The steering committee of the North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference announces the Special Session program for the 72nd North American, which will be held next March, in Portland, Oregon. Below are the session topics and abstracts, along with the names and contact information of the chairs of each session.

Persons who wish to be considered as a presenter in any Special Session, should query the appropriate chair or cochair to determine if that session agenda isn't complete and, if not, to provide a presentation/paper abstract [http://www.wildlifemanagementinstitute.org/transactions/abstractguidelines.pdf]. The deadline for requests and abstracts submissions is September 1.

Conservation and the Fuels Game
Chair: Thomas M. Franklin, The Izaak Walton League of America (302-548-0150; mailto:tfranklin@iwla.org)

Two of conservation's worst-kept secrets are that energy demand is increasing globally, particularly in North America and especially in the United States, and that all forms of energy development can negatively affect fish and wildlife resources. Most attention has been on the acceleration and proliferation of oil and gas developments, especially in western states. However, the various forms of "green" renewable energy production can also impact fish and wildlife. Given current, and likely continuing, national policy to maximize domestic energy production, it is important for wildlife managers to understand the impacts and the trade offs for wildlife among the various forms of production. This Special Session will compare the nature and scale of impacts of the major sources of energy, including oil and gas, coal, wind, solar, biofuels and nuclear. Presentations and discussion will focus on the role of fish, wildlife and land management agencies to mitigate or minimize energy-related landscape alterations that portend drastic compromise of natural resource values in North America.

Casting a Broader Net for Fisheries Management
Chair: Virgil Moore, Idaho Department of Fish and Game (208-334-3791; mailto:vmoore@idfg.state.id.us)

This Special Session will focus on the economic importance and contributions of both regional and national sport and commercial fisheries, and the challenges of maintaining healthy fish populations. Topics of discussion will include an update of the National Fish Habitat Plan, solutions for imperiled West Coast salmon, the serious matter of fish interrupted?impacts of discarded and discharged medications and other compounds, and examinations of California Delta and Columbia River water and fishery resource management issues.

The Future of Wildlife on Private Forest Land: Going Out on a Limb
Chair: Susan Stein, USDA Forest Service (202-205-0837; mailto:sstein@fs.fed.us)

Numerous "species of greatest conservation need" inhabit private forest lands, and their well-being is faced with three predominant threats?development, unsustainable management and no management. This Special Session will identify trends of changing forest land use and the nature and location of probable development impacts on wildlife in U.S. private forests. It also will explore the role that the Sustainable Forestry Initiative and State Wildlife Action Plans play in providing incentives for landowners to improve wildlife habitat through certification of forest management standards.

Targets of Opportunity: State Wildlife Action Plans
Chair: John Cooper, South Dakota Department of Fish, Game and Parks (605-773-3387; mailto:John.Cooper@state.sd.us)

At a time of scarce and declining resources, State Wildlife Action Plans offer an unparalleled opportunity to focus attention on priority conservation issues. This Special Session will summarize key elements of the Plans and identify priority issues. Emphasis will be on the need to coordinate the Plans with existing wildlife initiatives, such as the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, Partners in Flight, North American Woodcock Plan, Northern Bobwhite Conservation Initiative, Black-tailed Prairie Dog Plan and the National Fish Habitat Initiative, for reasons of efficiency, economy and effectiveness.