[ODFW-News] ODFW seeks public comment on proposed Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy

[ODFW News]

For Immediate Release,  Wednesday, June 8, 2005
 
ODFW seeks public comment on proposed Comprehensive Wildlife
Conservation Strategy
 
SALEM - State fish and wildlife officials today announced they are
seeking public comments on the Oregon's first-ever statewide strategy
for conservation of fish and wildlife species and their habitats. 
 
The proposed Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy is a federally
funded project designed to bring a new landscape-wide approach to
species and habitat management. It identifies species with the greatest
conservation needs, and offers non-regulatory approaches to help
conserve those species and their habitats. Ultimately, this proactive
approach is expected to help keep species off the state and federal
endangered species lists.   
 
"The goal of the program is to identify and address problems early on,
so that Oregon can manage its fish and wildlife in a manner that avoids
the costly, intensive measures for species recovery that result when a
species is listed as threatened or endangered," said Gail McEwen,
Director's Assistant for Sustainability.
 
The draft strategy is open for review through July 4. Topics covered in
the strategy include a statewide perspective of key conservation issues,
a review of the characteristics of each of Oregon's eight "eco-regions,"
a list of species and habitats identified as having the greatest
conservation needs, a discussion of the voluntary conservation tools
that will be available to landowners, and recommendations for monitoring
the effects of conservation actions.
 
Copies of the draft strategy can be found at
http://www.dfw.state.or.us/CWCS/ <http://www.dfw.state.or.us/CWCS/> 
"ODFW has been working for many months now with a technical review
committee and a stakeholder advisory committee to develop the proposed
plan," said McEwen. "The draft plan that is now out for review is the
result of much time and effort, and reflects the most current scientific
knowledge and understanding of Oregon's environment and the many fish
and wildlife species that live here."
 
The technical review committee members include biologists, wildlife
managers and ecologists from tribes, universities, conservation groups,
private industry and state agencies. The 28-member stakeholder advisory
committee includes representatives from agriculture, forest and range
lands, conservation organizations, hunting and fishing interests,
tourism interests, local governments and groups and organizations that
work with landowners on conservation and restoration efforts.
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