"Creating a vision for the future of wildlife conservation"

Introduction

{Scarlet Tanager} The DEP Wildlife Division has developed a Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CWCS) for Connecticut. This will allow the Department and its partners to integrate the management of natural resources, build valuable partnerships, and support regional and national efforts to secure long-term funding for wildlife conservation.

Connecticut's strategy identifies species of greatest conservation need and their affiliated habitats. The strategy also identifies the priority research needs and conservation actions needed to address problems facing these species and habitats.

The intent of the CWCS is to provide guidance and vision for wildlife conservation in Connecticut. Accordingly, the strategy:

1. Addresses the broad array of all fish, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrate species.
2. Uses available funding to address the species in greatest need of conservation and their habitats.
3. Identifies actions needed to conserve species diversity and keep common species common.
4. Builds upon past efforts to conserve all species of wildlife.
5. Encourages the creation of partnerships with conservation organizations at local, state and regional levels to enhance opportunities for implementation of actions to conserve wildlife.

{Illustration of a butterfly and flowers.} Background: Through passage of the Forsythe-Chaffee Nongame Act of 1980, Congress recognized the need for new sources of federal funding for state wildlife conservation programs to complement funding provided through the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Programs. Key elements in the success of the Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Programs have been long-term stability, equitable and reasonably predictable annual allocations, and safeguards against diversion of such funds away from the purposes established by Congress.

Subsequent to the passage of the Forsythe-Chaffee Nongame Act, an unprecedented national grassroots coalition (Teaming With Wildlife) was created. This coalition comprises all 50 states, their governmental and nongovernmental partners in conservation, and the corporate sector. For over a decade, the coalition has developed strong Congressional support to fund the conservation of nongame species. Since 2001, this effort has resulted in annual appropriations to states under the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program (WCRP) and State Wildlife Grant program (SWG).

Under the new federal SWG and WCRP programs, Congress has provided a historic opportunity to state fish and wildlife agencies and their partners to design and implement a comprehensive vision for the conservation of America's wildlife. Under SWG, each State, Territory, and the District of Columbia was required to complete a Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy by October 1, 2005. After a review process, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service granted approval to Connecticut's CWCS in January 2006.