Advancing Implementation of the Fish and Wildlife Relevancy Roadmap
Strategic Priority
Conservation & Science - Human Dimensions & Conservation Social Science
Project Description
The conservation community has long recognized the need for innovative approaches to maintain relevance in a changing society. In response, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) and the Wildlife Management Institute (WMI) led the development of the Fish and Wildlife Relevancy Roadmap to guide state fish and wildlife agency (SFWA) efforts to engage and serve broader constituencies. This project will advance the implementation of the Relevancy Roadmap by pilot testing and refining methods SFWAs can use to understand and connect with underserved and nontraditional populations. The project will employ and evaluate a three-phased process, including in-depth consulting with SFWAs and a survey of the general population in states to inform the selection and implementation of strategies outlined in the Relevancy Roadmap. This approach is currently being tested in two states, Missouri and Ohio. This project will expand the pilot test to include states representing each AFWA region(Connecticut, Florida, Nevada, and Oklahoma) to provide a greater range of social, economic, and ecological operating environments for the evaluation. Each participating state has committed significant matching funds ($25,000 per state) and in-kind support. Results will benefit all SFWAs by providing new data and insights on underserved populations and refining a process any form can use to identify and explore their own relevancy needs and goals. This project will also benefit all SFWAs by continuing support for the Conservation Relevancy Community of Practice website that is used by over 325 wildlife professionals in all 50 states to communicate regarding relevancy efforts and advance implementation of the roadmap
Project Facts
- Federal Award Number: F22AP00585
- Organization Name: Wildlife Management Institute, Inc
- Organization Status: NGO classified as 501(c)(3)
- State: Pennsylvania
- Obligation: $238,275
- Start Date: 01-01-2022
- End Date: 12-31-2024
Results
The project completed relevancy initiatives with four state fish and wildlife agencies—Nevada, Oklahoma, Connecticut, and West Virginia—using a structured three‑phase process that included discovery, qualitative interviews, quantitative surveys, and collaborative development of customized agency relevancy action plans. Each state formed an internal cross‑divisional “relevancy team,” and project staff refined tools such as an agency readiness assessment and communications guidance to support effective engagement with broader and more diverse constituencies. All four states received tailored, co‑created relevancy implementation plans, several of which agencies have already begun acting on, and the project produced a comprehensive final report to guide additional states considering similar efforts. Lessons learned include the importance of targeted recruitment approaches, the need for realistic timelines due to staffing and scheduling constraints, and the value of in‑person engagement for efficient plan development. The project also confirmed that relevancy work must remain flexible and adaptive to unique state contexts, shifting priorities, and evolving public needs. As a result of this effort, the Wildlife Management Institute continues to support participating and additional states, share tools such as the Relevancy Guidebook and Toolkit, and expand national training and collaboration opportunities to strengthen conservation relevancy across the United States.
