Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies

The Association Applauds Secretarial Memo The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (Association) applauds the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for issuing the Secretarial Memorandum on Conserving and Restoring Terrestrial Wildlife Habitat Connectivity and Corridors in the United States. Earlier this week, the Association’s President, Judy Camuso, joined USDA Under Secretaries responsible for Farm Production and Conservation, the U.S. Forest Service and Marketing and Regulatory Programs to announce the department-wide effort to support terrestrial wildlife habitat connectivity. “We appreciate Secretary Vilsack’s leadership and vision in the development of this Secretarial Memorandum,” said Judy Camuso, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife and President of the Association. “We applaud Undersecretaries Bonnie, Wilks and Moffit for their commitment to coordinate with states to identify priorities for terrestrial wildlife habitat connectivity and corridors, and to work in partnership with states, tribes and our NGO partners to deliver meaningful conservation by prioritizing corridors and connectivity.” The Secretarial Memorandum directs the USDA to incorporate terrestrial wildlife habitat connectivity and corridors into relevant planning processes, programs, and assessments, and improve coordination with State, Tribal, NGO, and private partners. This memorandum will support a locally led, incentive-based, voluntary approach to wildlife conservation that builds on the success of Secretarial Order 3362. “The Association and our state and territorial fish and wildlife agency members look forward to working with the USDA and partners to successfully implement this memorandum and achieve its goals.” added President Camuso. “We all recognize that effective conservation and restoration of wide-ranging wildlife requires multijurisdictional, coordinated approaches, delivered through localized partnerships. Through locally led, incentive-based, and a voluntary approach we have delivered successful wildlife conservation and restoration in the U.S. This approach respects state and Tribal authority to manage wildlife species, and it also honors private property rights.” Read more: https://lnkd.in/dSD9e8Pp

More than Half of North American Bats at Risk: Groundbreaking Study Calls for International Action Last night, The State of the Bats in North America, the companion study to the 2023 report, identifies major threats to North American Bats and calls for urgent, coordinated support and action across Canada, the United States, and Mexico. The findings indicate the greatest impacts to threatened bat species include climate change, disease, wind energy production, and land-use change... [Read more --> https://lnkd.in/eik-NTVe]

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AFWA Invests over $11 Million in Strategic Conservation Through the Multistate Conservation Grant Program ? The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies invested $11.75 million in conservation by approving 46 projects through the Multistate Conservation Grant Program.?Association members formally endorsed these grants, which address critical conservation needs, at its 114th Annual Meeting, held September 22-25, 2024, in Madison, Wisconsin. For over two decades, the Multistate Conservation Grant Program (MSCGP) has been dedicated to conserving our nation’s fish, wildlife, and habitats and recreational access to them. The MSCGP was established through the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act of 2000. This cycle, the MSCGP has up to $12.25 million to support projects supporting fish and wildlife conservation work done by state fish and wildlife agencies and other conservation organizations. The 46 grants approved this year focus on?five strategic priorities identified by the Association’s membership: 1. Conservation & Science 2. Expanding Relevancy and Engagement (ERE) 3. Capacity Building, Conservation Education, and Coordination of Conservation Policies 4. AFWA Priorities Identified in AFWA Funding Principles 5. Recruitment, Retention, Reactivation (R3) The?list of recommended grants will be submitted to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service for final approval. The Multistate Conservation Grant Program is administered by the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eX9T_mT5

State Fish & Wildlife Agency Directors Pass Ten Resolutions at AFWA’s 2024 Annual Meeting ? The voting membership of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies passed ten resolutions during its Business Meeting held on September 25, 2024, in Madison, Wisconsin. Resolution 2024-01-10: ?Use of the Hunter Education Core Curriculum and Continued Support for Regulated Hunting in North America Resolution 2024-02-10:?Supporting the Creation of an Interdisciplinary Training, Research, and Development Center to Support Instream Flow and Water Level Conservation Resolution 2024-03-10:?Supporting the AFWA-ACP-EWAC Communications Framework for Solar Energy Project Proponents and State Fish and Wildlife Agencies Resolution 2024-04-10:?Support for the Climate Adaptation Strategy for America’s Fish, Wildlife, and Plants Resolution 2024-05-10:?Support for the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) Resolution 2024-06-10: Recognizing the 25th Anniversary of Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC) Resolution 2024-07-10: Recognizing the 25th Anniversary of the North American Bird Conservation Initiative Resolution 2024-08-10: Recognizing the 15th Anniversary of Southern Wings Resolution 2024-09-10: In Opposition to the Release of Captive-Bred Cervids into Free-Ranging White-Tailed Deer Populations Resolution 2024-10-10:?Appreciation to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for a Successful 114th Annual Meeting Read more: https://lnkd.in/eVzYFvWW

Judith Camuso Elected 2024-2025 President of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies ? The membership of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (Association) elected Judith Camuso, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, and resident of Falmouth, as its new president during its 114th Annual Meeting in Madison, Wisconsin during September 22-25, 2024. Ms. Camuso is only the second woman in the Association’s 122-year history to serve in this position. She will serve as the Association President through September 2025. In accepting the Association’s Presidency, Camuso reflected on her commitment to fish and wildlife conservation and the need to build more support for the work of state, provincial, and territorial fish and wildlife agencies. The focal areas of her presidency will be on communication, engagement with new partners, and agency long-term financial security.?She also expressed immense gratitude for the leadership and accomplishments made by AFWA under Past-President Chuck Sykes. “I will do my best to represent all state fish and wildlife agencies, and the needs in each region,” said Camuso.?“We will work together to communicate with the broader conservation community and public and make sure they understand what we do, why we do it, and how it benefits them.” ? ?????????? “Judy’s leadership, innovation, and ability to connect people to wildlife and nature will be invaluable during her AFWA Presidency,” said Chuck Sykes, 2023-2024 AFWA President. “She brings a wealth of experience in education, wildlife conservation, and public policy to the table; she is an avid birder, hunter, and outdoors enthusiast; and will work to further conservation of our precious natural resources.” Judith Camuso was nominated to serve as Commissioner of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife by Governor Janet T. Mills in 2019 and is the first woman to lead the department, overseeing the conservation and management of the inland fisheries and wildlife resources of the state. In 2018, Camuso was named one of Maine Magazine's 50 Mainer's of Maine and, in 2015, she received the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s Employee of the Year, Governor's Award. Before joining the department, she served as Gilsland Farm Center Director at Maine Audubon from 1996-2007. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eeZT6TJa

Congratulations and WELCOME, Judy Camuso, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, as AFWA's NEW President! THANK YOU to Chuck Sykes, Director with the Alabama Division of Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries, and now past-president of AFWA, for your leadership over the past year.

AFWA Honors its 2024 Annual Awards Recipients Washington D.C. (September 25, 2024)- The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) recognized six individuals, four distinguished groups, one state agency, one federal agency, and one private landowner for their dedication to advancing fish and wildlife conservation at the Association’s Annual Awards Ceremony on September 25, 2024, in Madison, Wisconsin. LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD This year’s recipient of AFWA’s FIRST Lifetime Achievement Award is Dr. Karen Waldrop, Chief Conservation Officer with Ducks Unlimited, which recognizes and honors an individual who has served and/or supported AFWA and helped impact the advancement of the AFWA agenda as well as to natural resource conservation in their own organization or agency. Karen’s expertise and passion for natural resource conservation have not only aligned perfectly with the goals of AFWA but have also set a benchmark for excellence in our profession. STEPHEN KELLERT AWARD Texas Master Naturalist Program, a program sponsored by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, is the recipient of this year’s Stephen Kellert Award. The Texas Master Natural Program excels at uniting people from diverse backgrounds and connecting them to the natural world. The program not only enhances participant appreciation for conservation, health, and well-being but also transforms them through the program’s mission into active stewards who teach these values to others. PRIVATE LANDS FISH AND WILDLIFE STEWARDSHIP AWARD This year’s recipient of the Association’s Private Lands Fish and Wildlife Stewardship Award is Terry Schmidt and the Schmidt Ranch for their proactive conservation and environmental practices and exhibiting outstanding stewardship of fish and wildlife resources on a ranch spanning 57,000 acres Scottsdale, Arizona. Mr. Schmidt and his staff have worked tirelessly to conserve and protect habitat at a landscape level across the ranch’s 57,000 acres.?Mr. Schmidt's decision to conserve the land and leave it “better than he found it” embodies good stewardship in all aspects! ? CONSERVATION LAW ENFORCEMENT AWARD The Conservation Law Enforcement Award recognizes exceptional achievement in fish and wildlife resource enforcement. This year’s recipient is the West Virginia Natural Resources Police Section, District IV. The officers of District IV showcase remarkable dedication and going above and beyond normal duties and responsibilities. Their Youth Hunt has been the pinnacle of public relations tools and sets the bar for the R-3 initiative creating recruitment, retention, and reactivation of hunters. ?The West Virginia Natural Resources Police Section, District IV is a shining example of excellence in Conservation Law Enforcement and embodies the very essence of this national-level recognition. [.... READ MORE: https://lnkd.in/e7SV6ycw]

A full house today for our Plenary Session at the 114th AFWA Annual Meeting. A big THANK YOU to our plenary speakers Buddy Huffaker, Executive Director, Aldo Leopold Foundation; Florence Williams, Journalist/author, Florence Williams; and Jason Sumners, Director, Missouri Department of Conservation for inspiring presentations. And another big THANK YOU to Diane Brusoe, Administrator – Division of Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Wisconsin DNR and Steven Little, Deputy Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, for the very warm welcome to Wisconsin!!!

Join us today for the "Workshop on Inclusive Recruitment & Retention of Agency Employees" Welcome to Madison for the AFWA Annual Meeting! If you're in town today come join us from 12:30 - 4:30pm at Monona Terrace for the Workshop on Inclusive Recruitment & Retention of Agency Employees. This workshop is open to all, no RSVP required.