Changing the personnel structure of an organization is a major undertaking, and not one to be taken lightly. The Wildlife Management Institute (WMI) often assists our partner agencies and organizations with guidance on internal restructuring in conjunction with the development or revision of a strategic plan. While aligning an organization’s structure with the priorities set forth in their strategic plan is often the primary driver, WMI also recommends removing excessive levels of supervision and increasing supervisory span of control, to the extent practicable, to optimize the use of personnel and other resources.

Wolves in the northern Rocky Mountains are continuing to increase their numbers and distribution, sparking intense interest and debate across the western states. The well-established populations in Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Oregon, and Washington are thrilling to some residents, but seen as threatening by others. A ballot initiative that passed last November requires Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) to restore wolves to that state by the end of 2023. Meanwhile, recently-passed bills in Idaho and Montana authorized a wide range of additional methods for taking wolves and mandated their state agencies to reduce wolf numbers. The actions in Idaho and Montana also led several pro-wolf groups to file a petition for emergency re-listing of wolves under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in May. The only certainty regarding wolves in the West is that management will be increasingly challenging in the years ahead.

The Wildlife Management Institute (WMI) is searching for a Project Manager to lead the “Towards an Integrated Nationwide Biodiversity Data Management System” project. The objective of this project is to develop a state-led and nationally coordinated integrated data system for geospatial information on fish, wildlife, and habitats. The project will build on existing regional data integration efforts such as the “Nature’s Network” with the Northeast Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, the Southeast Conservation Adaptation Strategy or “SECAS” with the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, the Crucial Habitat Assessment Tool or “CHAT” with the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and the ongoing work of the Midwest Landscape Initiative with the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.

USDA will open enrollment in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) with higher payment rates, new incentives, and a more targeted focus on the program’s role in climate change mitigation. Additionally, USDA is announcing investments in partnerships to increase climate-smart agriculture, including $330 million in 85 Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) projects and $25 million for On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials.

The Rio Grande cutthroat trout is a cultural icon in Colorado and New Mexico, but its populations are threatened. After one hundred years of human population growth, climate change, and species invasions, the fish now occupies only 12% of its historic range. Researchers at the USGS New Mexico Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit (New Mexico CRU) and USGS Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASCs) are working to understand the mechanisms behind native trout declines to aid conservation efforts.