The west virginia division of natural resources, wildlife resources section (WRS) is responsible for the management and conservation of the states wildlife resources and for providing…

The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources received a $750,000 formula grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 5 under the Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education and Safety program (CFDA 15.611), awarded November 1, 2025, with a completion date of October 31, 2027. The award supports the development and implementation of a Geographic Information System (GIS) that will locate, track, and support land management components across the Division's wildlife management and conservation activities. This GIS will enhance the agency's ability to manage 1,535,585 acres of public lands held through ownership, lease, or cooperative agreements—including properties managed in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Forest Service—while ensuring protection of rare, threatened, and endangered (RTE) species and critical wildlife habitat.

The GIS initiative complements the Division's existing W41D annual maintenance grant by enabling comprehensive tracking of land restoration, rehabilitation, enhancement, and management activities that serve as wildlife habitat across the state's wildlife management area system and state forests. By integrating spatial data capabilities, the award directly supports the agency's mission to conserve wildlife resources and provide wildlife-associated recreational opportunities including hunting, fishing, trapping, hiking, and birdwatching. This project addresses the requirements of 50 CFR 80(a)(5) and strengthens the Division's capacity to deliver evidence-based wildlife management across the state's extensive portfolio of public recreational lands.

The west virginia division of natural resources, wildlife resources section (WRS) is responsible for the management and conservation of the states wildlife resources and for providing wildlife-associated recreation. As a part of achieving this goal the WRS conducts management activities on the states wildlife management (WMA) system and state forests. The WMA program is a vital component of our agencys overall mission. Currently, the DNR-WRS manages 1,535,585 acres of land available to the public for wildlife-associated recreational opportunities such as hunting, fishing and trapping, as well as other forms of non-consumptive recreational opportunities (i.e., hiking, birdwatching, etc.). These lands are either owned, leased, or held through cooperative management agreements. A major portion of them are held through a cooperative management agreement with the U.S. Department of agriculture, national forest service on three national forests. This grant complements the WRS W41D annual maintenance grant, by creating a geographical information system (GIS) which locates, supports and tracks the land management components of that grant while ensuring RTE species and important habitat protection on the properties under management by the WRS. This project will greatly enhance our ability to restore, rehabilitate, enhance, or manage areas of lands and waters as wildlife habitat, which will address 50 CFR 80 (a)(5).