[ODFW-News] Oregon Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy Stakeholder Advisory Committee to meet

[ODFW News]

For immediate release	Friday, Jan. 14, 2005

Oregon Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy Stakeholder
Advisory Committee to meet

SALEM - The Oregon Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy
Stakeholder Advisory Committee today announced a Jan. 18 meeting at the
Oregon Zoo.

Comprehensive wildlife strategies ensure Oregon's eligibility for
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service State Wildlife Grant (SWG) funds. Oregon
received $1,398,427 in SWG funds in FY 2002 and $1,048,820 in FY 2003.

The primary focus of this meeting, scheduled for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.,
will be to identify tools and incentives to help private landowners
manage their lands for wildlife conservation values.  

The 28-member advisory committee was created to help ODFW prepare a
non-regulatory, statewide approach to species and habitat conservation
in Oregon. Committee members represent agriculture, forestry and
rangeland management; conservation organizations; fishing and hunting
interests; tourism interests; local governments; landowners; and groups
and organizations that work with landowners on conservation and
restoration efforts. 

To meet USFWS requirements, the strategy must:
* Identify species of greatest conservation need and their habitats
* Describe the limiting factors facing these species and habitats
* Determine priority research and survey efforts needed to identify
factors to assist in restoration efforts
* Describe needed conservation actions
* Propose monitoring plans
* Document that meaningful opportunities for public participation have
been provided during development and implementation of the plan.

Federal requirements also call for the strategy to be reviewed and
approved by USFWS by October 2005. There also are additional interim
timeframes for various stages of the strategy development. 

The Oregon Zoo is located at 4001 SW Canyon Road in Portland. Advisory
committee meetings are open to the public, and reasonable accommodations
are provided as needed for individuals requesting assistive hearing
devices, sign language interpreters or large-print materials.
Individuals needing these types of accommodations may call the ODFW
Director's Office at 800-720-6339 or 503-947-6044 at least 24 hours in
advance of the meeting.


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Information and Education Division
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
(503) 947-6002