association of fish and wildlife agencies 2011 annual report
TRANSCRIPT
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2011 ANNUAL REPORT
ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES
Proudly celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the
Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program,
Americas most successful partnership for conservation
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I feel that the high tension atwhich the average man has been
living is wrecking entirely toomany nervous systems. Hunting
and fishing is the best nerve
tonic I know, and I believe thata greater opportunity for the
average citizen to engage in thistype of outdoor recreation wouldgreatly promote both the health
and happiness of our people.~ A. Willis Robertson, 1936
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Presidents Message 3 || Executive Directors Message 4 || Advocacy 6 || Authority 9 || Science 10 ||
Stewardship 14 || Leadership 16 || Annual Meeting & Annual Awards 17 || Committees, Subcommittees &Working Groups 18 || Officers & Executive Committee 18 || Members 19 || Financials & Staff 21
CONTENTS
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The Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937 is Americas greatestconservation secret. This partnership between industry, state fish andwildlife agencies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) has resulted
in unprecedented conservation success stories that affect, not only wildlife, but
also the generations of hunters to come.
Programs funded by the Wildlife Restoration Act have returned many of
our favorite species from all-time lows and some from the brink of extinction.
When the Act was passed, there were fewer than 500,000 white-tailed deer in
this country. They number nearly 20 million today. In the 1930s, there were
about 30,000 wild turkeys. There are now nearly seven million wild turkeys
nationwide. Pronghorn antelope, elk, wood duck, black bears and many others
have similar success stories.
Each quarter, when the hunting, shooting sports and archery manufacturers make their excise tax
payments under the Act, they help state fish and wildlife agencies improve habitat, restore and managespecies, open seasons, bring kids into the outdoors, build shooting ranges and secure access for every
hunter and shooter across the country. This critical commitment by Americas hunting and shooting sports
industry over the past 75 years ensures that there is money on the ground in states for wildlife conservation
and access that gets hunters, shooters and archers out enjoying the activities they love best.
But wildlife restoration is only half of the story of our partnership with the hunting and shooting
sports industry. With these funds, state agencies have been able to provide hunter education to more than
24 million people; build hundreds of public shooting ranges; develop Walk-In Hunting Access programs;
educate youth in schools about how conservation is funded; and deliver outdoor skills training. These
funds have also helped to acquire and maintain nearly 400 million acres of habitat across the country.
The Wildlife Restoration Program, and the excise tax it generates, is the lifeblood of every state fishand wildlife agency. Since 1937, more than $14 billion dollars have been entrusted to state agencies for
managing and restoring wildlife and their habitats. These funds are protected by law for conservation and
cannot be diverted to other programs.
As we celebrate the 75th Anniversary of the Wildlife Restoration Act, lets celebrate those who had the
wisdom and foresight to create the program that helps keep us all in businessboth industry and the state
fish and wildlife agenciesfor our customers are their customers too. And lets celebrate and recommit to
the partnership between the hunting and shooting sports industry, state fish and wildlife agencies and the
Service that will ensure our great shared legacy passes on to tomorrows sportsmen and women.
Jon Gassett, PhD
President of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies, 2011-2012
Commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
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ExEcuTIvE DIREcToRS MESSAGE
When I was much youngeras a young deer biologist, actuallyI cutmy teeth on preparing federal aid reports for white-tailed research andmanagement projects in Vermont. I dont remember learning much about
Wildlife Restoration/Pittman-Robertson funding in a real sense when I
studied at the University of Vermont, but the importance of those funds to
basic wildlife management would become indelibly imprinted on me during a
26-year career with the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department.
When I first began to manage those funds for the deer program, the
Wildlife Restoration program was 46 years old. Now we have reached the
programs 75th anniversary, and I sit in a different place professionally. But I
have not forgotten the importance of such funding to state fish and wildlife
agencies and their applied research and management priorities. Nor, can we
overlook the critical value of the Sport Fish Restoration Act (Dingell-Johnson) and the Boating Trust
Fund amendment (Wallop-Breaux) in protecting fish and their habitat.
The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies works to ensure the continued viability of the Pittman-
Robertson, Dingell-Johnson and Wallop-Breaux programs at every turn in Washington, DC. We celebrate
75 years of fish and wildlife conservation success with our federal and industry partners.
After months of planning in 2011, we recently kicked-off the 75th anniversary at the January 2012
SHOT Show, the nations premier firearms and ammunition trade show, sending a loud and clear message
about the unity of the partnership. AFWA President Jon Gassett and Nevada Wildlife Director Ken
Mayer were on hand to tell their stories about the importance of those funds to their stateside work. The
National Shooting Sports Foundations CEO, Steve Sanetti, made it clear that industry understands the
importance of these funds to both conservation and hunter and shooting sports programs, and Hannibal
Bolton, with the USFWS, reiterated the federal commitment to the oversight and delivery of those fundsconsistent with the purposes of the authorizing legislation.
But this is about more than looking back or simply celebrating success. It is every bit as much about
looking forward, thinking about stronger partnerships and new horizons. We hope you will take every
opportunity to tell the wildlife and sport fish restoration story in the coming year and that it will
become the building block for even greater conservation success in the future.
Ron Regan
Executive Director of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies
2011 ANNUAL REPORT Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies
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TENAcITY
The times were as bleak as a nation had ever known.Unemployment and economic stagnation were worseningin post-World War I America and the abundance of wildlife
riches that once graced the landscape were dwindling or disap-
pearing altogether.
Fledgling fish and game agencies were the stewards of their
states natural resources, funded solely through hunting and
fishing license revenues. Ever on guard against threats by cash-
strapped state administrations to divert their meager funding,
the agencies knew the need for action in wildlife restoration
was urgent.
With Theodore Roosevelt, the Conservation President, in
the White House, the members of the International Associa-
tion of Game, Fish and Conservation Commissioners (IAGFCC,
as the Association was known) saw their opportunity.
According to Carl Shoemaker, Secretary of the Senate SpecialCommittee on the Conservation of Wildlife Resources and
former Oregon wildlife chief, interests in wildlife and the out-
of-doors had grown by leaps and bounds. At the IAGFCCs
1936 convention, Shoemaker presented a legislative proposal
to the assembly that leveraged an already existing excise tax.
At the time, Congress was abolishing various excise taxes;
but conservationists unitedcontinue the 10% excise tax on
sporting arms and ammunition and apply the proceeds to
wildlife restoration programs through the states. Ammunition
companies supported the proposal and so did the IAGFCC,
which had a strong hand in its development.
On June 17, 1937, Senator Key Pittman of Nevada intro-duced the Federal Aid to Wildlife Restoration bill. Repre-
sentative A. Willis Robertson of Virginia, former head of the
Virginia Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries, dropped
a companion bill in the House hopper. It was Robertson who
added 29 of the most important words for state directors, ...
and which shall include a prohibition against the diversion of
license fees paid by hunters for any other purpose than the
administration of said state fish and game department.
With little debate, both bills passed quickly and unani-
mously. Roosevelt signed the Pittman-Robertson (P-R) Act
into law on September 2, 1937.Immediately thereafter, the IAGFCC declared itself in
favor of legislation that would provide federal funding to
states for fishing resources. They proposed the money would
come from an excise tax on fishing equipment and lures. This
P-R companion bill would be introduced in 1939 and again
in 1941, only to fail.
It wasnt until after World War II that Congressman John
Dingell from Michigan and Colorados Senator Edwin Johnson
would revive the bill. It passed in 1949, but was vetoed by
President Harry S. Truman, who disapproved of earmarking
funds. Dingell and Johnson tried again in 1950, and President
Truman signed the Sport Fish Restoration Act into law onAugust 9, 1950.
In the late 1970s, D-J Expansion became the rally cry
for the International Association of Fish & Wildlife Agen-
cies. D-J revenues had proved inadequate to the tasks of
providing sufficient fish habitat and fishing opportunities.
Conservation and sport fishing organizations, and eventually
the boating industry, supported the bill.
The Wallop-Breaux Boating Trust Fund amendment
would pass in 1984, broadening excise taxes on fishing tackle
and capturing a portion of the federal gasoline excise taxes
attributable to motorboatsroughly tripling the amount of
funding for sport fish restoration. Like P-R and D-J, users
would still financially sustain their own recreation as well as
that of others, or simply users pay, everyone benefits.
As we commemorate the 75th anniversary of P-R and the
legislation that followed to sustain the work of state fish and
wildlife agencies, we remember the tipping point supporters
of wildlife were organized and united, their cause, compelling.
Despite decades of disappointment and defeat, it was partner-
ship, perseverance and resolve amongst AFWAs membership,
industry and the greater conservation community that got us
to where we are today.
We are the voice of fish and wildlife agencies that speaks
collectively to advance science-based management and conser-
vation policy; increase funding; uphold states authority; andraise conservations next generation of stewards, sportsmen
and women and leaders. These are the tenacious roots upon
which we still grow.
Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies 2011 ANNUAL REPORT
ThE voIcE of fISh & WIlDlIfE AGENcIES
Living wild species are like a
library of books still unread.
Our heedless destruction of
them is akin to burning the
library without ever having
read its books.
~ John Dingell
Congressman
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ADvocAcY
Congressional RelationsIn 2011, Congress focused principally on two actions
cutting federal discretionary spending and reducing the
deficit. AFWAs membership and the conservation community
at large urged Senate and House negotiators not to balance
the budget on the back of conservation by disproportionately
cutting natural resources funding more severely than other
federal programs.
By most accounts, the Association succeeded fairly well
as a result of significant effort by state agency directors and
the community, which ultimately grew to a 1,000-member+
coalition of conservation, hunting, angling, recreation and
historic preservation organizations allied around support for
natural resource-agriculture-environment federal spending.
In the spring, Congress finally concluded FY11 spendingwith a year-long Continuing Resolution that restored some
of the severe cuts to conservation programs reflected in the
House-passed bills. Several months later, Congress established
the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to recom-
mend program savings of $1.2 trillion over 10 years in both
discretionary and non-discretionary spending (Farm Bill
included) in order to avert the kick-in of statutorily imposed
sequestration rescissions.
However, by the November deadline, the Super Committee
acknowledged its inability to arrive at consensus recom-
mendations. Consequently, the bi-partisan Farm Bill recom-
mendations, developed by Senate and House AgricultureCommittees leadership, lost the opportunity to be brought to
floor votes under privileged status, and thus pushed Farm Bill
reauthorization back to regular order.
Since the statutory sequestration triggers dont take effect
until January 2013, Congress has some time to develop an
alternative (to sequestration) legislative strategy, deliberate it
and pass a 10-year package of spending cuts, revenue raisers
and deficit reduction. The challenge with any longer-term,
budget-reduction package will be in getting the votes, espe-
cially in the Senate where this will most decidedly be a 60-vote
bill.
The deficit reduction law already set the FY12 allocation,
which the Senate and House used to close out the FY12
spending bills in two separate packages. Congress enacted
and President Obama signed a minibus in November
that contained Agriculture, Commerce and Transportation
spending. Farm Bill conservation programs endured signifi-
cant cuts, including a provision that prohibits USDA from
spending funds for salaries or other personnel use to administer
the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program
(VPA-HIP) program.
Congress further passed an Omnibus bill for the remaining
nine Appropriations bills, which was signed into law by the
President in late December. Spending levels for several pass-
through grant programs (State Wildlife Grants, North Amer-
ican Wetlands Conservation Act, Endangered Species Act
Section 6, Land and Water Conservation Fund, Neotropical
Migratory Bird Conservation Act) survived well and concluded
close to the FY11-enacted levels.
As evidenced in 2011, all programs remain under budget-
reduction scrutiny. Congress continues to wrestle with how
to pay for reauthorization of the massive Transportation bill
without raising the federal gas tax. The Association along
with other partners is working to ensure that full funding
from the gas excise tax attributable to outboard motors and
small engines continues to be transferred to the Wallop-
Breaux (W-B) program during the reauthorization. So far,
the community has thwarted several attempts to drastically
reduce funding to the Boating Safety Account of W-B; and,Congressional extensions (as opposed to comprehensive reau-
thorization) of Transportation spending authority are expected
through 2012.
2011 ANNUAL REPORT Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies
The nations struggling economy will compel austerefedera l spending, and thus AFWAs attention, for someyears hence. Outreach to Members of Congress by stateagencies and their constituents at home and on Capitol Hill is
invaluable toward protecting adequate levels of funding that
help create jobs; enhance rural economies; provide afford-
able and environmentally sustainable food and fiber; deliver
ecosystem services like clean water; and open Americas
public lands for hunting, fishing, boating and other outdoor
recreation.
From the desk of AFWA
In spite of wars, rumors of
wars, sun spots, elections and
politics, the trend in fish and
game legislation was upward.
~ Talbott Denmead, 1940
IAGFCC General Counsel
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Farm BillLandscape conservation initiatives
Never before in its 75-year history has the
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)invested more on landscape-level, special initia-
tives targeting fish and wildlife issues. In FY11,
NRCS allocated $330 million (about 30% of its
budget) to programs delivered through the Land-
scape Conservation Initiatives that improve habitat
conditions for populations managed by state agen-
cies. In putting money on the ground, NRCS also
demonstrated to the agriculture industry that
conservation actions and production agriculture
can work together to deliver great success.
To date, NRCS has implemented 15 landscape conserva-
tion initiatives, which deliver customized conservation prac-
tices to important agricultural lands within geographic focusareas. Through these initiatives, NRCS seeks to accomplish
landscape-scale conservation using a science-based and
results-oriented approach that builds on existing locally led
efforts and partnerships; provides dedicated funding; and in
some instances, provides regulatory certainty for agriculture
through voluntary conservation practices.
acres & Grants
The Farm Services Agency (FSA) had a banner year for
enrollment in State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE)
practices in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). On top
of enrolling 2.6 million acres through the General Sign-up fora year-end total of 29.7 million acres, states are approaching
the full SAFE allocation by enrolling over 613,000 acres
through 90 SAFE projects across 37 states.
Additionally, 2011 was the second opportunity for states
to apply for a grant through the VPA-HIP to launch or
expand their state public access programs. FSA awarded 12
new grants totaling approximately $4.6 million to California,
Georgia, Hawaii, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota,
Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington and Wyoming
along with the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama
Nation. Over two years, VPA-HIP has distributed grants to29 states and one tribe totaling about $16.6 million.
2012 Farm BiLL reauthorization
The numerous working groups of AFWAs Agricultural
Conservation Committee spent the year preparing for reautho-
rization of the 2012 Farm Bill while negotiating the political
climate on the Hill pushing for cuts. Many in the conservation
community believe, the longer Congress waits to reauthorize
the bill, the worse the budget situation will be for the Conser-
vation Title and other provisions of the law.
Throughout 2011, the Association continued to host
conference calls and state workshops to evaluate conservationprogram implementation and update associated white papers.
In June, AFWA membership adopted its 2012 Farm Bill
Policy Priorities, which will guide actions and positions going
forward during the reauthorization process.
Teaming With Willifestate WiLdLiFe Grants proGram
The State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Programthe nations
most cost-effective program for preventing all wildlife from
declining to the point of being endangeredfaced the battle
for its own survival when Congress focused on deficit reductionin 2011. The House attempted to eliminate FY11 program
funding and reduce FY12 funding by 64%. State agencies,
AFWA staff and partners worked with Congress to ultimately
reduce the size of cuts to the program. Efforts to maintain the
65:35 match rate and reduce the percentage of funds going to
state apportionments also succeeded.
CommuniCatingthe SuCCeSSof State Wildlife grantS
To demonstrate the benefits of the State Wildlife Grants
program to lawmakers, the Association produced a 36-page
Success Stories Report. The report includes examples from every
state highlighting how the program is preventing endangeredspecies listings. The Association distributed copies to Congres-
sional offices and the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB). It is available for download atwww.teaming.com.
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A working group under AFWAs Teaming With Wildlife
Committee completed an Effectiveness Measures Framework
for State Wildlife Grants. The framework, outlined in a 180-
page report released in April 2011, will help demonstrate
outcomes for conservation actions and improve adaptivemanagement. The effectiveness measures will be embedded
into the new Wildlife TRACS reporting and tracking tool
that currently is under development by the USFWS and
state agencies. Appropriations committee staff and OMB
were briefed on the framework.
teaminG With WiLdLiFe
The Teaming With Wildlife coalition reached 6,348 orga-
nizations in 2011 and grew the number of users on its Wild-
life Facebook page to nearly 1,000 with an average of 335
visits per week. Teaming Facebook status updates played
a key role in keeping the coalition informed and engagedas part of the campaign to stop cuts to the State Wildlife
Grants program.
Teaming With Wildlife also launched the first phase of its
redesigned coalition website at www.teaming.com to better
integrate the former Teaming With Wildlife and State Wild-
life Action Plan sites into one system.
taskForceon WiLdLiFe diversityFundinG
AFWAs 2010-2011 President, Curtis Taylor (WV)
established a Presidents Task Force on Wildlife Diversity
Funding to review and assess past work of the Teaming With
Wildlife coalition and give direction for securing dedicatedfunding in the future. Seven state agency directors and five
agency staff comprised the Task Force that developed 10
recommendations and an accompanying report.
Recommendations range from facilitating director-
driven state communications and education targeting
Congressional delegations to maintaining the Teaming
coalition; seeking Congressional action to move State and
Tribal Wildlife Grant funding to the Wildlife Conserva-
tion and Restoration Program sub-account under P-R; and
pursuing federal legislation to provide dedicated wildlife
diversity conservation funding. Directors at AFWAs 2011
Annual Meeting approved the final report. It is available
atwww.teaming.com .
tWW FLy-in
The Association and the national Teaming With Wildlife
steering committee held its annual Teaming With Wild-
life Fly-in in March 2011. A reception co-hosted with theNational Invasive Species Awareness Week attracted more
than 300 individuals to the U.S. Botanic Gardens where
Senators Patrick Leahy (VT) and Mike Crapo (ID) and
Congressmen Jim Moran (VA) and Frank LoBiondo (NJ)
were recognized for their support of the State Wildlife
Grants Program. The Missouri Dept. of Conservation and
Conservation Federation of Missouri received the Wildlife
Action Plan Partnership Award and the Texas Teaming With
Wildlife Coalition was presented with the Teaming With
Wildlife Coalition Member Achievement Award. A total of
93 members (80 democrats, 12 republicans, 1 independent)
signed on to Dear Colleague letters supporting funding for
State Wildlife Grants for FY12.
state WiLdLiFe action pLans
More than 70 individuals from state and federal fish and
wildlife agencies and private NGOs attended AFWAs
national meeting of State Wildlife Action Plan coordinators in
January 2011. The meeting provided a much-needed oppor-
tunity for coordinators from different regions to come together
and consider common goals and challenges to help increase
capacity through idea sharing and problem solving. Partici-
pants discussed integrating State Wildlife Action Plans into
landscape-scale conservation; funding challenges; reporting
and tracking effectiveness; operationalizing and evaluating
Plans; and conceptualizing the next generation of Plans. The
Association was able to provide travel assistance to states using
funding from a Doris Duke Charitable Trust grant.
2011 ANNUAL REPORT Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies
www.teaming.com
We owe it to the resources we manage
and the public that pays our bills to not
relent until we solve the fiscal predica-ment that looms if we dont find a more
equitable funding model for fish and
wildlife conservation.
- Dan Forster, Georgia Wildlife Resources
Division Director; Presidents Task Force
on Wildlife Diversity Funding Chair
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To allow fur harvested in the U.S. to continue to be
imported into the European Union (EU), a U.S. delegation
attended the Third Annual Joint Management Committee for
the Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards
in October 2011. The delegation successfully maintained its
present Memorandum of Understanding with the EU.
Four delegates from the Association attended the meeting
to share research on trapping furbearers in the U.S. and todiscuss a possible new proposal on trapping standards that
would set animal welfare standards and best practices
guidelines for the use of traps within EU member countries.
Any new standards, if adopted by the Parliament, will be
solely applicable to the EU.
internationaL Forums
The Association holds a seat on the Western Hemisphere
Shorebird Reserve Networks (WHSRN) Hemispheric
Council, which met in New Jersey in May 2011 to celebrate
the 25th anniversary of the Delaware Bay WHSRN designa-
tion. The 25th anniversary event recognized the vision anddedication of the founders and early conservationists involved
in WHSRN, widely recognized as the most effective flyway-
scale shorebird network in the world.
The Ramsar Convention celebrated its 40th anniversary
in 2011. On behalf of state agencies, the Association has a
seat on the U.S. Ramsar Committee, which nominated four
new sites to the Ramsars list of wetlands of international
importance in the United States.
The Association also represents state agencies interests in
the Western Hemisphere Migratory Species Initiative; the
International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN);
the Convention on Migratory Species; the Trilateral Committeefor Wildlife and Ecosystem Conservation and Management;
and the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies 2011 ANNUAL REPORT
Conserving wildlife has
become a serious public busi-
ness, actively supported by
high government officials fromPresident Roosevelt down. It has
also attracted to the sidelines
the greatest body of friends and
advisors on record; all of them
seeking to influence the running
of the business.
~ Seth Gordon, 1937
Executive Director,
Pennsylvania Game Commission
AuThoRITY
International Relationsconvention on internationaL trade inendanGered speciesoF WiLd FLoraand Fauna(cites)
Numerous international forums discuss and make decisions
on wildlife management issues that can significantly impact
state agency programs. This is especially true of CITES, one
of the worlds major conservation endeavors.
CITES is a treaty between countries to ensure that inter-
national trade in wild animals and plants is not detrimental
to their survival. CITES listings regulate and restrict trade
into and from the United States. In turn, these restrictions
impact hunting; the import and export of harvested wildlife;
and other sustainable use practices.
In 2011, at the Animals and Standing Committees,AFWAs CITES Technical Work Group advocated states
interests on numerous issues and prepared Interventions for
each of the U.S. native species listed in Appendix II in the
event a species was nominated for a significant trade or peri-
odic review. In the end, only one U.S. species was included in
the reviews, much to the credit of the work groups efforts.
Joint manaGement committee meetinGoninternationaL humane trappinG standards
The nearly 150,000 state-licensed trappers and 250,000
employees in the pest and nuisance control industries save
state agencies potentially millions of dollars in furbearer
management costs. But, if trappers cant sell fur abroad,
many are not going to trap.
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Legal CounselAFWAs legal office monitors and analyzes litigation that
may affect member agencies and provides recommendations
for the Associations participation in litigation of national
significance that may impact the states authority to conservefish and wildlife and their habitats.
AFWAs in-house counsel also provides legal support to
state representatives on the Joint Task Force on Federal Aid,
which provides a process for the USFWS and state agencies
to cooperatively identify program issues of national signifi-
cance and jointly develop recommendations concerning
those issues.
In addition, legal guidance is available to AFWA state
agency members, staff, regional associations, flyway councils
and other state agency-related entitiesincluding the Council
to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sportson contract
and nonprofit governance matters.
ScIENcE
Amphibians & ReptilesreGuLatoryGuidance
Most Asian turtle species in the wild have been consumed
to ecological extinction, driving Asian markets to turn to
other countries to outsource this growing demand, espe-
cially for wild-caught turtles. The U.S. has the highest
turtle diversity in the world. In March, AFWAs Amphibian
& Reptile Subcommittee and International Relations
Committee, with the USFWS International Affairs
Program, held a special event on the international trade
in turtles. Nearly 50 attendees participated representing
15 states, including seven state directors, USFWS Director
Dan Ashe and nine members of the Services directorate.
Guest speaker Dr. Anders Rhodin, a medical doctor and
turtle conservation expert, asked, Is America Next? and
offered suggestions to prevent overseas market demands
from harming U.S. turtle populations.
In December, AFWAs Amphibian & Reptile
Subcommittee members and state partners updated their
national report, State of the Union: Legal Authority over the
Use of Native Amphibians and Reptiles in the United States.
Slated for early 2012 release, it features accounts for each
of the 49 continental states and the District of Columbia.
Draft recommendations for model regulatory approaches
for amphibians and reptiles in the context of the North
American Model of Wildlife Conservation were produced
and reviewed by AFWA leadership and will be finalizedin 2012.
partnersin amphiBian & reptiLeconservation
In 2011, turtle conservation
groups and PARC celebrated
the Year of the Turtle. Monthly
newsletters, including one
issue featuring the work of
state agencies, were produced along with other outreach
materials and more than 13,500 visitors checked out the
www.yearoftheturtle.orgwebsite. State agencies in Arizona,Connecticut, Georgia, Massachusetts and New York joined
in as partners in the celebration.
2011 ANNUAL REPORT Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies 10
Like the resource it seeks to
protect, wildlife conservation
must be dynamic. Changing as
conditions change, seeking always
to become more effective.
~ Rachel CarsonSilent Spring
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The National Military Fish & Wildlife Association (NMFWA)
presented its 2011 Award for Military Natural Resource
Conservation Research to Dr. Robert Lovich, Chris Petersen,
Dr. Mike Lannoo, Priya Nanjappa (AFWAs Amphibian &
Reptile Coordinator) and Ernesto Garcia for their roles in the
Department of Defense (DoD) Legacy-funded, transconti-
nental study of amphibians and infection by the amphibian
chytrid fungus, which has devastated amphibian populations
worldwide. The NMFWA award selection committee agreed
that this DoD-PARC project enhanced the militarys mission
by providing DoD with a better picture of the health of its
amphibian populations.
PARC presented its first-ever Allison Haskell Excellence
in Herpetofaunal Conservation award to Alvin R. Breisch,
former New York State Dept. of Environmental Conservation
herpetologist, and its first-ever Visionary Leader Award to
PARC co-founder, Dr. J. Whitfield Gibbons of the University
of Georgias Savannah River Ecology Lab.
Bir Conservationnorth american Bird conservationinitiative
The Association continues to play a key role in the lead-
ership and coordination of the U.S. North American Bird
Conservation Initiative (NABCI) Committee. In 2011,
NABCI published the third U.S. State of the Birds Report
focused on Public Lands and Waters. The role of public
lands is underscored by the more than 300 species that have
at least half of their U.S distribution on publicly owned
lands. NABCI partners are using the reports findings to
better target bird conservation efforts on public lands.
north american WaterFoWLmanaGement pLan
The North AmericanWaterfowl Management
Plan (NAWMP) was
established in 1986 to return critically reduced waterfowl
populations to average 1970s levels. The Plan was updated
in 1998 and 2004 and the latest version will be released
in 2012. States, provinces and federal agencies in Mexico,
Canada and the U.S., along with conservation organizations
from across the continent, have been engaged in the devel-
opment of the new NAWMP.
The NAWMP has a long history of success and has
resulted in the securement of millions of acres of wetlands
and wetland-associated habitats that support not only water-fowl but a host of other species. The scale of the program is
enormous, not just in acreage, but in the level of ongoing
funding support and in the wide array of partners involved.
The North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA),
the legislation that enables and directs funding for wetland
conservation and the implementation of the NAWMP, has
provided funding since 1991 along with matching funds by
U.S. non-federal sources and Canadian sources.
State funding of Canadian breeding ground projects is
an important element in AFWAs strategy for achieving
NAWMP goals. As NAWMP partners, states initiate many
projects, including projects in Canada. State contributions
provide non-federal monies, which are matched by Ducks
Unlimited and the NAWCA. Canadian partners, in turn,
contribute. However, it all starts with state contributions.
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In September 2011, the Association reconfirmed its goal
for states to collectively contribute up to $10 million per
year to NAWMP projects in Canada. The need is critically
important because of continued habitat loss, drainage of
wetlands and other pressures. The Association, through
its Bird Conservation Committee and Waterfowl Working
Group, is developing an Action Plan that will help states to
move toward achieving that funding goal.
southern WinGs
State wildlife agencies spend
considerable time, money and effort
ensuring good bird habitat exists
within their states. The Southern
Wings Program protects their
investments by supporting the
conservation of state-priority migra-
tory bird species throughout their
annual cycle on wintering grounds.
Each year since its 2009 launch, Southern Wings has grown.
To date, 12 state wildlife agencies (AR, AZ, IA, MO, MN, NE,
OK, PA, SD, TN, TX, WI) and NEAFWA and their in-state
partners have contributed more than $440,000 to critical
conservation projects in the Western Hemisphere for state
priority migratory birds. The funds have been matched by at
least one to one (1:1).
Projects include conservation and management of Cerulean
Warbler habitat in South America; management and protec-
tion of Bicknells Thrush habitat in the Dominican Republic;
management of grasslands habitat in Northern Mexico forhighly imperiled grasslands species; and conservation action
to improve the status of Golden-winged Warblers.
Climate ChangenationaL Fish, WiLdLiFeand pLants cLimate
adaptation strateGy
In 2010, Congress called for a government-wide strategy to
help decision-makers and resource managers prepare for and
help reduce the impacts of climate change on fish, wildlife and
plants, ecosystems and the people and economies that depend
on them.
Since then, the Association (represented by the New York
Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources) has partnered
with the USFWS and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) to create the National Fish, Wildlifeand Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy.
The science-based Strategy represents a draft framework for
unified action to safeguard species and their associated habi-
tats that also considers the important benefits and services
they provide such as jobs, food, clean water, clean air, building
materials, storm protection and recreation.
A steering committee of representatives from 16 federal
agencies, five state fish and wildlife agencies and two inter-
tribal commissions is leading the Strategy development,
including agency representatives from California, Washington,
Wisconsin, New York and North Carolina to ensure that all 50
states fish and wildlife concerns are voiced. The Association isproviding staff support.
Last year, the committee recruited more than 100 natural
resource profess ionals and scientists from all levels of govern-
ment nationwide to become Technical Team Members and
write the Strategys source material. The material was
synthesized into a draft document and then released for
public comment in January 2012. The committee plans to
publish the final Strategy in print and online by summer
2012. More information about the Strategy is available at
www.wildl ifeadaptationstrategy.gov.
Furbearer ResourcesBest manaGement practices
Trapping is a strictly regulated, law-enforced activity that
helps state agencies collect information about wildlife and
sustain healthy and diverse populations. To improve the
welfare of captured animals and modernize trapping tech-
nology, AFWAs furbearer resources program has developed
20 Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Trapping in the
U.S. over the past eight years.
These BMPs for furbearers such as American Badger,
Canada Lynx, Raccoon, Bobcat and Weasels are widely used
among state agency trapper education programs and recog-
nized international assemblies. Last year, the Association
began testing protocols to release up to two more BMPs for
Ringtail and possibly Gray Wolf in 2012.Golden-wingedWarbler
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nationaL FurBearer harvest statisticsdataBase
Available on www.fishwildlife.org, the U.S. Furbearer
Conservation Technical Work Group produced a database that
reports statistics for furbearer species harvested via trappingin the U.S. from 1970 to the present. This database will be
updated yearly and will be expanded to include statistics on
harvest of furbearers in Canada.
Invasive SpeciesBurmese pythons in Florida and Asian carp in the upper
Midwest may have become the poster creatures for nonnative
species, but many different types of fish, wildlife and plant
invaders directly and
indirectly threaten
all states capacity
to manage resources.Invasive species are
found in every region
of the U.S. and can
cause significant
and costly damage
to the environment,
the economy and
human health.
In the spring of 2011, AFWAs Invasive Species Committee
helped plan and coordinate a panel on Aquatic Invasive Species
during National Invasive Species Awareness Week. In addition,
committee representative Tim Schaeffer (PA) participated in aspecial training session for Attorneys General at the National
Attorneys General Training and Research Institute (NAGTRI)
on Invasive Species in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
Last year, the Invasive Species Committee furthered its
collaboration with AFWAs Biofuels Working Group on the
impacts of bioenergy feedstocks, with attention to related
provisions in the Farm Bill and it continued to watch ballast
water and recreational boating discharge legislation, regula-
tions and best practices. The committee also engaged with the
USFWS and the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC)
to begin discussing collaborative, non-regulatory approaches
to nonnative, invasive species management.
National Fish HabitatPartnershipFish haBitat status report
The NationalFish Habitat Action
Plannow, The
National Fish
Habitat Partnership
(NFHP)released
Through A Fishs
Eye: The Status of
Fish Habitats In The
United States 2010
report in April
2011. The report summarizes the results of an unprecedented,
nationwide assessment of the human effects on fish habitat inthe rivers and estuaries of the United States.
Through a Fishs Eye provides an important picture of the
challenges and opportunities facing fish and those engaged
in fish habitat conservation efforts. Urbanization, agriculture,
dams, culverts, pollution and other human impacts have
resulted in specific areas of degraded habitat where restora-
tion is most likely needed to bring back healthy habitats and
fishing opportunities that once existed.
10 Watersto Watchin 2011
The National Fish Habitat Partnership announced its 50th Water
to Watch in 2011 as par t of its annua l top 10 li st of freshwater,
estuarine and marine habitats that are dramatically improving
through voluntary habitat conservation.
Alewife Brook/Scoy Pond, NY
Au Sable River, MI
Barrataria Bay, LA
Batten Kill River, NY
Cottonwood Creek, AK
Duchesne River, UT
Llano River, TX
Manistee River, MI
St. Charles Creek, ID
Waipa Stream, HIBattenKillRiver,NY
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nationaL Fish haBitat Board
With a focus on the future, the National Fish Habitat
Board began updating the National Fish Habitat Action
Plans 2006 objectives. The Board plans to issue the revi-
sion in 2012. The Board also continues to advocate for
the National Fish Habitat Conservation Act, which was
introduced in the Senate in the current 112th Congress. If
passed, the Act would authorize the Action Plan and fund
fish habitat conservation projects.
nationaL Fish haBitat aWards
In April 2011, NFHP presented its annual awards to
recognize the nations fish habitat conservation champions:
Jim Range Conservation Vision AwardMaureen Gallagher,
Midwest National Fish Habitat Partnership Coordinator
for USFWS; Extraordinary Action AwardMark Johnson,
Coos Bay (Bureau of Land Management (BLM)); ScientificAchievement AwardDr. Dana Infante, Assistant Professor,
Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University
and Dr. Stephen Brown, Chief, Assessment and Monitoring
Division (NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service) for their
work on the National Status of Fish Habitats 2010 Report;
Outreach and Educational Achievement AwardAndy
DuPont, President, Glen Lake Association.
Win Energy & TransmissionManaging wildlife resources and balancing the nations
growing energy requirements, that includes wind power, isntan easy task. As a board member of the American Wind Wild-
life Institute and participant in the National Wildlife Coordi-
nating Collaborative, the Association aims to facilitate timely
and responsible wind energy production while protecting
wildlife and wildlife habitat.
Last year, the Association also played a key role in the
development of the USFWS land-based wind siting guide-
lines. Upon the release of the guidelines in 2012, AFWA
plans to work closely with the USFWS wind energy office
to provide training opportunities for state agency staff on
implementation.
In addition, the Association assisted states in transmission
planning efforts nationwide, especially concerning the incor-
poration of state wildlife agency data into the Eastern Inter-
connection Planning Collaboratives planning process to guide
transmission development on a 30-year time horizon.
STEWARDShIP
Conservation EucationResearch shows when youth experience direct, active
contact with the outdoors, they are far more likely to grow
into adults who value nature; make informed decisions to
sustain it; and accept/participate in resource-related recre-
ation like hunting, shooting sports, fishing and boating.
This is the foundation of AFWAs North American Conser-
vation Education (CE) Strategy.
In 2011, the CE Strategy added seven, research-based
products to its popular educational toolkit: Fostering
Outdoor Observation Skills; Landscape Investigation
Guidelines; Sustainable Tomorrow: A Teachers Guide-
book for Applying Systems Thinking to Environmental
Education Curricula; Schoolyard Biodiversity Investigation
Educator Guide; Project-Based Learning Model; Bench-marks for Conservation Literacy; and the Outdoor Skills
Education Handbook. These new tools further connect
states CE programs to national K-12 standards for science,
math, social science, physical education and more.
The CE Strategy culminated the year by hosting a
Symposium on Conservation and the Environment: Essential
Components of the New Science Framework and STEM with
the USFWS National Conservation Training Center and
the National Environmental Education Foundation. More
than 60 top educators from 35 state and federal agencies,
NGOs and other organizations, including National
Geographic and the National Science Foundation, spent aday discussing how the outdoor environment offers real-
world opportunities to engage students in science learning
and exploration. Attendees also identified next steps for
continuing the dialogue.
Babes do not tremble when
they are shown a golf ball, but
I should not like to own the
boy whose hair does not lift hishat when he sees his first deer.
~ Aldo Leopold, 1949
A Sand County Almanac
The North American ConservationEducation Strategy Toolkit
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Inustry/Agency CoalitionFive years ago, leaders from state agencies; the Association;
the hunting, shooting sports, archery, boating and sport fishing
industries; and the USFWS convened the Industry/Agency
Coalition to strengthen their partnership and commitment tofish and wildlife conservation and how it is funded, and to
advance increased participation goals.
Since then, the coalition has met annually at its Industry/
Agency Summit to identify recruitment and retention, outreach
and funding priorities for the coming year. Members now attend
each others trade shows and annual conferences and have rallied
on issues such as public access, lead and support for shooting
ranges that affect their mutual constituenciesthe recreational
users of the vast resources entrusted to state agencies.
In addition, the coalition has come together to raise aware-
ness of the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program
(WSFR) and the excise tax-paying industries more than $14billion dollar contribution to conservation since 1937.
To honor that partnership
success, coalition members began
planning a year-long WSFR
75th Anniversary celebration of
events and promotions to kick-
off at the 2012 SHOT Show and
culminate on National Hunting
and Fishing Day. The coalition
also endorsed an educational
curriculum Americas Wildlife:
Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
developed by the Arizona
Game and Fish Dept. to teach
high-schoolers about the North
American Model of Wildlife Conservation. The department
created a companion unit of activities especially for the 75th
Anniversary for use by zoos, museums, summer camps and
other informal academic settings.
counciLto advance huntinGandtheshootinG sports
The Industry/Agency Coalition created and provided the
initial funding for the Council to Advance Hunting andthe Shooting Sports, a national organization focused on the
recruitment and retention of hunters and shooters. Coalition
members also are represented on the Councils 28-person
Board of Directors, which hired Bill Creighton as its first chief
executive officer in August. The Council will release its stra-
tegic plan in early 2012.
Multistate Conservation GrantProgram
Since 2000, the Multistate Conservation Grant Program
(MSCGP)co-administered by the Association and theUSFWShas disbursed more than $75 million in Pittman-
Robertson/Dingell-Johnson federal aid funding for national
and regional priority conservation projects of state fish and
wildlife agencies.
Over the next year, the MSCGP will provide just over
$2.6 million to the 12 projects selected by AFWAs state
membership and recommended to the Service for funding
during the 2012 cycle. Grant recipients include AFWA
for coordination of Farm Bill implementation to optimize
benefits to state agencies; the National Fish Habitat Action
Plan Board for organizational development training for
Fish Habitat Partnerships; and the National Wild Turkey
Federation for a longitudinal evaluation of hunting, fishing,
and shooting recruitment/retention programs.
celebratingthe 75th anniversaryofthe
Wildlifeand sportfish restoration program
In 2012, federal and state
natural resource agen-
cies, the excise-tax paying
industries and the greater
conservation community will
proudly observe the Wildlife
and Sport Fish Restoration
Programs anniversary and the partnership success
that has led to 75 years of quality hunt ing, fishing,
shooting, boating and wildlife-related recreation.
Visit www.wsfr75.com to join the celebration, read
success stories and download a communications
toolkit. Get socia l on Facebook and YouTube at
/WSFR75 and Twitter @WSFR75, #WSFR75.
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lEADERShIP
Management Assistance TeamAFWAs Management Assistance Team
(MAT) provides consulting and training
services to help state agencies increase
their organizational effectiveness and
leadership capacity. Training is offered
through face-to-face workshops, webi-
nars, online courses and certification in a
conservation leadership program of study.
In 2011, MAT staff conducted 91 consultations with 20
state agencies and regional associations, commissions and
others on subjects ranging from reviewing state leader-
ship programs and comprehensive agency effectiveness
to training needs assessments and/or senior management
change initiatives. MAT led 10 in-person workshops forfive states and the Association on topics such as Mastering
Agency Change, Seven Habits of Highly Effective People
and Team Leader Skills. MAT also coached and certified
five state agency employees through its Conservation Lead-
ership Program of Study (CLPS) and began crafting
three new educational offerings.
In addition, MAT conducted 20 online
courses and created and delivered 11
webinars on such topics as creative and
critical thinking, decision-making and
leadership perseverance. MAT main-
tained three web sites and also completeda paper on how to improve assessing
MATs effectiveness; developed a white
paper: Rethinking Strategic Planning;
helped develop and co-facilitated a special
session on agency transformation; and
delivered formal presentations/plenaries
about leading agencies into the future at
one state agency and NEAFWAs annual
conference.
In utilizing and conserving
the natural resources of the
Nation, the one characteristic
more essential than any otheris foresight.
~ Theodore D. Roosevelt
U.S. President
National ConservationLeaership Institute
The National Conservation Leadership Institute (NCLI) is
conservations premier world-class experience for developingtomorrows natural resource management leaders. The NCLI
is staffed by MAT and participants (Fellows) are selected
through a rigorous evaluation of nominations submitted by
agency, NGO and industry directors/CEOs. In May 2011,
the 36 Fellows of Cohort 5 graduated and joined
NCLIs Alumni organization, a platform for
Fellows to continue their professional develop-
ment. Five months later, the 36 Fellows of Cohort
6 completed their 11-day residency training at
the National Conservation Training Center and
began peer consulting with one another about
their individual adaptive leadership challengeprojects. Instructors from Harvards Kennedy
School of Government and other interna-
tionally renowned leadership experts helped
provide an incomparable program.
The NCLI encourages agencies to add the
NCLI to their states annual charitable giving
campaign lists since the NCLI is a 501(c)3
organization and direct donations are fully
tax-deductible.
National Conservation Leadership Institute Cohort 5 2010 - 2011
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Seth gordon aWard
Recognizing lifetime achievement, the Associations highest honor
Rebecca Humphries,Regional Director, Ducks Unlimited;Former Director, Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Ernest Thompson Seton Award
Honoring an agency and team leader for leadership in scientific
wildlife management
Group: South Dakota Department of Game, Fish & Parks
Individual:John Kanta, Wildlife Program Manager
markJ. reeff memorial aWard
Recognizing distinguished, young wildlife management professionals
Kellie Tharp, Education Branch Chief,
Arizona Game & Fish Department
Boone & Crockett Club AwardRecognizing outstanding achievement in promoting and encouraging
outdoor ethics
Group:Arizona Game & Fish Department
Individual: Craig McMullen,
Wildlife Recreation Branch Chief
2011 ANNUAL AWARdSThe Association honored 12 individuals and two state
agencies for their outstanding and longstanding commit-
ment to conservation stewardship at its Annual Awards
Ceremony.
The Association held its 101st Annual Meeting, September 11-
14, in Omaha, Nebraska. The 2011 plenary asked attendees
to do a Reality Check and consider whether theyre on target
or falling out of range with todays customers, constituencies
and employees and what they want. AFWA thanks speakers
Allen Beerman, Executive Director of the Nebraska Press
Association; Dave Rozman, Director of Teen Services for the
Boys & Girls Clubs of America; Joe and Mark LaBarbera, media
annual meeting sponsors
Platinum: Bass Pro Shops, NOAA, USFWS, USDA-
APHIS-Wildl ife Services, USDA-APHIS-Veterinary Services,
U.S. Geological Survey /Gold: BLM, Ducks Unlimited,
Kalkomey Enterprises, Inc., National Park Service, NationalWild Turkey Federation /Silver: Boone and Crockett Club,
National Shooting Sports Foundation, Parks by Nature
Network, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, The Wildlife
Society /Bronze: Active Network Outdoors, Archery
Trade Association, D.J. Case & Associates, J.F. Griffin
Publishing, LLC, Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation,
Systems Consultants, TASER International, Inc., The Nature
Conservancy, U.S. Sportsmens All iance, USDA Forest
Service, Wildlife Forever /Hospitality: National Archery
in the Schools Program, Mule Deer Foundation, Wildlife
Management Institute /Plenary Session: U.S. Geological
Survey
Special Thank You: Nebraska Game & Parks Commission
2011 ANNuAl MEETING
1 Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies 2011 ANNUAL REPORT
national Private landS fiShand Wildlife
SteWardShiP aWard
Honoring an individual- or family-run farm, ranch or forest opera-
tion that has incorporated proactive conservation and environmentalprotection measures
Alexander Ranch, Kansas
SPeCial reCognition aWardS
Recognizing individuals who distinguished themselves with an
outstanding commitment to the work of the Association
Jack Buckley, Deputy Director,
Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife
Randy Stark, Chief Conservation Warden,
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Susan-Marie Stedman,
NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service
Dave White, Chief,
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
Honorary Lifetime Memberships
Rex Amack, Director,
Nebraska Game & Fish Commission
Terry Johnson, Threatened and Endangered Species
Coordinator, Arizona Game & Fish Department
Corky Pugh (Ret), Director,
Alabama Wildlife & Freshwater Fisheries Division
Tribute to Fallen HeroesRemembering wildlife professionals who lost their lives in the line of
duty the previous year
David L. Groves, Conservation Officer,
Pennsylvania Game Commission
experts; and Carter Smith, Executive Director of Texas Parks
and Wildlife Dept. for their insights on trends, programming
and competition.
Seth Gordon Award Recipient Rebecca Humphries
2011PlenarySpeakers
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internationaL memBerForestry Bureau, Council of Agriculture, Republic of China
aFFiLiate memBers
Association for Conservation InformationAtlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission
College of Natural Resources (Univ. of Wisconsin-Stevens Pt.)
The Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes
Great Lakes Fishery Commission
Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission
International Hunter Education Association
National Association of State Boating Law Administrators
North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association
Organization of Wildlife Land & Realty Specialists
Organization of Wildlife PlannersPacific States Marine Fisheries Commission
States Organization for Boating Access
Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council
Wildlife Disease Association
contriButinG memBersAmerican Eagle Foundation
American Sportfishing Association
Archery Trade Association
Boone & Crockett ClubCanadian Wildlife Federation
Delta Waterfowl Foundation
Ducks Unlimited Canada
Ducks Unlimited, Inc.
FishAmerica Foundation
Forest Preserve District of DuPage County
Fur Institute of Canada
Fur Takers of America, Inc.
Kalkomey Enterprises, Inc.
National Audubon SocietyNational Bowhunter Education Foundation
National Marine Manufacturers Association
National Rifle Association Conservation, Wildlife & Natural
Resources Division
National Shooting Sports Foundation, Inc.
National Trappers AssociationNational Wild Turkey Federation
National Wildlife Federation
The Nature Conservancy
NatureServe
North American Falconers Association
North American Grouse Partnership
North American Wetlands Conservation Council
North Dakota Natural Resources Trust
Northwest Marine Technology, Inc.
Outdoor RoadmapThe Peregrine Fund
Pheasants Forever
Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation
Resource Management Service, LLC
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
The Ruffed Grouse Society
Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
U.S. Sportsmens Alliance
Weatherby Foundation International
Wild Sheep FoundationWildlife Management Institute
The Wildlife Society
PHOTOGRAPHERS:
Thank you to these talented photographers for sharing their incredible
images with AFWA:
Feature Photographer an Cover Photo:
George Andrejko, Arizona Game & Fish Department
Page 3 Photo: Trey Reid, Arkansas Game & Fish Commission
Annual Meeting: Doug Carroll, Nebraska Game & Parks Commission
Insie Back Cover: Tim Daniel, Ohio Division of Wildlife
Aitional images provie by:
John Brunjes, Kentucky Dept. of Fish & Wi ldlife Resource s; Chase Foun-
tain, Texas Parks & Wildlife Dept.; Bill Hubick; Hayley Lynch, Kentucky
Dept. of Fish & Wildlife Resources; National Conservation Leadership
Institute; Nebraska Game & Parks Commission; Shutterstock; Tim Torrell,
Nevada Dept. of Wildlife; and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Graphic design:
Victor Young
Thanks also to Virginia Shepherd and the Virginia
Department of Game and Inland Fisheries for writing
a history of the Federal Aid to Wildlife Restoration
Act and to Dian Ol son Belang er and Adr ian K innane
for their accounts in th e book, Managing American
Wildli fe: A History of the International Associa tion
of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. AFWA
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2011 fINANcIAlS
The Association leverages every $1 contributed by state fish and wildlife agencies
with an additional $4 attained from other sources to enrich North Americas legacy
of fish and wildlife conservation in the public interest.
2011 REVEnUE
2011 EXPEnSES
MEMBERSHIP DUES
State 22%
Federal
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We need the tonicof wildness.
~ Henry David Thoreau
We need the tonicof wildness.
~ Henry David Thoreau
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The Voice of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
444 North Capitol Street, NW
Suite 725
Washington, DC 20001Phone: 202/624-7890
Fax: 202/624-7891
Email: info@fishwildlife org
FOLLOW US:
/Associat ionofFishandWildli feAgencies @fishwildl ife
/NFHAP @FishHabitat
/WSFR75 @WSFR75