The Voice of Fish & Wildlife Agencies

February 2009
Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network (WHSRN) Meeting
Feb. 23-29: Conservationists from across the hemisphere discuss the conservation of priority shorebirds at the WHSRN Council meeting held in Santa Marta, Colombia

Record Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program Apportionments 
Feb. 23: Dept. of Interior Secretary Salazar announces that more than $740.9 million will be distributed to state fish and wildlife agencies to fund conservation, boater access to public waters, and hunter and aquatic education

Teaming With Wildlife Fly-In Days 
Feb. 24-25: More than 100 people advocate on Capitol Hill to increase funding for State and Tribal Wildlife Grants; Senator Tim Johnson (SD) and Representatives Todd Tiahrt (KS) Lloyd Doggett (TX) honored at Congressional Reception

March 2009 
Teaming With Wildlife Act
March 19: Senators Johnson (SD), Stabenow (MI), Tester (MT) and Thune (SD) introduce bill to help imperiled species and their habitats

2009 State of the Birds Report 
March 19: NABCI releases first-ever comprehensive report on U.S. bird populations; sends warning call about declines, highlights role of partnerships in conservation

Industry/Agency Coalition Spring Retreat
March 31-April 4: 17 leaders from state and federal agencies; fishing, archery, hunting and shooting sports industry; and trade groups gather in Ashland, NE to discuss the future of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation; Nebraska Game and Parks Commission hosts

April 2009
Teaming With Wildlife Coalition Reaches 6,000 
Hawaii Wildlife Center becomes the 6,000th member of the Teaming With Wildlife coalition

CITES Meetings
April 19-24: The 24th meeting of the Animals and Plants Joint Committee of the Convention on International trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora convenes in Geneva, Switzerland; the CITES Standing Committee meets April 7-11

Jim Range National Casting Call 
April 27: The National Fish Habitat Action Plan names its 2009 “10 Waters to Watch” and honors Second Annual Award winners - The Lake Leaders Institute, University of Wisconsin-Extension Lakes; Stephen J. Jordan, Lisa M. Smith, Janet A. Nestlerode, Environmental Protection Agency - Office of Research and Development; Yvon Chouinard; and Project SHARE

May 2009
U.S./Canada/Mexico Trilateral Meeting
May 11-15: Two AFWA representatives and participants from state and federal agencies meet in Miami, FL to discuss tri- and bi-national issues surrounding migratory birds, species of common concern and law enforcement

Compressive Climate & Energy Legislation Ad Campaign 
AFWA joins with nine NGOs to run a series of five ads in Congress Daily urging House Members to pass climate and energy legislation with dedicated funding to safeguard natural resources from climate change impacts

House Introduces the National Fish Habitat Conservation Act 
May 21: The U.S. House of Representatives introduces bill in support of the National Fish Habitat Action Plan, establishing a national framework for freshwater and coastal habitat protection, restoration and enhancement through the work of regional Fish Habitat Partnerships; Senate passes its version on June 9

June 2009
U.S. Nat’l Ramsar Committee
June 25: Committee members discuss new and upcoming Ramsar nominations and the threats that face Ramsar sites across the U.S.

NFHAP One-year-out Workshop 
June 23-25: Brainstorming, networking and advancing the work of the National Fish Habitat Action Plan are on the agenda for the workshop held in Leesburg, VA

July 2009
White Paper on Modern Snaring Technology 
July 15: AFWA’s Furbearer Conservation Technical Work Group in conjunction with the National Trapper’s Association, the Furtakers of America and several U.S. trap manufacturers produce a white paper on modern snaring, providing guidance on how snares can be used to produce the best animal welfare results for captured furbearers.

August 2009
Farm Bill Conservation Programs Guide 
AFWA in cooperation with the U.S. NABCI Committee releases white paper highlighting the importance of increasing biological capacity to deliver Farm Bill conservation programs

September 2009 
Trapper Training Best Management Practices 
Sept. 1: The Furbearer Conservation Technical Workgroup releases two new BMPs for Mink and Striped Skunk; bringing total number of BMPs to 17

99th Annual Meeting 
Sept. 13-16: Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept. hosts AFWA’s 99th Annual Meeting in Austin, TX; plenary focuses on renewable energy development and fish and wildlife management

Climate Change Wildlife Action Plan Guidance Document 
The Climate Change-Wildlife Action Plan working group completes work on a 53-page, “living” voluntary guidance document to help states incorporate climate change into Wildlife Action Plans and other management plans

October 2009
National Conservation Leadership Institute Cohort 4 
Oct. 11: The 36 NCLI Fellows of Cohort 4 begin 11-day residency in Shepherdstown, WV to hone adaptive leadership skills

Joint Management Committee (JMC) Meeting on International Humane Trapping Standards 
Oct. 20-22: Gordon Batcheller (NY), John Olson (WI) and AFWA staff serve as U.S. delegation to first official JMC meeting in Moscow with representatives from Canada, the European Union (EU) and the Russian Federation; presents trap research and succeeds in maintaining current trapping MOU with EU

Oct. 21: The U.S. delegation meets with Russian Natural Resource officials to collaborate on bobcat and polar bear listings for CITES

The North American Conservation Education Strategy: A Tool Kit for Achieving Excellence 
Oct. 23: AFWA’s CE working group distributes a collection of resources to help state agencies enhance their CE programs and coordinate with their state departments of education

November 2009
Clean Energy Economy Forum 
Nov. 2: AFWA represents state agencies at Sec. Salazar’s forum discussing the need for a comprehensive energy plan that reduces U.S. dependence on foreign oil, creates jobs and reduces pollution that causes climate change

Amphibian & Reptile Regulatory Summit
Nov. 4: AFWA’s Amphibian and Reptile Subcommittee and Law Enforcement Committee hold national summit focused on commercial use of U.S. native herptofauna

Recruitment & Retention Summit
Nov. 11: AFWA collaborates with the greater sportsmen community on Recruitment and Retention of Hunters and Anglers; hosted by the Nat’l Wild Turkey Federation in Edgefield, SC

December 2009
Ocean Resources Policy Committee 
AFWA establishes a new Ocean Resources Policy Committee to consider ocean conservation issues such as catch shares, marine spatial planning and more