The Conservation title of the Farmbill provides many benefits to at-risk fish and wildlife. In this era of strained budgets, many of the gains made during the last several decades connecting conservation to agriculture policy could be lost. Consider joining a letter to the Senate and House Agriculture Committees demonstrating broad and strong support for the Farm Bill Conservation Programs. The goal is to get 500 national, state,and local organizations to sign-on by the February 28 Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on conservation programs. The political context of this letter is that there remains strong bipartisan bicameral agreement in the House and Senate Agriculture Committees for the draft Conservation Title. The big challenge is securing adequate funding for these programs.

This is an online sign-on. Visit the following link and officially add your name: goo.gl/VaokH. You can forward the link to your chapters and constituencies asking them to sign on as well. Feel free to share both the attached .pdf of the letter and the link which directs folks to the electronic form. Additionally, at any time, you can view a live list of sign-ons at the following link: goo.gl/NeBrb. The deadline is February 24th, 2012.

• Mark Humpert's blog
• Read more
• 1 attachment

Voters in six Western states overwhelmingly agree that despite state budget problems, money should still be provided to protect land, water and wildlife. A total of 86% of respondents agree with the need for funding conservation. The poll was conducted in Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. The full results of the poll are available at www2.coloradocollege.edu/stateoftherockies/conservationinthewests….

• Mark Humpert's blog

We learned today that the “megabus’ that would fund the Department of Interior and other federal agencies for the current fiscal year included $61.4M (<1% cut from FY11) for State and Tribal Wildlife Grants. A vote in the House on the compromise bill could happen as soon as Friday.

• Mark Humpert's blog
• Read more

Jointly with the FWS and NOAA, the Association issued a press release yesterday (attached) announcing that the draft National Fish, Wildlife and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy is available for public review and comment through March 5 at www.wildlifeadaptationstrategy.gov. Patty Riexinger (NY) is quoted along with David Hayes, Deputy Secretary of the Interior and Dr. Jane Lubchenco, NOAA Administrator.

• Mark Humpert's blog
• Read more

February 28-29, 2012 - Washington DC — Just a reminder to Teaming With Wildlife supporters that online registration is still open. The Registration fee of $50.00 includes includes admission to the Coalition Reception (evening on 2/28/12), Congressional Awards Banquet (evening of 2/29/12) and Lunch on 2/28/12.

Thanking our Supporters:
Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

• Liz Skipper's blog
• Read more

The Senate and House passed and the President will sign (today by electronic pen) a minibus that concludes three of the 12 annual appropriations bills for FY12 (Agriculture, Commerce Justice Science, Transportation-HUD). The bill includes significant cuts to Farmbill Conservation Title Programs (see below). The spending bill also includes an extension to the CR (that expires tonight) until December 16th. Since work as stalled on a second minibus for energy and water programs, it is growing more likely that the remaining spending bills (including Interior) will be bundled into a military spending bill that would serve as a vehicle for an end of the year omnibus. So there is still time to weigh in with your members about State Wildlife Grants. We would like them to support funding levels in the Senate Interior & Environment draft of $61.4M for SWG. Thanks to Missouri for sending letters up to their entire delegation this month.

• Mark Humpert's blog
• Read more

Do you know of an exceptional TWW coalition member or SWAP partnership that you would like to recognize? Nominate them for an award! There are 2 awards, and you may nominate for either or both: TWW Coalition Member Achievement Award and State Wildlife Action Plan Partnership Award. Click on the link below for nomination and submission details. Nomination deadline is Friday, January 13, 2012.

• Mary Pfaffko's blog
• Read more
• 1 attachment

Even though the federal fiscal year started on October 1, a final budget has not been passed and most of the federal government is operating under a continuing resolution (CR) until November 18th.

• Mark Humpert's blog
• Read more

The SGCN tool is back!

The USGS compiled SGCN from each SWAP into a nationally comparable format to facilitate coordination of priorities & conservation actions across states, regions, and the country, in a common language.

We are requesting that each state review its list to confirm that it is correct. If any states have undergone SWAP revisions that led to adding/removing species, please submit your new SGCN list to AFWA.

• Mary Pfaffko's blog
• Read more