The Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) entered into an agreement with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) to enhance communication and collaboration regarding fish and wildlife habitat management on public lands in the West.
“Working together with our partners to enhance fish and wildlife conservation in the West is one of the primary goals of WAFWA,” said Curt Melcher, president of WAFWA and director of the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. “We welcome the opportunity to be a party to this MOU. The Bureau of Land Management is a key player on the western landscape, and any time there is a firm commitment to communicate and collaborate more with the states, that is a positive development.”
The new MOU establishes a framework and communication protocols for the BLM to proactively coordinate with AFWA, WAFWA and the state agencies they represent on wildlife issues of mutual interest. Those issues include wild horse and burro management, wilderness management, land use planning, energy and mineral development, forestry, grazing management and conservation and recreational activities for big game, migratory birds, upland game, reptiles, amphibians and fish.
The BLM manages more fish and wildlife habitat than any other federal or state agency, which supports over 3,000 wildlife species on federal land.
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