February 1, 2006
DEP Announces Federal Approval of State Wildlife Conservation Strategy
Strategy aimed at reversing decline of wildlife population and key habitats
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today announced federal approval of a new state Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CWCS) aimed at reversing the decline of wildlife populations and the loss of key habitats in Connecticut.
The approval of the CWCS by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service creates a roadmap that will guide the state’s approach to protecting wildlife species and habitats for the next decade. With approval of the strategy, the state remains eligible to receive continued federal funding for wildlife management and conservation projects.
DEP Commissioner Gina McCarthy said, "Connecticut is a state of great diversity in landscapes and wildlife species. From any part of this state, you can drive just a short distance to view spectacular forests, fields, wetlands or coastal areas with an impressive variety of animal life."
"That is part of what makes Connecticut such a special place – and why we must work so hard to strike the right balance between our continued growth and development and the protection of wildlife habitat and wildlife itself," Commissioner McCarthy said. "The wildlife strategy we have put in place will help us accomplish that important objective."
The goals of Connecticut's CWCS are to:
 | Reverse the decline of wildlife populations and the loss of key habitats; |
| Minimize the need to list additional species as endangered or threatened by "keeping common species common;" |
| Initiate landscape-level stewardship for key species and habitats; |
| Provide science-based data on species distribution and abundance and the location of key habitats to local land-use decision makers (e.g., planning and zoning boards, conservation commissions) that will help municipalities make sound land use decisions in the future. |
The strategy was developed by DEP over the past two years with the assistance of numerous scientific experts and conservation organizations throughout Connecticut.
Since 2001, Connecticut has received more than $3.6 million in federal funds under the State Wildlife Grants program. These funds – along with money allocated by the state, dollars raised through the sale of a special wildlife license plate, and a state income tax check-off – have been used to support programs aimed at protecting declining species. To maintain eligibility for the federal wildlife grants, all of the states, U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia were required by Congress to develop and obtain U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approval of a comprehensive wildlife conservation strategy.
The CWCS notes that Connecticut’s wildlife is remarkably diverse for a small state. It documents the presence of 84 mammal species, 335 bird species, 49 reptile and amphibian species, 168 fish species, and an estimated 20,000 invertebrate species. This diversity is due to the state’s wide range of landscapes, waterscapes, and habitats, from the coastal plain and Long Island Sound to the northwest hills.
During the development of Connecticut’s strategy, scientific experts and stakeholders reviewed the best available scientific information on the status of wildlife species and identified those species with the greatest conservation need. The strategy identifies 475 species of "Greatest Conservation Need," including 27 mammals, 148 birds, 30 reptiles and amphibians, 74 fish, and 196 invertebrates.
In addition, 12 key habitats and 43 sub-habitats related to the species of greatest conservation need were identified as priorities for conservation. These habitats include several types of forest, wetlands, and other unique communities, such as sparsely vegetated areas, caves, and coastal beaches. These wildlife species and habitats will be the focus of conservation efforts guided by the strategy.
Conservation actions to address threats to Connecticut’s wildlife will be coordinated with key partners, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Office of Policy and Management, The Nature Conservancy, Partners In Flight, Connecticut Audubon, Audubon Connecticut, Connecticut Forest and Parks Association, many sportsmen’s conservation organizations, tribal groups, watershed groups, land trusts, private landowners and many others.
Other environmental conservation organizations present at the event were also pleased at the announcement of federal approval of the CWCS.
"Audubon applauds DEP Commissioner McCarthy and her staff on completion of this strategy that lays out a blueprint for the conservation of wildlife, both game and non-game, rare and common species alike," said Thomas Baptist, Executive Director of Audubon CT. "Especially important are the proactive strategies set forth to keep our common species common. This will increase the efficiency of our conservation efforts, address potential threats at the earliest stage possible, and will help to avoid the more difficult and costly task of endangered species recovery."
"The Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy is a major conservation milestone in Connecticut," said Milan Bull, Director of Science and Conservation for Connecticut Audubon. "We are pleased to partner with the DEP to move this plan forward to help conserve and protect birds and their habitats in the state."
"This plan is an extraordinary and complete look at what we know about our most imperiled wildlife species and the places they live," said David Sutherland, Government Relations Director for The Nature Conservancy. "It provides a conservation action roadmap for our state to address the most serious threats facing the species with which we share our lands and waters."
Connecticut’s Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy can be viewed
online on the DEP's web site at:
www.dep.state.ct.us/burnatr/wildlife/geninfo/
fedaid/cwcs/home.htm
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