A Requirement of the State Wildlife Grant Program

What are State Wildlife Grants?

Congress created the State Wildlife Grant Program (SWG) in 2001 to help state and tribal fish and wildlife agencies address the unmet needs of fish and wildlife and associated habitats. Funds appropriated under the State Wildlife Grants program are allocated to states according to a formula that takes into account each state's size and population. To date, Maine has received nearly $2.5 million in SWG funds.

The purpose of SWG is twofold:

Provide monetary assistance to states to support projects that restore or enhance fish and wildlife populations and their habitat.
Conserve fish and wildlife habitat for the future through development and implementation of a Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (Strategy, CWCS, or Plan).

What is a Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy?

To be eligible for federal grants and to satisfy congressional requirements for participating in the State Wildlife Grant program, state fish and wildlife agencies must develop a Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy. Strategies will provide a foundation for the future of wildlife conservation; they will provide a stimulus to engage the state, federal agencies, and other conservation partners to strategically think about individual and coordinated roles in prioritizing conservation efforts, thereby reducing duplication.

Who is Developing Maine's CWCS?

The Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IF&W) is the agency responsible for developing Maine's CWCS with input from the Atlantic Salmon Commission (ASC), Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and Maine's Native American tribes.

Though each state's Strategy will reflect a different set of issues, management needs, and priorities, states are working together to ensure nationwide consistency and a common focus on fish and wildlife in greatest conservation need.

What are the Guiding Principles of Maine's CWCS?

Guiding principles for Maine's CWCS are:

Conserving species and habitats that are most at risk,
Keeping common species common, and
Building and strengthening conservation partnerships with other conservation agencies, tribes, local governments, and nongovernmental organizations.
Congress has directed that each Strategy identify and focus on species of greatest conservation need, yet address the full array of wildlife and wildlife-related issues. This is "a plan for wildlife, not a plan for the fish and wildlife agency." As such, Maine's plan will consider both inland and marine species.

Are there Special Requirements for Developing a CWCS?

Congress identified 8 required elements to be addresses in each state's CWCS.

Include information on the distribution and abundance of wildlife species, including low and declining populations, which are indicative of the diversity and health of the State's wildlife.
Identify the extent and condition of wildlife habitats and community types essential to the conservation of priority species.
Identify problems that may adversely affect priority species or their habitats. Identify priority research and survey efforts needed to identify factors that may assist in restoration and improved conservation of species and habitats.
Determine actions needed to conserve priority species and their habitats. Establish priorities for implementing such conservation actions.
Provide for periodic monitoring of species and habitats, as well as the effectiveness of conservation actions. Adapt conservation actions as needed to respond to new information or changing conditions.
Provide for the review of the Strategy and, if appropriate, revision, at intervals not to exceed 10 years.
Coordinate the development, implementation, review, and revision of the Strategy, to the extent feasible, with federal, state, and local agencies and Native American tribes that manage significant areas of land or water within the State or administer programs that significantly affect the conservation of identified species and habitats.
Incorporate public involvement in the development, revision, and implementation of the Strategy.

When Will the Strategy be Completed?

Maine's Strategy must be completed by October 1, 2005. A National Advisory Acceptance Team, established by the USFWS, will review Strategies to ensure each contains the eight elements required by Congress.

What is the Timeline for Developing Maine's CWCS?

July 2004 - Feb 2005

IF&W and agencies with jurisdictional responsibilities in Maine will develop species lists for mammals, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, inland fisheries, and marine fish and wildlife. These lists will be modeled after the bird list, which was completed in 2003.

Identify and tabulate species issues, goals, objectives, problems and strategies.

Identify known information and information gaps.

March 2005

Convene stakeholder group comprised of state and federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, tribes, conservation partners, and other interested parties to review and provide input into CWCS development.

March 2005 - July 2005

Draft CWCS * Meet regularly with stakeholder group

July 2005

Post CWCS on website for review

Aug - Sept 2005

Finalize CWCS and submit to National Advisory Acceptance Team for review

For More Information Contact

Sandy Ritchie Habitat Conservation and Special Projects Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife 41 State House Station, 284 State Street Augusta, ME 04333-0041 Phone: 207-287-5265 Fax: 207-287-6395
Email: sandy.ritchie@maine.gov

DEPARTMENT INFORMATION

A Requirement of the State Wildlife Grant Program