In principle, wildlife management in Canada and the United States follow the tenets of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. However, the historical foundations and the evolution of policies and funding mechanisms have taken very different paths.
Most state fish and wildlife agency directors, conservation organization leaders, and other wildlife professional have a robust understanding of the rich historical background and current policies of fish and wildlife management in the U.S. However, many often assume that similar approaches, policies and funding mechanisms exist in Canada. The fact is that both the history and policies of wildlife management in Canada are very different from the U.S. There is very little written about Canadian wildlife policy or law and the topic is often lumped with law related to fisheries, and it is characterized by a rich early jurisprudence that delineated federal and provincial constitutional authorities. Differences between Canadian and U.S. conservation governance, policy, funding, and land management authority offer key insights into how the overall North American Model of Wildlife Conservation might be modernized to address the ever-changing future needs of natural resource management.
This session will review the unique history and current policies and practices of wildlife management in Canada and explore opportunities for future collaboration between U.S. and Canadian wildlife management agencies.
Session Co-Chairs: Travis Ripley, Executive Director, Fish and Wildlife Policy, Government of Alberta; Virgil Moore, President AFWA, Director, Idaho Department of Fish and Game; Ron Regan, Executive Director, Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies; Dean Smith, NAWMP Director/Wildlife Liaison (Canada), Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies