Brook trout are a recreationally and ecologically important native fish species across the Eastern United States. They are sensitive to water quality and temperature making them strong indicators of stream health. However, their populations have declined due to land use changes, habitat fragmentation and warming water temperature. This project aims to enhance brook trout habitat … Read more
The Multistate Conservation Grant Program (MSCGP), authorized under the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Restoration Act and the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act, provides up to $11 million annually for projects that address national and regional conservation priorities beyond the capacity of individual states. This includes $6 million for Traditional Multistate Conservation Grants (T-MSCG) that support fish and … Read more
Conservation of migratory species requires cross-border collaboration within and beyond the United States to coordinate conservation measures over the entire species phenology. Understanding movement patterns and habitat use throughout the year is essential to coordinating these efforts. A total of 44 states identify at least one of the three long-distance migratory bats (silver-haired, red and … Read more
Fish and wildlife professionals need high quality training to enable them to meet their professional challenges. Success in the workplace is critical for these professionals be they state or federal agency, nongovernmental organizations, industry or others. Yet the vast majority of employing entities are poorly equipped to provide their staff with such training. The science … Read more
American fisheries and wildlife professionals are well trained in science-based problem solving, but their roles reach far beyond biology. They often serve at the public interface, responsible for explaining management decisions, presenting regulation changes, participating in events, and securing compliance from anglers and other stakeholders. For many citizens, agency biologists may be the only point … Read more
The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies’ (AFWA) Management Assistance Team (MAT) proposes a national professional development initiative to strengthen the leadership and capacity of state fish and wildlife agencies. The project will deliver high-quality training, consulting and resources to enhance staff effectiveness, improve retention, and support conservation programs funded through the Wildlife Restoration and … Read more
The purpose of the proposed project is to strengthen conservation workforce development by enhancing undergraduate preparation for careers in fisheries, wetlands, and aquatic systems through targeted professional development and applied training. This approach directly supports the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) strategic priority of Professional Development by enhancing undergraduate preparation for conservation careers … Read more
This project will strengthen the capacity and coordination of state Federal Aid Coordinators (FACs) by supporting the Federal Aid Coordinators Working Group (FACWG) with enhanced facilitation, information-sharing, and development of practical tools. As federal aid programs grow more complex, state fish and wildlife agencies (States) face increasing demands for consistent compliance, efficient administration, and effective … Read more
Fish age estimation is a fundamental component for fisheries management, but poor practices and improper training may lead to widespread mismanagement for both exploited fisheries and native species in need of conservation. Our collaborative team recognized these challenges and with support from a Multistate Conservation Grant in 2023 created FishAge, www.fishage.org, an online repository of … Read more
Throughout the conservation field, specifically Wildlife Restoration (WR) or Sport Fish Restoration (SFR) related efforts, there is a continual challenge to maintain leadership capacity as senior staff retire and more early- and mid-career staff begin taking on leadership roles and responsibilities. Although existing leadership programs already provide excellent training, they mainly target mid- to late-career … Read more
In-person recruitment, retention and reactivation (R3) programs for hunting and shooting sports are important to help many participants build skills to feel confident enough to participate in the activity on their own. Other Multistate Conservation Grant research has shown that the lack of additional skills training is a significant barrier to participation. Most states offer … Read more
Over the past few years multiple research projects centered around new hunters have uncovered the same five knowledge gaps as barriers to new/potential hunters. International Hunter Education Association’s studies on adult hunter ed graduates, Wildlife Management Incorporated’s work with new hunters seeking mentors and Wildlife Management Incorporated’s studies on new hunter personas and the journey … Read more
