 |
 |
|
|
Updated
Wednesday, November 2, 2005
Utah Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy Summaries of top ten key habitats — PDF format
Overview of Utah's Wildlife Conservation Strategy Public input on the development of Utah's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy State Wildlife Grants — Over the past three years, State Wildlife Grant (SWG) programs have served as the nation's core effort to prevent fish and wildlife from needing protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). This proactive endeavor attempts to resolve species and their associated habitat conservation issues before the species are designated as federally threatened or endangered, thus tying up land use potentials. What are State Wildlife Grants? — Essentially, federal SWGs fund programs that are a kind of preventive medicine for avoiding the ESA listing of species at risk. SWG-funded programs are based on the cooperation of partners from the public and private sectors through voluntary collaborative efforts that bring about mutually desirable, effective projects focused on fish and wildlife species as well as habitats of greatest conservation need. SWG funds must be matched with state or private money. Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategies — In order for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources to obtain these State Wildlife Grant funds for conserving Utah's highest priority species and habitats (see summaries of top ten key habitats, above), it needed to submit a written Strategy (or CWCS) to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by October 1, 2005. Utah's Strategy (accepted by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) National Acceptance Advisory Team, and approved by the USFWS Director on September 9, 2005) will help sustain and enhance the ecological, social and economic viability of communities — ensuring a better quality of life for all. |