BLM Joins National Groups in Wildlife
Work
Partnerships will Enhance Success of Federal Projects
In the spirit of Cooperative Conservation as directed by President Bush,
the Bureau of Land Management will sign agreements this week with two
wildlife organizations that expand partnerships for conservation. The
signings will take place at the 70th North American Wildlife and Natural
Resources Conference in Arlington, Virginia.
BLM Director Kathleen Clarke said, “We welcome this opportunity
to renew our existing Memorandum of Understanding with The Wildlife Society.
This memorandum recognizes the important role the group plays in disseminating
research findings throughout state and federal agencies, and it encourages
BLM biologists to earn professional certification through The Wildlife
Society.”
"The Wildlife Society is excited to renew and expand our partnership
to enhance the scientific capabilities of BLM wildlife professionals,"
said Tom Franklin, Acting Executive Director, The Wildlife Society.
Director Clarke added, “We will also sign a new MOU that will allow
cooperation and cost sharing between the BLM and the North American Grouse
Partnership (NAGP). This agreement will focus on improving grouse management
-- primarily prairie and sage habitats -- to meet public demands for both
viewing and hunting opportunities on BLM-managed public land.”
“The BLM manages over half of the sage-grouse habitat in the Western
United States, so we are pleased to form this partnership with them,”
said James Mosher, Executive Director of the NAGP. “Under this MOU
we will be cooperating with the BLM for the primary purpose of maintaining
or improving the productivity of grouse habitat on BLM-administered public
lands.”
The North American Grouse Partnership emphasizes the use of sound science
in grouse management and focuses on cooperative management strategies
involving federal and state agencies, landowners, conservation groups,
resource users, and Native American constituencies. The organization also
recognizes multiple use of public land when appropriate standards and
guidelines are applied to prevent net declines in suitable grouse habitat.
“All BLM activities are guided by a multiple-use mandate, and
this agreement with NAGP will further that mission by maintaining or improving
healthy prairie and sage populations on BLM public lands,” said
Clarke. “This will also give us a basis to initiate additional local
agreements that focus on site-specific habitat improvement or research.”
The BLM, an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior, manages 261
million acres of public lands, primarily in 12 Western states, including
Alaska, and 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout
the nation. The BLM’s multiple-use mission is to sustain the health
and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present
and future generations by managing such activities as outdoor recreation,
livestock grazing, mineral development, and energy production, and by
conserving natural, cultural and other resources on the public lands.
The NAGP is a registered non-profit organization founded in 2000 by a
coalition of academic and agency wildlife biologists, ranchers, attorneys,
doctors and veterinarians concerned about the decline of grassland and
sage-dependent grouse species in North America.
The Wildlife Society was founded in 1937 and serves as the professional
organization for wildlife biologists and managers. It is dedicated to
the use of sound science in making wildlife policy decisions; enhancement
of the knowledge and capabilities of wildlife professionals; promoting
professional standards for wildlife research, education and management;
and recognizing the professional stewardship of wildlife resources.
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