RENEWED PARTNERSHIP STRENGTHENS FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION ON MILITARY INSTALLATIONS

The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (Association) has renewed its cooperative partnership with the Department of War and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to strengthen coordination on the conservation and management of fish, wildlife, and their habitats on military installations under the Sikes Act Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Under the Sikes Act, more than 350 military installations develop and implement Integrated Natural Resources Management Plans (INRMPs) in collaboration with state fish and wildlife agencies and the USFWS. These plans guide natural resource conservation and management in ways that support and remain consistent with military readiness.

“Military installations play an important role in fish and wildlife conservation, often supporting some of the nation’s highest-quality habitats,” said Ryan Brown, Executive Director of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and President of the Association. “Through this partnership, we can help conserve these valuable natural resources while providing military personnel, their families, and the public with opportunities to enjoy hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreation when compatible with the military mission.”

The renewed MOU builds on more than two decades of collaboration, innovation, and shared conservation accomplishments. It will advance priority fish and wildlife conservation efforts while promoting compatible public access and outdoor recreation, including hunting and fishing, when feasible and consistent with military readiness requirements.

The MOU also emphasizes the integration of newly revised State Wildlife Action Plans into INRMP planning and implementation. This coordination will help support the recovery of state- and federally listed species while advancing proactive conservation efforts for other at-risk species, helping reduce the need for future listings under the Endangered Species Act.

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The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies represents North America’s fish and wildlife agencies to advance sound, science-based management and conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitats in the public interest. The Association represents its state agency members on Capitol Hill and before the Administration to advance favorable fish and wildlife conservation policy and funding and works to ensure that all entities work collaboratively on the most important issues. The Association also provides member agencies with coordination services on cross-cutting as well as species-based programs that range from birds, fish habitat and energy development to climate change, wildlife action plans, conservation education, leadership training and international relations. Working together, the Association’s member agencies are ensuring that North American fish and wildlife management has a clear and collective voice.