September 2018 Edition | Volume 72, Issue 9
Published since 1946
Fish and Wildlife Conservation at Landscape Scales
The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) passed a resolution in support of landscape conservation during their 108th Annual meeting earlier this month. The formal recognition marks a milestone in the growing acceptance and use of collaborative, landscape-scale conservation to aid in the recovery or avoidance of federal Endangered Species Act listings, help reduce conflicts, mitigate key stressors and improve regulatory certainty.
For the past year, the Landscape Conservation Working Group of AFWA has been working to identify drivers for and barriers to landscape conservation and commonalities of success. Following submission of a white paper on this topic, the charter was extended to implement the recommendations contained in the white paper. The workgroup completed its work in time for the annual meeting and an addendum to the white paper along with a resolution was adopted in support of collaborative landscape conservation (see AFWA website for a link to the addendum).
In addition to documentation of progress made throughout the country by AFWA regional associations, the resolution contains a very practical set of guiding principles when developing or participating in landscape scale partnerships intended to conserve fish and wildlife. Agreement on a vision, boundaries, science and coordination, sustainable funding, efficient and effective meetings, strategic communication, involvement of partners including private landowners and strong personal relationships are important elements contained.