Significant loss of senior leadership and tenured staff across state fish and wildlife agencies continues to impact and put at risk the conservation communitys future

This $705,359.84 federal Project Grant award, made by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Multistate Conservation Grant Program (CFDA 15.628), supports the effective implementation of projects funded under the Wildlife Restoration and Sport Fish Restoration Acts. The grant aims to develop leadership skills in state and tribal fish and wildlife agencies, federal agencies, and partner organizations, including non-profits and industry partners. Compared to isolated attempts, this centralized, cost-effective approach capitalizes on consistent, skilled training and peer-to-peer networking to build leadership capacity across the wildlife conservation community. The grant recipient is the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, a non-profit organization that serves as a bridge between state agencies, federal agencies, and other stakeholders, facilitating collaboration, knowledge sharing, and strategic planning for wildlife and habitat conservation efforts.

This staggering loss of leadership capacity, coupled with the challenges facing these agencies to remain relevant, adapt to changing landscapes and constituencies, and or secure funding to name a fewrequires continued, ongoing, and focused leadership and organizational development. Leadership development and well-managed fish and wildlife agencies are priorities identified in the association of fish and wildlife agencies strategic plan. The purpose of this project is to support the effective implementation of projects funded under the wildlife restoration and sport fish restoration acts by developing leadership skills in state and tribal fish and wildlife agencies, federal agencies, and partner organizations, including non-profits and excise-tax paying industry partners. Compared to isolated attempts to foster leadership skills in individual agencies and partner organizations, this grant offers a cost-effective and efficient approach to professional development that capitalizes on consistent, skilled training and peer-to-peer networking within a shared experience of working to conserve wildlife and sport fish across the country.