FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 17, 2005

WILDLIFE STRATEGY AIMED AT KEEPING SPECIES OFF LIST

JACKSON - How would you conserve all wildlife in Mississippi if you had the money? It's the central question in the largest conservation planning effort Mississippi and the nation has ever attempted, according to the state Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks.

"Mississippi and other states and territories are developing a Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CWCS) at the request of Congress through 2001 Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program (WCRP) and subsequent State Wildlife Grant (SWG) legislation," Museum of Natural Science Director Libby Hartfield said.

According to Hartfield, SWG provides states with supplemental funding for conservation of wildlife species that typically receive no monetary support. This new program is designed to benefit species of greatest conservation need and their habitats.

The CWCS effort is being coordinated in Mississippi by the DWFP through its Museum of Natural Science. Hartfield says the focus is on keeping wildlife from becoming endangered.

"By providing a clearly defined strategy or "blueprint" of conservation actions, we hope to have a plan that can restore degraded habitat, develop partnerships with private and public landowners, and ultimately restore declining fish and wildlife," Hartfield said.

Officials say that over the years, conserving game species such as deer and turkey has fared well, thanks to monies from hunting and fishing licenses and other user fees. But this only accounts for about 14 percent of all wildlife species in the country. It's the other 86 percent that have not always fared so well.

Hartfield says that as a result of this, species extinctions have accelerated the world over. "In the United States, more than 1,200 animals and plants have been federally listed as threatened or endangered, and some 90 more are proposed for listing and another 250 are candidates," she said. In Mississippi, 86 species are listed.

The Nature Conservancy estimates that 30 percent of our native animals and plants are imperiled or vulnerable. Even some common and relatively abundant game bird species such as bobwhite quail are showing sustained population decreases. Yet the condition of most of our wildlife species is poorly known or completely unknown.

Biologists say congress has recognized that despite our best efforts, many wildlife populations continue to decline, and that a new approach like the CWCS is needed.

"The strategy is like an architectural plan that identifies those species at risk and maps out realistic conservation actions that will restore and enhance those populations and their habitats," said Charles Knight, Conservation Biology Coordinator at the Museum of Natural Science and CWCS project director.

"The idea is to recognize the trends and take steps to protect species and their habitats before they become critically imperiled and are listed under the Endangered Species Act."

Hartfield said Mississippi already has received over $3.5 million through SWGs to protect wildlife diversity such as the state Partners in Flight program for migratory birds, black bear recovery and more.

Officials say that each state must submit to Congress by October 2005 a CWCS.

"Mississippi's CWCS is well underway and is being crafted in collaboration with other state, federal and local resource agencies, conservation organizations, landowners, and others," Hartfield said.

"Our Advisory Committee and team of experts have worked hard to put together a useful guide to improving biodiversity in Mississippi. We hope people will take some time to look at the draft plan and provide comments and feedback" said Knight.

To learn more about the CWCS and to review and comment on the strategy, go to MDWFP's website at www.mdwfp.com/cwcs. All comments must be posted by September 9, 2005.
 

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