUPPORT AND COORDINATE THIS WORK ON THESE ISSUES BETWEEN STATES, FWS, OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES ANDPRIVATE CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS. EACH INITIATIVE INVOLVES STAFFING AND LEADING COMMITTEES TO FORMULATEPLANS OF ACTION ON THESE ISSUES AS WELL AS PROJECT-BASED WORK OVER THE LIFE CYCLE OF THIS AWARD. AFWA WILLUSE STAFF TIME AS WELL AS INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS TO PERFORM THE WORK DETAILED WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THISAGREEMENT. PLEASE REFER TO THE SCOPE OF WORK FOR A MORE IN-DEPTH PLAN OF ACTION SURROUNDING THISAGREEMENT.

RESEARCH COORDINATING MECHANISM BETWEEN FEDERAL AND STATE AGENCIES

MAT TEAM

MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE TEAM - HELPING STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES DEVELOP LEADERSHIP CAPACITY AND MANAGEMENT OF THE NATIONAL CONSERVATION LEADER

PROMOTING STATEGIC FISH HABITAT CONSERVATION THROUGH REGIONALLY-COORDINATED SCIENCE AND COLLABORATION

WAFWA SWG - PREDICTING RESPONSES OF SHORT-EARED OWL POPULATION SIZE, DISTRIBUTION, AND HABITAT IN A CHANGING CLIMATE

MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE TEAM (MAT) AND THE NATIONAL CONSERVATION LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE {NCLI) STAFFED BY THE MAT TEAM

SE-U2 REGIONAL HELLBENDER CONSERVATION

SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF SENIOR LEADERSHIP AND TENURED STAFF ACROSS STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES CONTINUES TO IMPACT AND PUT AT RISK THE CONSERVATION COMMUNITYS FUTURE. THIS STAGGERING LOSS OF LEADERSHIP CAPACITY, COUPLED WITH THE CHALLENGES FACING THESE AGENCIES TO REMAIN RELEVANT, ADAPT TO CHANGING LANDSCAPES AND CONSTITUENCIES, AND OR SECURE FUNDING TO NAME A FEWREQUIRES CONTINUED, ONGOING, AND FOCUSED LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND WELL-MANAGED FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES ARE PRIORITIES IDENTIFIED IN THE ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES STRATEGIC PLAN. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO SUPPORT THE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF PROJECTS FUNDED UNDER THE WILDLIFE RESTORATION AND SPORT FISH RESTORATION ACTS BY DEVELOPING LEADERSHIP SKILLS IN STATE AND TRIBAL FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES, FEDERAL AGENCIES, AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING NON-PROFITS AND EXCISE-TAX PAYING INDUSTRY PARTNERS. COMPARED TO ISOLATED ATTEMPTS TO FOSTER LEADERSHIP SKILLS IN INDIVIDUAL AGENCIES AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, THIS GRANT OFFERS A COST-EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT APPROACH TO PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THAT CAPITALIZES ON CONSISTENT, SKILLED TRAINING AND PEER-TO-PEER NETWORKING WITHIN A SHARED EXPERIENCE OF WORKING TO CONSERVE WILDLIFE AND SPORT FISH ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

PROMOTING STRATEGIC FISH HABITAT CONSERVATION THROUGH REGIONALLY-COORDINATED SCIENCE AND COLLABORATION1

RESEARCH NEEDS SURROUNDING CLIMATE ACTIVITIES, MIGRATORY BIRDS, AMPHIBIANS AND REPTILES, SPECIES

THE WESTERN ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES (WAFWA)HAS MAINTAINED LONG STANDING, STATE-LEAD LANDSCAPE LEVEL CONSERVATION PRIORITIES THROUGH ITS INITIATIVES, COMMITTEES, AND ASSIGNED WORKING GROUPS. MUCH OF THIS WORK REQUIRES FREQUENT COMMUNICATIONS AND COORDINATION AMONG MEMBER STATES AND BETWEEN VARIOUS FEDERAL AGENCIES OF DOI AND USFWS AND NEARLY ALWAYS INCLUDES PARTICIPATION AMONG THE 5 REGIONAL FWS OFFICES AND AT TIMES NATIONAL FWS LEADERSHIP. GIVEN THE SUCCESS OF WAFWAS CURRENT EFFORTS AND A DESIRE FOR GREATER LANDSCAPE LEVEL COLLABORATION BETWEEN WAFWA STATES AND OUR FEDERAL PARTNERS, WAFWA AND THE FWS JOINTLY SEEK TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT THAT WILL SUPPORT THESE SHARED GOALS WITHIN WAFWA AND ASSIST THE FWS IN THEIR EFFORTS TO CREATE AN IMPROVED UNDERSTANDING OF LANDSCAPE PRIORITIES AMONG ALL FOUR REGIONAL ASSOCIATIONS. CURRENT WAFWA PRIORITIES ARE MULTIJURISDICTIONAL AND VARY FROM BIOME SPECIFIC PRIORITIES, PRINCIPLES OF LANDSCAPE CONNECTIVITY, AND SPECIES SPECIFIC INVENTORY, ASSESSMENT, AND RECOVERY EFFORTS. EXAMPLES OF PRIORITIES AND APPLICABLE WAFWA COMMITTEES ANDWORKSHOPS INCLUDE: BIOME: SAGE BRUSH, GRASSLANDS, RIPARIAN CORRIDORS, WATER RESILIENCE. LANDSCAPE CONNECTIVITY:MIGRATION CORRIDORS, FISH PASSAGE, AND IMPROVED HABITAT PERMEABILITY. SPECIES PLANNING: MONARCHS, BLACK FOOTEDFERRETS, WESTERN TROUT, DESERT FISH, WILD SHEEP, SAGE GROUSE, MULE DEER, FOREST CARNIVORES, AND COMMITTEES:ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT, ANIMAL MOVEMENT AND MIGRATION, FISHERIES, NON-GAME, HABITAT, AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES WORKSHOPS: ESA, SAGE AND SHARP-TAILS, BLACK BEAR, MOUNTAIN LION, AND SWAP PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION. WAFWA RECOGNIZES THAT COORDINATED LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION IN THE REGION CONTINUES TO BE IMPERATIVE FOR MANY FISH AND WILDLIFE SPECIES THAT COMPLETE THEIR LIFE REQUIREMENTS IN ECOLOGICAL SYSTEMS THAT CROSS POLITICAL BOUNDARIES. WORKING AT THE LANDSCAPE SCALES REQUIRES BROADER STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT, EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION, TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACROSS MULTIPLE AGENCIES, LANDOWNERSHIPS, AND POTENTIALLY OPPOSING POLITICAL REALITIES. THE ASSIGNED WESTERN COORDINATOR AND ALL SUPPORTING ROLES WORK UNDER WAFWA LEADERSHIP AND WILL PROVIDE A CENTRAL POINT OF COMMUNICATION AS A LIAISON TO THE USFWS AND THE LARGER FISH AND WILDLIFE LANDSCAPE COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE, INCLUDING STATE, TRIBAL, FEDERAL, NON-GOVERNMENTAL, AND UNIVERSITY PARTNERS.

THE WESTERN ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES (WAFWA) AND THE UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (HEREAFTER SERVICE) SEEK TO ESTABLISH A REGIONAL WILDLIFE HEALTH COORDINATION EFFORT TO FACILITATE THE PRIORITIZATION AND ASSESSMENT OF WESTERN WILDLIFE HEALTH NEEDS AND PROVIDE NATIONAL COORDINATION BETWEEN THE SERVICE AND THE OTHER 3 REGIONAL ASSOCIATIONS. THIS EFFORT WILL BE ADMINISTERED SOLELY THROUGH WAFWA S EXECUTIVE OFFICE UNDER THE TERMS OF THIS AGREEMENT WHICH ESTABLISHES A LEAD REGIONAL WILDLIFE HEALTH COORDINATOR POSITION, SELECTED BY AND OPERATING IN SERVICE TO WAFWA MEMBERS. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PARTNERSHIP IS TO HELP ADDRESS THE INCREASING THREAT OF WILDLIFE-RELATED EMERGING DISEASES AFFECTING THE HEALTH OF OUR VALUED WILDLIFE RESOURCES. SUCH THREATS DEMONSTRATE THE CRITICAL NEED FOR THE CREATION OF REGIONAL WILDLIFE HEALTH COORDINATION WITHIN EACH OF THE REGIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE ASSOCIATIONS (I.E., NEAFWA, SEAFWA, MAFWA AND WAFWA). THE COORDINATOR POSITION WILL SERVE WAFWA AND WORK WITH AFWAS FISH AND WILDLIFE HEALTH COORDINATOR AND WAFWA COMMITTEES AND WORK GROUPS (SUCH AS WAFWAS WILDLIFE HEALTH COMMITTEE WHC) AS ASSIGNED BY LEADERSHIP TO BRING WILDLIFE AGENCIES TO READINESS AND VOLUNTARILY COORDINATE THEIR EFFORTS REGIONALLY. THE ASSIGNED REGIONAL COORDINATOR AND ALL SUPPORTING ROLES WORK UNDER WAFWA LEADERSHIP AND WILL PROVIDE A CENTRAL POINT OF COMMUNICATION AS A LIAISON TO THE FISH AND WILDLIFE HEALTH COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE, INCLUDING STATE, TRIBAL, FEDERAL, NON-GOVERNMENTAL, AND UNIVERSITY PARTNERS.

SOUTHEAST AQUATIC RESOURCES PARTNERSHIP-IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIONAL FISH HABITAT ACTION PLAN IN SOUTHEAST REGION

IMPROVING A FISH BARRIER DATABASE FOR THE INTERMOUNTAIN AND GREAT PLAINS LANDSCAPE AND CREATING A FISH BARRIER DATABASE FOR THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST REGION

MAINTAINING STATE AGENCY LEADERSHIP IN THE MANAGEMENT OF THE FISH AND WILDLIFE THROUGH REVISION OF STATE SWAPS.

HQ WESTERN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND COORDINATION

IMPROVING ANIMAL WELFARE IN TRAPPING PROGRAMS IN THE UNITEDTATES

COORDINATION OF FARM BILL IMPLEMENTATION TO OPTIMIZE FISH & WILDLIFE BENEFITS TO THE STATES

THIS PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THIS COLLABORATION IS TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PREVALENCE OF SARS-COV-2 IN WILD, FREE-RANGING CARNIVORE SPECIES, AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. WILD CARNIVORE SPECIES INCLUDING AMERICAN BADGER (TAXIDEA TAXUS), BOBCAT (LYNX RUFUS),

THE PURPOSE OF THIS AWARD IS FOR AFWA TO PARTNER WITH THE USFWS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND COORDINATION ON ISSUES AND SUBJECTS WITHIN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION. THE SUBJECTS BEING FOCUSED ON WITHIN THE SCOPE OF WORK ARE FISH AND WILDLIFE HEALTH, CLIMATE CHANGE, AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE CONSERVATION, INVASIVE SPECIES, LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION, BAT CONSERVATION, AND INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATION. AFWA WILL SUPPORT AND COORDINATE THIS WORK ON THESE ISSUES BETWEEN STATES, FWS, OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES AND PRIVATE CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS. EACH INITIATIVE INVOLVES STAFFING AND LEADING COMMITTEES TO FORMULATE PLANS OF ACTIONS ON THESE ISSUES AS WELL AS PROJECT BASED WORK OVER THE LIFE CYCLE OF THIS AWARD. AFWA WILL USE STAFF S TIME AS WELL AS INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS TO PERFORM THE WORK DETAILED WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THIS AGREEMENT. PLEASE REFER TO THE SCOPE OF WORK FOR A MORE IN DEPTH PLAN OF ACTION SURROUNDING THIS AGREEMENT.

THIS PROJECT IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE NATIONAL ARCHERY IN THE SCHOOLS PROGRAM, SOUTHEASTERN ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES, MIDWEST ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES, INTERNATIONAL HUNTER EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, NATIONAL BOWHUNTER EDUCATION FOUNDATION, ERESOURCES LLC VIA STUDIO DIVISION, AND THE NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION. THIS INITIATIVE AIMS TO INCREASE LONG-TERM PARTICIPATION AND RETENTION IN ARCHERY AND OTHER OUTDOOR RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AMONG STUDENTS INTRODUCED TO ARCHERY THROUGH THE NATIONAL ARCHERY IN THE SCHOOLS PROGRAM AND THEIR FAMILIES. IN THE SOUTHEASTERN ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES STATES, 353,714 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE NATIONAL ARCHERY IN THE SCHOOLS PROGRAM DURING THE 2024 AND 2025 REPORTING YEARS, AND 452,750 PARTICIPATED IN THE MIDWEST ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES STATES. ACROSS THESE REGIONS, 8,598 SCHOOLS HOST THE NATIONAL ARCHERY IN THE SCHOOLS PROGRAM, WITH PROGRAM COORDINATORS HOUSED WITHIN STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES. DESPITE STRONG INTEREST, MANY STUDENTS AND FAMILIES LACK AWARENESS OF ACCESSIBLE PATHWAYS TO CONTINUE PARTICIPATION IN ARCHERY, FISHING, AND HUNTER AND BOWHUNTER EDUCATION. STUDIES BY THE ARCHERY TRADE ASSOCIATION CONFIRM A DROP-OFF IN PARTICIPATION AFTER GRADUATION DUE TO LIMITED AWARENESS OF LOCAL FACILITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES. THIS PROJECT WILL CONNECT PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR FAMILIES DIRECTLY WITH NEARBY ARCHERY RANGES, URBAN FISHING SITES, AND HUNTER AND BOWHUNTER EDUCATION COURSES, PROMOTING LIFELONG RECREATIONAL HABITS, INCREASED FAMILY INVOLVEMENT, AND ENHANCED CONSERVATION AWARENESS. ACTIVITIES INCLUDE MAPPING NATIONAL ARCHERY IN THE SCHOOLS PROGRAM SCHOOLS AND NEARBY RESOURCES IN UP TO TEN STATES, LAUNCHING REGIONALLY TARGETED DIGITAL MARKETING CAMPAIGNS USING GEOFENCING TECHNOLOGY, DISTRIBUTING FAMILY-ORIENTED DIGITAL RESOURCE PACKAGES THROUGH SCHOOL COACHES, AND IMPLEMENTING AN EVALUATION FRAMEWORK THAT TRACKS PARTICIPATION AND ENGAGEMENT ACROSS SCHOOLS, RANGES, AND FISHING LOCATIONS. PARTNERS WILL COLLABORATE TO ENSURE ACCURATE MAPPING, DEVELOP MESSAGING THAT RESONATES WITH YOUTH AND FAMILIES, AND PROVIDE ONGOING ANALYSIS OF CAMPAIGN SUCCESS. EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE INCREASED AWARENESS OF LOCAL RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES, MEASURABLE GROWTH IN VISITS TO COMMUNITY ARCHERY RANGES AND FISHING SITES, ENHANCED FAMILY PARTICIPATION, AND ESTABLISHMENT OF A SCALABLE MODEL FOR REPLICABLE RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, AND REACTIVATION STRATEGIES. DELIVERABLES INCLUDE A COMPREHENSIVE MAPPING REPORT, CREATIVE MARKETING MATERIALS, AN ADVERTISING AND MARKETING CAMPAIGN WITH ANALYSIS, DIGITAL RESOURCE PACKAGES, A FULL PROJECT EVALUATION REPORT, QUARTERLY TREND REPORTING, AND A FINAL PRESENTATION OF FINDINGS FOR STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES AND PARTNERS. THE PRIMARY BENEFICIARIES ARE STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN THE NATIONAL ARCHERY IN THE SCHOOLS PROGRAM AND THEIR FAMILIES, ALONG WITH STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES SEEKING TO STRENGTHEN YOUTH ENGAGEMENT IN OUTDOOR RECREATION.

COORDINATION OF FARM BILL PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION TO OPTMIZE FISH AND WILDLIFE BENEFITS TO THE STATES.

THIS AWARD WILL SUPPORT PROGRAM MANAGEMENT FOR THE NATIONAL FISH HABITAT BOARD. THIS POSITION, SUPPORTED BY AFWA WILL PROVIDE COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT FOR THE BOARD, FISH HABITAT PARTNERSHIPS AND THE OVERALL NFHP PROGRAM, AS WELL AS PROVIDE SCIENCE AND DATA SUPPORT FOR NFHP, PROJECT TRACKING SUPPORT THROUGH THE PSMFC AS WELL AS TRAVEL AND MEETING SUPPORT FOR THE BOARD, BOARD STAFF, AND SCIENCE AND DATA MANAGERS, AS WELL AS PARTICIPATE IN ASSOCIATED NFHP MEETINGS.INTENDED BENEFICIARIES INCLUDE USFWS FAC PROGRAM, NATIONAL FISH HABITAT BOARD, NFHP FISH HABITAT PARTNERSHIPS, AND STATES THROUGH THE ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES

SYLVACTIC PLAQUE MANAGEMENT IN PRAIRIE DOGS AND BLACK-FOOTED FERRETS

THE SOUTHEASTERN ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES IS PARTNERING WITH THE COUNCIL TO ADVANCE HUNTING AND THE SHOOTING SPORTS (COUNCIL) AND THE NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION TO LAUNCH A REGIONAL HUNT FOR GOOD CAMPAIGN AIMED AT INCREASING SUPPORT OF LEGAL, REGULATED HUNTING AMONG NON-HUNTERS. RESPONSIVE MANAGEMENTS AMERICANS ATTITUDES TOWARDS HUNTING AND SHOOTING SPORTS 2025 REPORT SHOWS THAT PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR LEGAL HUNTING HAS BEEN DECLINING FOR SEVERAL YEARS. TO ADDRESS THIS, THE NATIONAL WILD TURKEY FEDERATION DEVELOPED HUNT FOR GOOD. IT IS THE ONLY NATIONAL MARKETING CAMPAIGN FOCUSED ON BUILDING CULTURAL SUPPORT FOR HUNTING BY HIGHLIGHTING THEMES THAT RESONATE WITH NON-HUNTERS, SUCH AS STEWARDSHIP, QUALITY FOOD, SOCIAL CONNECTION, AND WILDLIFE HEALTH. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE COUNCIL, THE CAMPAIGN WAS IMPLEMENTED FOUR TIMES BETWEEN 2023 AND 2025, WHICH WAS A LIMITED NATIONAL RUN, A NORTHEAST EFFORT TARGETING BOSTON, PHILADELPHIA, AND WASHINGTON, DC, AND TWICE IN MISSOURI. THESE EFFORTS GENERATED 45,652,842 UNIQUE IMPRESSIONS, REACHING THE MIDDLE 80 PERCENT OF THE PUBLIC THAT DOES NOT HUNT BUT MAY BE PERSUADED TO SUPPORT IT. LIKE MANY MARKETING-FOCUSED MULTISTATE CONSERVATION GRANTS, EARLY HUNT FOR GOOD EFFORTS DID NOT SUFFICIENTLY CONNECT RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, AND REACTIVATION (R3) WORK TO THE CORE OUTCOME OF INCREASING PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR HUNTING, RELYING INSTEAD ON WEAKER METRICS SUCH AS OPEN RATES, CLICKS, AND TIME ON PAGE. THIS PROPOSAL ADVANCES THE CAMPAIGN BY ADDING AN EVALUATION COMPONENT TO ASSESS WHETHER CONTENT ACTUALLY IMPROVES VIEWER PERCEPTIONS. USING SIX ORIGINAL HUNT FOR GOOD CREATIVE THEMES (E.G., HUNT FOR CLARITY, HUNT FOR FREEDOM), THE COUNCIL AND 2060 DIGITAL, WILL CREATE SIX THEME-SPECIFIC LANDING PAGES FOR THE SOUTHEASTERN ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES (SEAFWA) THAT WILL BE CREATED WITHIN THE ORIGINAL AND ACTIVE HUNT FOR GOOD WEBPAGE. PAGES WILL BE HOSTED BY PROJECT SUBRECIPIENT 2060 DIGITAL, THE MARKETING FIRM MANAGING AD BUYS, PLACEMENTS, IMPLEMENTATION, AND EVALUATION. EACH LANDING PAGE WILL EXPLAIN WHY AND HOW ITS THEME REPRESENTS A BENEFIT OF HUNTING. 2060 DIGITAL WILL RUN AD BUYS AND PLACEMENTS FOR ADS ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF THE SIX CREATIVE THEMES IN OR NEAR MAJOR POPULATION CENTERS ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST THAT SERVE AT LEAST EIGHT SEAFWA MEMBER STATES. EACH AD WILL LINK TO ITS ASSOCIATED LANDING PAGE, AND VIEWERS WILL RECEIVE A POP-UP SURVEY ASSESSING WHETHER THEY FALL WITHIN THE TARGET DEMOGRAPHIC AND WHETHER THE CONTENT THEY VIEWED POSITIVELY INFLUENCED THEIR PERSPECTIVE OF HUNTING. THIS APPROACH WAS SELECTED OVER BROAD-BAND SURVEYING TO ENSURE RESPONSES COME ONLY FROM INDIVIDUALS WHO ACTUALLY VIEWED CAMPAIGN CONTENT. EACH LANDING PAGE WILL ALSO INCLUDE SEAFWA-CURATED LINKS FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. AD BUYS WILL BE OPTIMIZED THROUGHOUT THE CAMPAIGN BASED ON PLATFORM PERFORMANCE, AND SEAFWA MEMBER STATES WILL BE OFFERED ADS TO RUN PARALLEL EFFORTS TO DRIVE ORGANIC TRAFFIC TO THE CAMPAIGN LANDING PAGES. WHILE STANDARD OUTPUTS LIKE IMPRESSIONS, CLICKS, AND TIME ON PAGE WILL BE TRACKED, THE PRIMARY OUTCOME WILL BE SURVEY DATA SHOWING WHETHER EXPOSURE TO HUNT FOR GOOD STRENGTHENS SUPPORT FOR HUNTING AMONG NON-HUNTERS IN URBAN AREAS WHO RECREATE OUTDOORS, AND WHICH ADS WERE MOST EFFECTIVE. GOOGLE ANALYTICS WILL IDENTIFY WHICH SUPPLEMENTAL LINKS DREW THE MOST ENGAGEMENT, INFORMING FUTURE REFINEMENTS. DELIVERABLES INCLUDE CUSTOMIZED REGIONAL LANDING PAGES, AN EVALUATION REPORT, AND CAMPAIGN ASSETS FOR STATES AND PARTNERS. BY MEASURING WHETHER THE CAMPAIGN ACTUALLY IMPROVES PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR HUNTING, THIS PROJECT CAN MODEL HOW R3 EFFORTS SHOULD BE TIED TO OUTCOMES, ENCOURAGING BROADER ADOPTION OF STRONGER EVALUATION PRACTICES AND RAISING EXPECTATIONS FOR FUTURE MULTISTATE CONSERVATION GRANT APPLICATIONS ACROSS HUNTING, SHOOTING SPORTS, FISHING, AND BOATING.

FUNDS UNDER THIS AWARD ARE TO BE USED TO REPLACE ROAD-STREAM CROSSINGS WITH LARGER STRUCTURES, ALLOWING FOR FISH PASSAGE AND RESTORATION OF AQUATIC HABITAT FOR FEDERALLY LISTED AND AT-RISK SPECIES IN TENNESSEE.

STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES ARE CHARGED WITH MANAGING WILDLIFE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC. NUMEROUS FEDERAL AGENCIES SHARE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITY ACROSS STATE BOUNDARIES. NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGO) DEDICATED TO CONSERVING SPECIFIC SPECIES AND LANDSCAPES ACT REGIONALLY AND NATIONALLY IN COORDINATION WITH STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES. WITHOUT STRONG COORDINATION, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO REALIZE THE FULL BENEFIT OF THESE VARIED EFFORTS. COORDINATING SUCCESSFUL CONSERVATION EFFORTS AMONG ALL INVOLVED PARTIES ACROSS NORTH AMERICA REQUIRES THE RESOURCES TO BRING STATE AGENCY LEADERS TO THE TABLE. MANY STATE AGENCIES WHOSE RESOURCES ARE FOCUSED ON INTERNAL, STATE-FOCUSED EFFORTS (OFTEN INADEQUATE FOR THAT PURPOSE) WOULD BE UNABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE EFFORTS WITHOUT EXTERNAL FUNDING SUPPORT. RELATED TO THIS IS THE NECESSITY FOR DEDICATED RESOURCES TO FOSTER, MAINTAIN, AND GROW RELATIONS BETWEEN STATE AGENCIES AND INDUSTRY. THE LATTER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR EXCISE TAX CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE WILDLIFE AND SPORT FISH RESTORATION PROGRAM, WHICH ARE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTORS TO AGENCY BUDGETS. WHEN STATE AGENCIES AND INDUSTRY ARE NOT ACTIVELY MEETING AND COORDINATING, THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF MISUNDERSTANDING AND DYSFUNCTION. OPPORTUNITIES TO COORDINATE WITH INDUSTRY EXIST AT SPECIFIC EVENTS AND AT MOST OTHER CONFERENCES AND MEETINGS WHERE NGO INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES ARE PRESENT.CENTRALIZED COMMUNICATIONS ENSURE THAT RELEVANT ISSUES ARE BROUGHT TO LIGHT, AND STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES AND THEIR PARTNERS CAN DEBATE AND DISCUSS THE BEST SOLUTIONS TO CROSS-JURISDICTIONAL, NATIONAL, AND REGIONAL WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT ISSUES. THE ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES (AFWA) WEBSITE IS CURRENTLY NOT 508 COMPLIANT. SECTION 508 COMPLIANCE IS IMPORTANT FOR WEBSITES BECAUSE IT MAKES THEM MORE ACCESSIBLE TO A BROADER AUDIENCE, INCLUDING AFWA S MEMBERS.STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCY LEADERSHIP IN LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION IS ESSENTIAL TO THE LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY OF FISH AND WILDLIFE. IN 2018, AFWA PASSED A RESOLUTION ON LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION THAT ACKNOWLEDGED THE IMPORTANCE OF LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION AND THE NEED FOR COLLABORATION BETWEEN STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES AND THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE (FWS) BECAUSE OF THEIR UNIQUE ROLES AND AUTHORITIES OVER FISH AND WILDLIFE. THREE OF THE FOUR FISH AND WILDLIFE REGIONAL ASSOCIATIONS HAVE ESTABLISHED REGIONAL LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION COLLABORATIVES WITH SUPPORT FROM THE FWS. A FULL-TIME NATIONAL LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION COORDINATOR IS NEEDED TO 1) PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL STAFFING OF THE AFWA FWS LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION JOINT TASK FORCE 2) SUPPORT COORDINATION BETWEEN REGIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE ASSOCIATION LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION COLLABORATIVES 3) SUPPORT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE AFWA PRESIDENTS TASK FORCE ON SHARED SCIENCE AND LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION AND THE STATE WILDLIFE ACTION PLAN LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION FRAMEWORK 4) AND SERVE AS A LIAISON BETWEEN THE STATES, FEDERAL AGENCIES, LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION PARTNERSHIPS, AND NGOS WORKING IN THE LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION SPACE TO FOMENT COMMUNICATION AND RAISE AWARENESS AND SECURE RESOURCES FOR REGIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE ASSOCIATION LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION PRIORITIES. THE FWS AND REGIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE ASSOCIATIONS PROVIDED FUNDING OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS TO HIRE A PART-TIME NATIONAL LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION COORDINATOR. FUNDING FOR THE PART-TIME POSITION WILL END IN SEPTEMBER 2023. THIS PROPOSAL SEEKS FUNDING FOR A FULL-TIME COORDINATOR FOR ONE YEAR. ADDITIONAL FUNDING WILL BE SOUGHT IN THE FUTURE TO CONTINUE THIS COORDINATION CAPACITY.THIS PROPOSAL WILL ALLOW FOR COORDINATING CONSERVATION ACROSS THE UNITED STATES BY STATE, REGIONAL, TERRITORIAL, AND PROVINCIAL FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES (INCLUDING CANADIAN LEADERSHIP INVOLVED IN US CONSERVATION EFFORTS). THIS COORDINATION WILL LEAD TO BETTER POLICY, GREATER EFFICIENCY, AND THE MOST EFFECTIVE CONSERVATION EFFORTS.

IMPROVING THE CONSERVATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE POPULATIONS AND THEIR HABITATS DURING ENERGY EXPLORATION THROUGH ENHANCED COORDINATION

COORDINATION OF SCIENCE AND RESEARCH 2021 - 2022

THE STATES CONSERVATION STORY HAS GONE LARGELY UNTOLD ON A NATIONAL SCALE, LEAVING THE PUBLIC UNAWARE OF OUR GOALS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS ACHIEVED THROUGH SUPPORT OF THE WILDLIFE RESTORATION AND SPORT FISH RESTORATION ACTS. CONSEQUENTLY, STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES ARE OFTEN MISUNDERSTOOD, THEIR EXPERTISE AND SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO WILDLIFE AND SPORT FISH CONSERVATION ARE NOT RECOGNIZED, AND OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND PUBLIC SUPPORT AND ENGAGEMENT ARE MISSED - ESPECIALLY AMONG NON-FISHING AND NON-HUNTING AUDIENCES WHO ALSO BENEFIT FROM CONSERVATION WORK FUNDED THROUGH THE ACTS.AFWA S EDUCATION, OUTREACH, AND DIVERSITY (EOD) COMMITTEE CREATED THE NATIONAL CONSERVATION OUTREACH STRATEGY IN 2018 TO INCREASE STATE AGENCY PUBLIC RELEVANCY. THIS STRATEGY PROVIDED A TOOLKIT THAT ENABLED EACH STATE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AGENCY TO RAISE AWARENESS OF ITS ROLE IN PROTECTING AND CONSERVING WILDLIFE. IN 2019 MAKING IT LAST CAMPAIGN WAS PILOTED TO HELP LEARN HOW TO BEST TELL THE STORY TO BOOST AGENCY PUBLIC RELEVANCY, FOLLOWED BY A SECOND PHASE TO FINE-TUNE AND FURTHER TEST THE INITIATIVE. HOWEVER, STATES LIMITED BUDGETS AND UNCERTAINTY REGARDING THE CAMPAIGN S EFFECTIVENESS REDUCED THE NUMBER OF STATES ABLE TO IMPLEMENT AND EVALUATE THE CAMPAIGN. WITH THE RELEVANCY TOPIC BECOMING MORE CRITICAL EVERY YEAR, THE NEED EXISTS TO FIELD A REBRANDED AND TESTED CAMPAIGN ACCOMPANIED BY IMPROVED TOOLKIT MATERIALS AND EVALUATION.THIS PROJECT WILL ADVANCE THE PUBLIC CASE FOR WHY AGENCIES, AND THE CONSERVATION WORK THEY DO UNDER THE ACTS, MATTER TO EVERYONE. THIS THIRD PHASE WILL FOCUS ON ENGAGING MORE STATES BY REBRANDING AWAY FROM THE MAKING IT LAST THEME TO A MORE DIRECTLY RELEVANT BRAND AND MESSAGING CONTENT. THESE WILL BE DEVELOPED USING PUBLIC TESTING AND BEST PRACTICES, AND LESSONS PREVIOUSLY LEARNED. WE WILL FOCUS ON UPDATING AND UPGRADING THE STORY OF STATE-BASED CONSERVATION THROUGH MESSAGING AND MATERIALS DESIGNED TO RESONATE BETTER WITH THE PUBLIC AND THE AGENCY STAFF. PHASE 3 WILL ALSO REVISE THE CAMPAIGN IN PART THROUGH THE LENS OF EMPLOYEE RECRUITMENT TO HELP STATES BETTER UNDERSTAND HOW WE CAN BE MORE RELEVANT IN THE EYES OF PROSPECTIVE FUTURE STAFF. WE WILL ALSO IMPLEMENT THE NEW TOOLKIT IN AT LEAST TWO PILOT STATES TO EVALUATE PUBLIC REACTIONS AND RECEPTIVENESS. THE RESULT WILL BE A CAMPAIGN THAT MORE STATE AGENCIES WILL UTILIZE TO INCREASE PUBLIC AWARENESS AND SUPPORT, ESPECIALLY AMONG AUDIENCES NOT TRADITIONALLY ENGAGED IN CONSERVATION OR FISH AND WILDLIFE-BASED RECREATION.

SA: COORDINATION OF SCIENCE AND RESEARCH

THIS AWARD WILL SUPPORT PROGRAM MANAGEMENT FOR THE NATIONAL FISH HABITAT BOARD THIS POSITION SUPPORTED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES WILL PROVIDE COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT FOR THE BOARD, FISH HABITAT PARTNERSHIPS AND THE OVERALL NFHP PROGRAM, AS WELL AS PROVIDE SCIENCE AND DATA SUPPORT FOR NFHP, PROJECT TRACKING SUPPORT THROUGH THE PACIFIC STATES FISHERIES COMMISSION AS WELL AS TRAVEL AND MEETING SUPPORT FOR THE BOARD, BOARD STAFF, AND SCIENCE AND DATA MANAGERS, AS WELL AS PARTICIPATE IN ASSOCIATED NFHP MEETINGS THIS PROJECT WILL SUPPORT THE NFHP PROGRAM, USFWS, AND AFWA IN MEETING OBJECTIVES AND REQUIREMENTS OF THE AMERICA S CONSERVATION ENHANCEMENT ACT WHICH CODIFIED THE NFHP PROGRAM IN 2020 THE FOLLOWING LIST THE BROAD ACTIVITIES ENVISIONED UNDER THE AGREEMENT FOR ITS FULL DURATION THE OBJECTIVES OF THIS AGREEMENT MIRROR THOSE OF THE NATIONAL FISH HABITAT ACTION PLAN 2ND EDITION 2012 OBJECTIVE 1 ACHIEVE MEASURABLE HABITAT CONSERVATION RESULTS THROUGH STRATEGIC ACTIONS OF FISH HABITAT PARTNERSHIPS FHPS THAT IMPROVE ECOLOGICAL CONDITION, RESTORE NATURAL PROCESSES, OR PREVENT THE DECLINE OF INTACT AND HEALTHY SYSTEMS LEADING TO BETTER FISH HABITAT CONDITIONS AND INCREASED FISHING OPPORTUNITIES OBJECTIVE 2 BROADEN THE COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT FOR FISH HABITAT CONSERVATION BY INCREASING FISHING OPPORTUNITIES, FOSTERING THE PARTICIPATION OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE IN CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES, AND RAISING PUBLIC AWARENESS OF THE ROLE HEALTHY FISH HABITATS PLAY IN THE QUALITY OF LIFE AND ECONOMIC WELL BEING OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES OBJECTIVE 3 FILL GAPS IN THE NATIONAL FISH HABITAT ASSESSMENT AND ITS ASSOCIATED DATABASE TO EMPOWER STRATEGIC CONSERVATION ACTION SUPPORTED BY BROADLY AVAILABLE SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION AND INTEGRATE SOCIOECONOMIC DATA IN THE ANALYSIS TO IMPROVE PEOPLE S LIVES IN A MANNER CONSISTENT WITH FISH HABITAT CONSERVATION GOALS OBJECTIVE 4 COMMUNICATE THE CONSERVATION OUTCOMES PRODUCED COLLECTIVELY BY FHPS, AS WELL AS NEW OPPORTUNITIES AND VOLUNTARY APPROACHES FOR CONSERVING FISH HABITAT, TO THE PUBLIC, ANGLERS, AND CONSERVATION PARTNERS OBJECTIVE 5 SUPPORT OPERATIONS OF THE NATIONAL FISH HABITAT BOARD INTENDED BENEFICIARIES ARE USFWS FAC PROGRAM, NATIONAL FISH HABITAT BOARD, NFHP FISH HABITAT PARTNERSHIPS, AND STATES THROUGH THE ASSOCIATION OF FISHAND WILDLIFE AGENCIES

SOCIAL INFLUENCER EFFORTS HAVE BEEN PROVEN TO BE AN EFFECTIVE WAY TO ACCOMPLISH R3 (RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, REACTIVATION) GOALS. THIS PROJECT WILL ENABLE SOUTHEASTERN ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES (SEAFWA) STATES TO BENEFIT FROM THIS MARKETING STRATEGY WITH MINIMUM TIME AND RESOURCE COMMITMENT, WHICH IS CRITICAL SINCE MOST STATES HAVE LIMITED STAFF, BUDGETS, AND EXPERIENCE WITH SOCIAL INFLUENCERS AS A MEANS OF EXECUTING A CAMPAIGN ON THEIR OWN. THIS PROJECT IS SPECIFICALLY MODELED AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL MULTISTATE CONSERVATION GRANT PROJECT EXECUTED PREVIOUSLY BY SEAFWA ON HUNTING R3 THAT PRODUCED THE ACCLAIMED MORE TO THE HUNT PROGRAM. THIS PROJECT WILL HIRE ONE AD AGENCY TO MANAGE THIS SOCIAL INFLUENCER CAMPAIGN. THE AD AGENCY WILL HIRE 5-10 SOCIAL INFLUENCERS WITH TIES TO THE SOUTHEASTERN U.S. (E.G., COLLEGE ATHLETES, HUNTERS, OUTDOORSY FOLKS, OR ANYONE WITH STRONG FOLLOWINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT COULD HAVE A TIE TO TRAPPING) TO CREATE AUTHENTIC FURBEARER TRAPPING HUNTING CONTENT TO SHARE ON THEIR CHANNELS. THE INFLUENCER WOULD ALSO PROVIDE TEXT, IMAGES AND VIDEOS THAT COULD BE USED BY ALL STATE AGENCIES INTO PERPETUITY. THE R3 COMMITTEE WOULD WORK WITH EACH SEAFWA STATE TO DETERMINE WHICH INFLUENCER(S) THEY BELIEVE WOULD BE MOST EFFECTIVE IN THEIR STATE, AND THE AD AGENCY WOULD ALSO BOOST THESE INFLUENCER POSTS TO REACH LOOKALIKE AUDIENCES OF THE INFLUENCERS FOLLOWERS. SOCIAL INFLUENCERS WOULD BE IDENTIFIED AND MANAGED BY AN ADVERTISING AGENCY CALLED MGH, WHICH HAS A PROVEN TRACK RECORD IN THE R3 HUNTING ARENA. MGH, ALONG WITH THE SEAFWA R3 COMMITTEE AND FUR TAKERS OF AMERICA, WOULD SCREEN AND RECRUIT THE MOST APPROPRIATE INFLUENCERS, WORK WITH THEM TO ENSURE THEY PRODUCE THE RIGHT CONTENT, BOOST POSTS, TRACK RESULTS, AND SHARE CREATIVE CONTENT WITH STATES. OUR GOAL WOULD BE TO CREATE CONTENT WITH THESE INFLUENCERS THAT HAS A SHELF LIFE OF AT LEAST 5 YEARS. STATES WOULD BE ABLE TO USE (AT NO COST) THIS CONTENT ORGANICALLY ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND ANY OWNED MEDIA CHANNELS, OR AS PAID ADVERTISING. WITHOUT THIS GRANT AND THE COORDINATED SOCIAL INFLUENCER CONTENT AND MARKETING IT WOULD PROVIDE, MOST SOUTHEASTERN STATES WILL NOT BE ABLE TO AFFORD A SOCIAL INFLUENCER CAMPAIGN TO HELP ACCOMPLISH R3 FOR FURBEARER TRAPPING HUNTING. WE WILL BE ABLE TO TRACK CLICK-THROUGHS TO LANDING PAGE, LEARN-TO-HUNT AND STATE LICENSE SALES PAGES, AS WELL AS ENGAGEMENT RATES FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. EACH STATE WILL SUPPLY A WEB ADDRESS THAT DIRECTLY LINKS TO THEIR AGENCYS LEARN-TO-HUNT TRAP WEBPAGE, OR WE WILL USE THE DEFAULT CAMPAIGN LANDING PAGE WHICH WILL DIRECT PEOPLE TO TAKING THE ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES TRAPPING COURSE. SEAFWA STATE AGENCIES ARE EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY AND THE COMMUNICATIONS MARKETING STAFF MEMBERS ESPECIALLY THINK THIS WILL BE A GREAT PROJECT. WE HAVE NEVER DONE THIS WITH A FOCUS ON TRAPPING IN A MULTISTATE MARKETING GRANT AND WE THINK THIS COULD TRULY MAKE AN IMPACT.

GREATER SAGE-GROUSE RESPONSE TO WIND ENERGY DEVELOPMENT AT A LANDSCAPE SCALE

COORD SURVEY FOR MUTIPLE AT-RISK SPECIES

IMPROVING THE CONSERVATION OF FISH AND WILDIFE POPULATIONS AND HABITATS DURING ENERGY EXPLORATION, DEVELOPMENT, AND TRANSMISSION

CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION, NATIONAL FISH HABITAT PARTNERSHIP, AFWA ANNUAL MEETING, OCEAN RESOURCES POLICY COMMITTEE

METHODS DEVELOPMENT - IMPROVING ANIMAL WELFARE IN TRAPPING PROGRAMS IN THE UNITED STATES 2026-2027

METHODS DEVELOPMENT: IMPROVING ANIMAL WELFARE IN TRAPPING PROGRAMS IN THE UNITED STATES 2025-2026

THE FOLLOWING SCOPE OF WORK WILL BE OVERSEEN BY THE ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES (AFWA) DIRECTOR OF CONSERVATION INITIATIVES AND CARRIED OUT BY ONE PART-TIME CONTRACTOR. THEY WILL PROVIDE SCIENCE SUPPORT AND SERVICE AND BE THE POINT OF CONTACT ON FISH WILDLIFE HEALTH AND ONE HEALTH FOR STATE AND TERRITORIAL FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES (STATES), PROVINCES, US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (FWS), OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES, AND NONGOVERNMENTAL CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS BY 1) SERVING AS CONVEYORS FOR THE STATES, FWS, AND OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES TO INFORM, DISCUSS, AND DEVELOP ACTIONS ON PRIORITY FISH AND WILDLIFE HEALTH AND ONE HEALTH WORK 2) LEADING AND FACILITATING COMMUNICATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE HEALTH AND ONE HEALTH BETWEEN THE STATES, THE FWS, OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES, NGOS 3) PROVIDING STAFFING TO KEY PARTNERSHIPS, COMMITTEES, AND WORK GROUPS TO ADVANCE COLLABORATION ON FISH AND WILDLIFE HEALTH AND ONE HEALTH 4) CONDUCTING PROJECT WORK THAT LEADS TO IMPROVEMENTS IN AND USE OF SCIENCE, TOOLS, AND POLICIES THAT AFFECT FISH AND WILDLIFE HEALTH.

METHODS DEVELOPMENT: IMPROVING ANIMAL WELFARE IN TRAPPING PROGRAMS IN THE UNITED STATES 2024-2025

METHODS DEVELOPMENT: AFWA WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP, REFINE, AND PROMOTE BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR FURBEARERS AND PROVIDE INFORMATION TO STATE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AGENCIES FOR THEIR USE IN IMPROVING REGULATED ANIMAL TRAPPING CONSISTENT WITH PROFESSIONAL WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT.

METHODS DEVELOPMENT

THE PURPOSE OF THIS AWARD IS FOR THE ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES (AFWA) TO PARTNER WITH THE UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (USFWS) TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND COORDINATION ON ISSUES AND SUBJECTS WITHIN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION. THE SUBJECTS BEING FOCUSED ON WITHIN THE SCOPE OF WORK ARE FISH WILDLIFE HEALTH, CLIMATE CHANGE, AMPHIBIAN AND REPTILE CONSERVATION, INVASIVE SPECIES, LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION, BAT CONSERVATION, BIRD CONSERVATION AND INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATION. AFWA WILL SUPPORT AND COORDINATE THIS WORK ON THESE ISSUES BETWEEN STATES, FWS, OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES AND PRIVATE CONSERVATION ORGANIZATIONS. EACH INITIATIVE INVOLVES STAFFING AND LEADING COMMITTEES TO FORMULATE PLANS OF ACTIONS ON THESE ISSUES AS WELL AS PROJECT-BASED WORK OVER THE LIFE CYCLE OF THIS AWARD. AFWA WILL USE STAFF S TIME AS WELL AS INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS TO PERFORM THE WORK DETAILED WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THIS AGREEMENT. PLEASE REFER TO THE SCOPE OF WORK FOR A MORE IN-DEPTH PLAN OF ACTION SURROUNDING THIS AGREEMENT.

SOCIAL INFLUENCERS TO DRIVE R3 IN SEAFWA STATES

COORDINATION OF SCIENCE AND RESEARCH

COORDINATION AND FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF THE ASSOCIATION'S CONSERVATION EDUCATION STRATEGY

STATE FISH AND WILDIFE AGENCY COORDINATION AND ADMINISTRATION

STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCY COORDINATION AND ADMINISTRATION

THE PROPOSAL WILL FOCUS ON THREE PRIORITIES WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF ENABLING STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES TO COORDINATE THEIR CONSERVATION EFFORTS ACROSS STATE BORDERS ON A REGIONAL AND NATIONAL SCALE:- PARTICIPATION BY SENIOR STATE AND ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCY (ASSOCIATION OR AFWA) STAFF IN REGIONAL AND NATIONAL LEVEL MEETINGS WHERE PLANNING AND COORDINATION ARE PERFORMED WITH FEDERAL, NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGO), AND INDUSTRY PARTNERS. THE FOCUS IS ON MEETINGS OF REGIONAL AND NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO REGIONAL ASSOCIATION MEETINGS, THE NORTH AMERICAN WILDLIFE AND NATURAL RESOURCES CONFERENCE, THE AFWA ANNUAL MEETING, NGO MEETINGS, INDUSTRY TRADE ASSOCIATION MEETINGS, AND OTHER EVENTS AND MEETINGS. STATE DIRECTORS AND THEIR DESIGNEES AND ASSOCIATION STAFF WILL ATTEND MAJOR INDUSTRY EVENTS TO MAINTAIN OPEN COMMUNICATIONS AND COORDINATE ON IMPORTANT AND OFTEN SENSITIVE ISSUES THAT DETERMINE THE SUCCESS OR FAILURE OF CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT INITIATIVES IMPORTANT TO THE ASSOCIATION S MEMBERS.- STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS. ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE STAFF WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR IMPLEMENTING A COMMUNICATIONS PLAN AND MAINTAINING A COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ALLOWS STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES TO EFFECTIVELY COORDINATE WITH EACH OTHER AND WITH THEIR NGO AND FEDERAL PARTNERS ON REGIONAL AND NATIONAL IMPORTANCE ISSUES.- REGIONAL LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION COORDINATION: PROVIDE PLANNING, COORDINATION, FACILITATION, AND SUPPORT TO THE AFWA U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE LANDSCAPE CONSERVATION JOINT TASK FORCE.

WESTERN NATIVE TROUT INITIATIVE (WNTI) COORDINATION AND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT FOR IMPLEMENTATIONOF CONSERVATION PRIORITIES

TO DEVELOP SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION ON THE ANIMAL TRAPS FOR SELECTED WILD VERTEBRATE SPECIES AND PROVIDE FOR INTERCHANGE OF SERVICES, PERSONNEL, EQUIP

THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROJECT IS TO DETERMINE WHAT NON HUNTING SPORT SHOOTERS AND FIREARMS OWNERS KNOWAND THINK ABOUT PITTMAN ROBERTSON AND THE CONSERVATION EFFORTS IT FUNDS DEVELOP EFFECTIVE MESSAGES TO ENCOURAGETHEIR SUPPORT FOR PR AND THE WORK OF THE AGENCIES AND PUT THE RESEARCH INTO ACTION VIA A NEW DIGITALCOMMUNICATIONS CAMPAIGN IN TWO SOUTHEASTERN PILOT STATES. BECAUSE NON HUNTING SPORT SHOOTERS AND FIREARMSOWNERS MAY FEEL LESS CONNECTED TO WILDLIFE CONSERVATION ISSUES, THE PITTMAN ROBERTSON FUNDING STRUCTURE IS INDANGER OF BEING DISRUPTED. LEGISLATORS MAY ALSO ATTEMPT TO ADDRESS FUNDING GAPS BY REDIRECTING PR EXCISE TAXREVENUES FROM NON HUNTING SHOOTERS AND FIREARMS OWNERS TO PROGRAMS OTHER THAN WILDLIFE CONSERVATION.FOR THIS PROJECT, OUR TEAM WILL CONDUCT A PROBABILITY BASED MULTI MODAL SURVEY OF NON HUNTING SPORT SHOOTERS ANDFIREARMS OWNERS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES. THE SURVEY WILL ASSESS KNOWLEDGE AND AWARENESS OF THE FEDERALAID IN WILDLIFE RESTORATION PROGRAM, INCLUDING THE EXCISE TAX ON FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION AND THE PROGRAMSFUNDED THROUGH THESE REVENUES. FINDINGS FROM THIS RESEARCH WILL THEN INFORM A COMMUNICATIONS CAMPAIGN IMPLEMENTED IN TENNESSEE AND TEXAS, TWO STATES WITH SIZABLE POPULATIONS OF FIREARMS OWNERS. THE CAMPAIGN WILLTARGET NON HUNTING SPORT SHOOTERS AND FIREARMS OWNERS WITH DATA BASED EDUCATION AND OUTREACH TO INCREASE THEIRKNOWLEDGE OF PITTMAN ROBERTSON AND HELP THEM DEVELOP A STRONGER CONNECTION TO WILDLIFE CONSERVATION, ESPECIALLYTHROUGH MESSAGES DETERMINED TO BE EFFECTIVE IN THE SURVEY. THE CAMPAIGN WILL BE ENCOMPASSING OF DISTINCTSUBGROUPS WITHIN THE OVERALL POPULATION OF NON HUNTING SPORT SHOOTERS AND FIREARMS OWNERS BASED ON DATA FROMTHE SURVEY. AS A RESULT OF THISPROJECT, NON HUNTERS WHOSE PURCHASES CONTRIBUTE TO PITTMAN ROBERTSON WILL BECOME STRONGER ADVOCATES FORWILDLIFE CONSERVATION AND STRONGER PROPONENTS OF THE CURRENT PITTMAN ROBERTSON EXCISE TAX FUNDING MECHANISM.OUR TEAM WILL PRODUCE A FINAL REPORT THAT DETAILS HOW TO INCREASE NON HUNTING PITTMAN ROBERTSON CONTRIBUTORS KNOWLEDGE OF AND SUPPORT FOR AMERICA S CONSERVATION FUNDING STRUCTURE, INCLUDING THROUGH RECOMMENDATIONSBASED ON THE INITIAL RESULTS OF THE PILOT COMMUNICATIONS CAMPAIGN.OBJECTIVE 1 TITLE CONDUCT A NATIONAL SURVEY OF NON HUNTING SPORT SHOOTERS AND FIREARMS OWNERS,INCLUDING OVERSAMPLES IN TENNESSEE AND TEXAS. OBJECTIVE 2 TITLE DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT A PILOT COMMUNICATIONS CAMPAIGN TARGETING NON HUNTINGSPORT SHOOTERS AND FIREARMS OWNERS IN TENNESSEE AND TEXAS. OBJECTIVE 3 TITLE PRODUCE A COMPREHENSIVE FINAL REPORT AND COMMUNICATE RESULTS TO ALL 50 STATE FISHAND WILDLIFE AGENCIES.THIS PROJECT WILL PRODUCE ACTIONABLE RESEARCH FINDINGS THAT DRIVE CONCRETE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COMMUNICATIONS ANDMARKETING THE RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE FURTHER INFORMED BY THE RESULTS OF A NEW COMMUNICATIONS CAMPAIGNIMPLEMENTED IN TWO SOUTHEASTERN PILOT STATES. ANOTHER BENEFIT OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL BE NEW INFORMATION THATSTATES CAN USE TO ENGAGE AN IMPORTANT AUDIENCE FOR R3, AS THE ATTITUDES OF NON HUNTING SPORT SHOOTERS AND FIREARMSOWNERS REGARDING THE PROGRAMS OF THE FEDERAL AID IN WILDLIFE RESTORATION ACT HAVE NEVER BEEN EXPLORED ON THENATIONAL SCALE. THE PROJECT RESULTS WILL HELP TO SAFEGUARD STATE CONSERVATION FUNDING IN THE YEARS TO COME BYSTRENGTHENING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN NON HUNTING PITTMAN ROBERTSON CONTRIBUTORS AND THE WILDLIFE PROJECTS THEYHELP TO FUND. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROPOSED PROJECT INCLUDES A RESULTS DRIVEN CAMPAIGN COMPONENT, MEANING THE RESEARCHWILL IMMEDIATELY BE PUT INTO ACTION. THE OVERALL EFFECT WILL BE TO SUBSTANTIALLY IMPROVE THE RELEVANCY OF STATE FISH ANDWILDLIFE AGENCIES AMONG A BROADER SEGMENT OF THE PUBLIC. PROJECT FINDINGS AND IMPLICATIONS WILL BE SHARED AT NATIONALAND REGIONAL CONFERENCES AND IN INDUSTRY NEWSLETTERS AND PUBLICATIONS.

THIS AWARD WILL SUPPORT PROGRAM MANAGEMENT FOR THE NATIONAL FISH HABITAT BOARD. THIS POSITION SUPPORTED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES WILL PROVIDE COMMUNICATIONS SUPPORT FOR THE BOARD, FISH HABITAT PARTNERSHIPS AND THE OVERALL NFHP PROGRAM, AS WELL AS PROVIDE SCIENCE AND DATA SUPPORT FOR NFHP, TRAVEL AND MEETING SUPPORT FOR THE BOARD, BOARD STAFF, AND SCIENCE AND DATA MANAGERS, AS WELL AS PARTICIPATION IN ASSOCIATED NFHP MEETINGS.

THIS INITIATIVE IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE SOUTHEASTERN ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES, MIDWEST ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES, COUNCIL TO ADVANCE HUNTING AND THE SHOOTING SPORTS, DJ CASE AND ASSOCIATES, SOUTHWICK ASSOCIATES, AND PARTICIPATING STATES.HOW DO NEW AND BEGINNER HUNTERS USE SOCIAL MEDIA IN THEIR HUNTING JOURNEYS? DOES USAGE AMONG NOVICE HUNTERS VARY BY PLATFORM? SHOULD STATE WILDLIFE AGENCY RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, AND REACTIVATION SPECIALISTS SEEK OUT AND ENGAGE WITH NOVICE HUNTERS ON SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, AND IF SO, HOW? HOW CAN STATES AND PARTNERS ENGAGE WITH SPECIFIC HUNTER SEGMENTS TO MAXIMIZE OUR RETURN ON INVESTMENT? WITHOUT ANSWERS, THE RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, AND REACTIVATION COMMUNITY CAN ONLY GUESS HOW TO MARKET TO POTENTIAL NEW HUNTERS, AND THE IMPACTS OF THESE PLATFORMS ON HUNTER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION ARE NOT WELL KNOWN.THIS PROJECT SEEKS TO COMPREHENSIVELY UNDERSTAND HOW NOVICE HUNTERS UTILIZE SOCIAL MEDIA FOR LEARNING AND SOCIAL SUPPORT, PROVIDING CRUCIAL INSIGHTS FOR ENHANCING RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION EFFORTS. NOVICE HUNTERS SOCIAL MEDIA BEHAVIORS CAN HELP FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES CREATE TARGETED OUTREACH PROGRAMS, ALLOCATE RESOURCES EFFICIENTLY, AND IMPROVE RECRUITMENT OUTCOMES. THIS PROJECT WILL EMPLOY A MULTIFACETED APPROACH, COMBINING REGIONAL FOCUS GROUPS, SOCIAL LISTENING TECHNIQUES, AND A SURVEY OF NEW LICENSEES TO ANALYZE THE IMPACTS OF SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AND PERSONAL INTERACTIONS WITH THEM.THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES FOR FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDE PROVIDING VALUABLE INSIGHT INTO THE SOCIAL MEDIA HABITS OF NOVICE HUNTERS. BY UNDERSTANDING WHICH PLATFORMS AND CONTENT ENGAGE THEM MOST EFFECTIVELY AND ENABLING AGENCIES TO EFFECTIVELY ALLOCATE LIMITED MARKETING BUDGETS AND OPTIMIZE SOCIAL MEDIA ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES. DELIVERABLES FROM THIS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS WITH A COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL LISTENING INVENTORY, DETERMINING HOW NOVICE HUNTERS USE THESE PLATFORMS, A DETAILED REPORT ON REGIONAL FOCUS GROUPS, AND SURVEY FINDINGS FOR OPTIMIZING THE USE OF SOCIAL MEDIA FOR NOVICE HUNTERS IN THE SOUTHEASTERN AND MIDWEST REGIONS. KEY TOPICS AND TERMS WILL BE IDENTIFIED FOR BUILDING THE SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRE, AND A REPORT SUMMARIZING KEY FINDINGS WILL BE PRODUCED.TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY AND RECRUIT PARTICIPANTS, THERE IS A NEED TO CONTINUE UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS TO RECRUIT NEW AND BEGINNER HUNTERS TO BE THE BEST POSSIBLE STEWARDS OF THE LIMITED FUNDING AVAILABLE FOR RECRUITMENT, RETENTION, AND REACTIVATION. WITHOUT FUNDING FOR THIS PROJECT, RECRUITING AND RETAINING NEW PARTICIPANTS IN HUNTING THROUGH ONLINE PLATFORMS WILL BE LIMITED WITHOUT KNOWING MORE SPECIFICS OF HOW TO REACH THIS SPECIFIC TARGET AUDIENCE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

COORDINATION OF SCIENCE AND RESEARCH

MULTISTATE CONSERVATION GRANT PROGRAM COORDINATION

STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES ARE CHARGED WITH MANAGING WILDLIFE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC BUT MANY FEDERAL AGENCIES ALSO SHARE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES ACROSS STATE BOUNDARIES AND ENGAGE IN INTERNATIONAL FORUMS. IN ADDITION, NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS (NGOS) DEDICATED TO SPECIES AND HABITAT CONSERVATION OPERATE AT REGIONAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL LEVELSOFTEN IN COORDINATION WITH STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS. WITHOUT STRONG, STRATEGIC COORDINATION AMONG ALL PARTIES, THE FULL BENEFITS OF THESE VARIED EFFORTS CANNOT BE REALIZED. SUCCESSFUL CONSERVATION ACROSS NORTH AMERICA REQUIRES DEDICATED RESOURCES TO BRING STATE AGENCY LEADERS TO THE TABLE AND ENSURE THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD. MANY STATE AGENCIES ARE ALREADY STRETCHED THIN, WITH LIMITED RESOURCES FOCUSED ON INTERNAL, STATE-SPECIFIC PRIORITIES. WITHOUT EXTERNAL SUPPORT, THEY OFTEN LACK THE CAPACITY TO PARTICIPATE MEANINGFULLY IN BROADER, MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL EFFORTS. FOR EXAMPLE, DECISIONS MADE THROUGH INTERNATIONAL BODIES SUCH AS THE CONVENTION ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF WILD FAUNA AND FLORA (CITES) AND THE INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE (IUCN) CAN SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT THE AUTHORITY AND OPERATIONS OF STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES. WHILE U.S. FEDERAL AGENCIES, FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS, AND NGOS ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN THESE FORUMS, STATE AGENCIES FREQUENTLY LACK THE TIME AND FUNDING NEEDED TO ENGAGE EFFECTIVELY. PARTICIPATION IN CITES IS PARTICULARLY CRITICAL DUE TO ITS ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS. THE TRADE OF FURBEARERS SUPPORTS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF AMERICANS AND GENERATES HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS ANNUALLY IN TAX REVENUE AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITY. ENSURING A COORDINATED AND INFORMED STATE AGENCY PRESENCE IN INTERNATIONAL CONSERVATION DISCUSSIONS IS ESSENTIAL. TO MEET THIS NEED, THE CITES TECHNICAL WORK GROUP WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1994 BY THE STATES. IN PARALLEL, DEDICATED RESOURCES ARE ALSO NEEDED TO FOSTER, MAINTAIN, AND EXPAND RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN STATE AGENCIES AND INDUSTRY. HUNTING- AND ANGLING-SUPPORTIVE INDUSTRIES CONTRIBUTE SUBSTANTIAL EXCISE TAX REVENUE UNDER THE WILDLIFE AND SPORT FISH RESTORATION ACTSFUNDING THAT FORMS A SIGNIFICANT PORTION OF STATE AGENCY BUDGETS. IMPROVED COMMUNICATION WITH INDUSTRY REDUCES MISUNDERSTANDING AND PROMOTES COLLABORATION AT EVENTS AND CONFERENCES WHERE NGOS AND INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES CONVENE. EFFECTIVE COORDINATION ALSO RELIES ON STRONG CENTRALIZED COMMUNICATION. ACCESSIBLE PLATFORMS ENSURE THAT KEY ISSUES ARE IDENTIFIED, AND THAT STATE AGENCIES AND THEIR PARTNERS CAN COLLABORATIVELY DEVELOP SOLUTIONS TO CROSS-JURISDICTIONAL, NATIONAL, AND REGIONAL CHALLENGES. CURRENTLY, THE ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES (AFWA) WEBSITELAUNCHED IN 2018IS OUTDATED AND ONLY PARTIALLY MEETS SECTION 508 COMPLIANCE. A REDESIGNED WEBSITE WILL ENSURE MOBILE OPTIMIZATION, PRIORITY ACCESSIBILITY LEVEL AA 508 COMPLIANCE, AND IMPROVED SEARCH ENGINE VISIBILITY (SEO), ENHANCING ACCESSIBILITY FOR AFWA MEMBERS AND PARTNERS AND SUPPORTING BROADER COORDINATION EFFORTS. OUTCOMES OF THIS PROJECT WILL INCLUDE INCREASED STATE PARTICIPATION IN CRITICAL INTERNATIONAL AND NATIONAL CONSERVATION FORUMS, IMPROVED COLLABORATION BETWEEN AGENCIES AND INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDERS, AND A MODERNIZED COMMUNICATION PLATFORM TO SUPPORT COORDINATION ACROSS JURISDICTIONS. TOGETHER, THESE INVESTMENTS WILL AMPLIFY THE STATES VOICE IN CONSERVATION POLICY AND STRENGTHEN THE LONG-TERM CAPACITY OF AGENCIES TO MANAGE WILDLIFE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC.

THE SOUTHEAST AQUATIC RESOURCES PARTNERSHIP (SARP) IS PROPOSING TO EXPAND OUR EXISTING INVENTORY AND PRIORITIZATION OF AQUATIC BARRIERS INTO AN ADDITIONAL 13 STATES TO PROVIDE COVERAGE OF ALL 50 STATES PLUS PUERTO RICO. THIS WILL FACILITATE A TRULY NATIONAL SNAPSHOT OF THE EXTENT OF AQUATIC HABITAT FRAGMENTATION AND WILL IDENTIFY WHICH OF THESE BARRIERS MAY HAVE THE GREATEST BENEFIT FOR FEDERALLY LISTED AT-RISK, STATE GREATEST CONSERVATION NEED, AND RECREATIONAL AQUATIC SPECIES. ADDITIONAL STATES COVERED WILL INCLUDE MAINE, NEW HAMPSHIRE, VERMONT, MASSACHUSETTS, RHODE ISLAND, CONNECTICUT, NEW YORK, PENNSYLVANIA, NEW JERSEY, DELAWARE, MARYLAND, WEST VIRGINIA, AND HAWAII. THE LONG-TERM GOAL OF THE PROJECT IS TO HAVE A COMPREHENSIVE NATIONAL DATABASE THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC ACCESS TO EXPLORE LOCATIONS OF BARRIERS, PRIORITIZE POTENTIALLY HIGH PRIORITY BARRIERS, AND MODELING TO ULTIMATELY GUIDE FISH PASSAGE RESTORATION AND INCREASE SUSTAINABILITY TO BOTH NATIVE AND THREATENED AND ENDANGERED AQUATIC POPULATIONS. TO REACH THIS GOAL, THE FOLLOWING ACTIVITIES WILL BE IMPLEMENTED. 1) PROVIDE THE BEST AVAILABLE LOCATIONAL AND DESCRIPTIVE BARRIER DATA, 2) PROVIDE TOOLS FOR PRIORITIZATION OF BARRIERS THAT HAVE GROUND-VERIFIED INFORMATION, 3) PROVIDE A USER-FRIENDLY INTERFACES FOR PARTNERS TO UTILIZE FOR VIEWING, SUMMARIZING, PRIORITIZATION AND INCORPORATING LOCAL INFORMATION ON SPECIFIC BARRIERS.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS AGREEMENT IS TO FACILITATE THE COOPERATION OF THE TWO PARTIES IN DEVELOPING SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION ON ANIMAL TRAPS FOR SELECTED

SPONSORSHIP OF AFWA ANNUAL MEETING AND SPONSORSHIP OF THE OCEAN POLICY COMMITTEE

DEVELOPING SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION ON ANIMAL TRAPS FOR SELECTED WILD VERTEBRATE SPECIES.

DEVELOPING SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION ON ANIMAL TRAPS FOR SELECTED WILD VERTEBRATE SPECIES.

FIREARMS FUNDAMENTALS COURSE PROMOTION THROUGH SEAFWA STATES

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER: L24AS00140FUNDING OPPORTUNITY GOALS: GOALS1. IDENTIFYING AND SUPPORTING PROJECTS THAT ADDRESS WILDLIFE HABITAT RESTORATION THAT ARE IN ALIGNMENT WITH RESTORATION LANDSCAPES, AND ADDRESS HABITAT LAND HEALTH STANDARDS, AND IMPROVING CONNECTIVITY SUPPORTING WILDLIFE MIGRATION SUCH AS BIG GAME, AND MIGRATORY BIRDS. 2. PROJECTS THAT SUPPORT COLLABORATIONS WITH STATE AND TRIBAL WILDLIFE AGENCIES TO ADDRESS DATA GAPS, IMPLEMENT COORDINATED LANDSCAPE OR REGIONAL MONITORING TO INFORM POPULATIONS STATUS AND TREND TIED TO PUBLIC LANDS ADMINISTERED BY BLM. 3. SUPPORT PROJECTS THAT WILL ASSIST BLM WITH USING EXISTING ASSESSMENTS OR DATA TO UNDERSTAND CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS ON LANDSCAPE OR PRIORITY ECOSYSTEMS IMPORTANT TO ACHIEVING SHORT- AND LONG-TERM HABITAT OBJECTIVES, FOR EXAMPLE WATER AVAILABILITY DURING EXTENDED DROUGHTS, OR NEW OR EMERGING IMPACTS FOR INVASIVE SPECIES.THIS PROPOSED PROJECT SEEKS TO COORDINATE WORK BETWEEN STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES AND THE BUREAUOF LAND MANAGEMENT ON GOLDEN EAGLE MONITORING AND THEIR CONSERVATION RELATING TO RENEWABLE ENERGYSITING AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE WEST. WE PROPOSE TO CONDUCT A NEEDS ASSESSMENT OF STATE FISH AND WILDLIFEAGENCIES TO BETTER UNDERSTAND EXISTING GOLDEN EAGLE MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT PROTOCOLS, DATAAVAILABILITY, DATA LIMITATIONS, AND DATA CONCERNS, AND TO DETERMINE HOW THESE DATA ARE OR CAN BE BETTERINTEGRATED INTO RENEWABLE ENERGY SITING CONSULTATIONS. DATA FROM THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT WILL BE EVALUATEDBY A TASK TEAM MADE UP OF REPRESENTATIVES FOR WESTERN STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES, THE BUREAU OFLAND MANAGEMENT, AND OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES AND NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AS APPROPRIATE TODEVELOP ACTIONABLE RECOMMENDATIONS RELATED TO GOLDEN EAGLE DATA COLLECTION AND MANAGEMENT. ASEPARATE TASK TEAM WILL BE FORMED WITH STATE WILDLIFE ACTION PLAN COORDINATORS TO PROVIDE A FORUM FORDISCUSSION AND TO DEVELOP VOLUNTARY RECOMMENDATIONS ON BETTER INCORPORATING RENEWABLE ENERGYCONSIDERATION INTO STATE WILDLIFE ACTION PLANS, MOST OF WHICH WILL BE UPDATED AND REVISED BY OCTOBER2025. LASTLY, THIS PROJECT WILL STRIVE TO BETTER COORDINATE AND BUILD STRONGER COLLABORATION BETWEEN THEASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES, THE BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, AND STATE FISH AND WILDLIFEAGENCIES ON GOLDEN EAGLE CONSERVATION, RENEWABLE ENERGY SITING, AND FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION MOREBROADLY. EXPECTED DELIVERABLES AND OUTCOMES INCLUDE THE FIRST MONITORING AND RENEWABLE ENERGY NEEDSASSESSMENT OF STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES, DEVELOPMENT OF A MONITORING PROTOCOL AND STANDARDSTECHNICAL DOCUMENT, A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF DATABASE NEEDS, CHALLENGES, A ROADMAP FOR FUTUREDATABASE DEVELOPMENT, VOLUNTARY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR STATE WILDLIFE ACTION PLANS, COMMUNICATION OFPROJECT-RELATED FINDING AND PRODUCTS TO STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCY LEADERS AND PRACTITIONERS THROUGHCUSTOMIZED WEBINARS, E-NEWSLETTERS, EMAILS, COMMITTEES AND BY OTHER MEANS. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES OFTHIS PROJECT INCLUDE BIRD CONSERVATION PRACTITIONERS AND STATE WILDLIFE ACTION PLAN COORDINATORS, BUREAU OFLAND MANAGEMENT LEADERS AND STAFF, AND OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES SUCH AS THE US FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE,US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, AND PRIVATE NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS THE RENEWABLE ENERGY WILDLIFEINSTITUTE.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS AGREEMENT IS TO FACILITATE THE COOPERATION OF THE TWO PARTIES IN DEVELOPING SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION ON ANIMAL TRAPS FOR SELECTED

SCIENCE COORDINATION TEAM

UNDERSTANDING IMPACTS OF ROAD RELATED BARRIERS ON DIFFERENT SPECIES GUILDS

THE PURPOSE OF THIS AGREEMENT IS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION LEADING TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES FOR CAPTURE OF FURBEARERS, ANIMALS P

CONSERVING FISH HABITAT COLLABORATIVELY IN THE UNITED STATES THROUGH THE NATIONAL FISH HABITAT PARTNERSHIP

NATIONAL FISH HABITAT ACTION PLAN IMPLEMENTATION: MEETING THE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR 2010.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS AGREEMENT IS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION ON TRAP PERFORMANCE IN OPERATIONAL USE AND CONTRIBUTE TO ONGOING BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES D