NYS Department of Environmental Conservation State Wildlife Grants Program and the Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy Jenny A. Landry

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

State Wildlife Grants Program State Wildlife Grants Program and the Comprehensive and the Comprehensive

Wildlife Conservation StrategyWildlife Conservation Strategy

Jenny A. LandryJenny A. Landry


Conserving BiodiversityConserving Biodiversity

US laws and policies place primary US laws and policies place primary responsibility for wildlife management in the responsibility for wildlife management in the hands of the stateshands of the states

State Wildlife Grants provides Federal State Wildlife Grants provides Federal dollars to support cost effective dollars to support cost effective conservation aimed at preventing wildlife conservation aimed at preventing wildlife from becoming endangered.from becoming endangered.


Background of the State Wildlife Background of the State Wildlife Grants ProgramGrants Program

The program was first authorized by The program was first authorized by congress in 2002congress in 2002

Program grew out of Conservation and Program grew out of Conservation and Reinvestment Act compromise languageReinvestment Act compromise language

Program is subject to annual congressional Program is subject to annual congressional legislationlegislation


What does the program do?What does the program do?

SWG program is intended to assist SWG program is intended to assist states in states in biodiversity biodiversity preservationpreservation – Tied to “species in greatest need of Tied to “species in greatest need of

conservation”conservation”– These are species which have not These are species which have not

traditionally received funding for traditionally received funding for management management

– Intended to Intended to avoidavoid new listings of new listings of endangered speciesendangered species


How does the program How does the program work?work?

Congress makes an annual appropriation Congress makes an annual appropriation The funds are apportioned to each state The funds are apportioned to each state

based on a formulabased on a formula States had to commit to write a States had to commit to write a

Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy by Oct. 2005Strategy by Oct. 2005– Targeted toward “species of greatest Targeted toward “species of greatest

conservation need”conservation need”


How does the program work? How does the program work? (cont’d)(cont’d)

The individual states apply for their The individual states apply for their apportionment annually from USFWSapportionment annually from USFWS

The program pays for both species The program pays for both species investigations and implementation projectsinvestigations and implementation projects

Match required - 50%Match required - 50%


Comprehensive Wildlife Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation StrategyConservation Strategy

Mandated by congress to remain eligible Mandated by congress to remain eligible for fundingfor funding

Submitted to USFWS for acceptanceSubmitted to USFWS for acceptance


Comprehensive Wildlife Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy StructureConservation Strategy Structure

Organized by major watersheds of the Organized by major watersheds of the statestate

Species information analyzed by each Species information analyzed by each watershedwatershed– List species occurring in the basinList species occurring in the basin– List critical habitats of the basinList critical habitats of the basin– Priority conservation actions in the basinPriority conservation actions in the basin

Information from other planning Information from other planning documents reviewed and included.documents reviewed and included.


SE Lake Ontario

SWLake

Ontario

Susquehanna

Delaware

Upper Hudson

NE Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence

Lake Champlain

Lake Erie

Lower Hudson-Long Island

Bays

Allegheny

Atlantic Ocean/NY Bight

N


Fish HighlightsFish Highlights

SturgeonSturgeon American eelAmerican eel Longear sunfishLongear sunfish Brook troutBrook trout Anadromous Anadromous

speciesspecies Winter flounderWinter flounder Gilt darterGilt darter


Bird HighlightsBird Highlights

RaptorsRaptors ShorebirdsShorebirds Marsh birdsMarsh birds Common nighthawkCommon nighthawk WaterfowlWaterfowl Colonial nestersColonial nesters


Mammal highlights:Mammal highlights:

BatsBats LynxLynx CougarCougar WolfWolf American martenAmerican marten River otterRiver otter


Amphibian and Reptile Amphibian and Reptile Highlights:Highlights:

SnakesSnakes SalamandersSalamanders Frogs and toadsFrogs and toads TurtlesTurtles HellbenderHellbender


Invertebrate Highlights:Invertebrate Highlights:

MothsMoths Dragonflies and Dragonflies and

damselfliesdamselflies MusselsMussels Chittenango ovate Chittenango ovate

amber snailamber snail


Top Threats to Species of Greatest Top Threats to Species of Greatest Conservation Need StatewideConservation Need Statewide

Habitat loss and fragmentationHabitat loss and fragmentation– Only 15% of state land area in public ownershipOnly 15% of state land area in public ownership

Contaminant depositionContaminant deposition– AcidsAcids– MercuryMercury– Nitrogen productsNitrogen products

Degraded water quality & altered hydrologyDegraded water quality & altered hydrology


Top Threats to Species of Greatest Top Threats to Species of Greatest Conservation Need Statewide Conservation Need Statewide

(cont’d)(cont’d) Invasive speciesInvasive species Changing farm and forestry practicesChanging farm and forestry practices Direct human-wildlife interactionsDirect human-wildlife interactions

– CollisionsCollisions– PoachingPoaching– Unregulated harvestUnregulated harvest

Climate changeClimate change


OutcomesOutcomes – Conservation – Conservation RecommendationsRecommendations

Data CollectionData Collection PlanningPlanning Management and RestorationManagement and Restoration Land ProtectionLand Protection Regulatory and LegislativeRegulatory and Legislative Information DisseminationInformation Dissemination Incentives and DisincentivesIncentives and Disincentives


Outcomes – Policy and PracticeOutcomes – Policy and Practice

Moving away from single species Moving away from single species management.management.

Integrating fish and wildlife Integrating fish and wildlife management with environmental management with environmental quality.quality.

Dealing with species metapopulationsDealing with species metapopulations Integrating fish and wildlife disciplines Integrating fish and wildlife disciplines

through habitat management.through habitat management.


New Ways of New Ways of Working Under SWGWorking Under SWG

Addressing both natural resources and Addressing both natural resources and environmental quality issuesenvironmental quality issues

Creating stronger interdivisional Creating stronger interdivisional relationshipsrelationships– Division of Fish, Wildlife and Marine ResourcesDivision of Fish, Wildlife and Marine Resources– Division of Lands and ForestsDivision of Lands and Forests– Division of WaterDivision of Water


NY’s SWG funding so far…NY’s SWG funding so far…Federal Fiscal Federal Fiscal YearYear

National National Total Total

NY NY AllocationAllocation

FFY 2001FFY 2001 $50 M$50 M $2.33 M$2.33 M

FFY 2002 FFY 2002 $85 M$85 M $3.73 M$3.73 M

FFY 2003 FFY 2003 $65 M$65 M $2.78 M$2.78 M

FFY 2004FFY 2004 $70 M$70 M $2.95 M$2.95 M

FFY 2005FFY 2005 $69.12 M$69.12 M $2.94 M$2.94 M

FFY 2006FFY 2006 $68.5 M$68.5 M $2.90 M$2.90 M


New StaffNew Staff

Federal Fiscal Year 2004 Federal Fiscal Year 2004 funds were used to hire 9 funds were used to hire 9 ecologists within 11 major ecologists within 11 major watersheds and 1 data watersheds and 1 data coordinatorcoordinator

This single year of funds This single year of funds will cover staff salaries for will cover staff salaries for at least three years at least three years

New staff will implement New staff will implement the SWG program and the the SWG program and the recommendations in the recommendations in the CWCSCWCS


New Biologists’ DutiesNew Biologists’ Duties

Develop and write 5-year action plans in consultation Develop and write 5-year action plans in consultation with Watershed Team and Agency Staffwith Watershed Team and Agency Staff

Recruit Watershed Team membersRecruit Watershed Team members Annual watershed priority development for RFA Annual watershed priority development for RFA Watershed project oversight/managementWatershed project oversight/management Watershed project implementationWatershed project implementation Annual grant reportingAnnual grant reporting Communicate CWCS issues with Watershed Team, Communicate CWCS issues with Watershed Team,

other DEC Divisions and programs in the regionsother DEC Divisions and programs in the regions


New StaffNew StaffJason SmithJason Smith Lower Hudson – LI Bays Lower Hudson – LI Bays

& Atlantic Ocean& Atlantic OceanRegion 2 Office, Long Region 2 Office, Long Island CityIsland City

Gregg KenneyGregg Kenney Delaware & Upper Delaware & Upper HudsonHudson

Region 3 – New PaltzRegion 3 – New Paltz

Paul NovakPaul Novak Upper Hudson Upper Hudson Region 4 – SchenectadyRegion 4 – Schenectady

Joe RacetteJoe Racette Lake ChamplainLake Champlain Region 5 – RaybrookRegion 5 – Raybrook

Angelena RossAngelena Ross NE Lake OntarioNE Lake Ontario Region 6 – WatertownRegion 6 – Watertown

Tom BellTom Bell SusquehannaSusquehanna Region 7 – CortlandRegion 7 – Cortland

Amy MaharAmy Mahar SE Lake OntarioSE Lake Ontario Region 8 – AvonRegion 8 – Avon

Jenny LandryJenny Landry SW Lake OntarioSW Lake Ontario Region 8 – AvonRegion 8 – Avon

VACANTVACANT Lake Erie & AlleghenyLake Erie & Allegheny Region 9 – AlleganyRegion 9 – Allegany

Carl HerzogCarl Herzog Data ManagementData Management Central Office - AlbanyCentral Office - Albany


NY ForestsNY Forests

Forest cover has returned to Forest cover has returned to 60% of the land area of New 60% of the land area of New York concurrent with the York concurrent with the decline of agriculture. decline of agriculture.

Need active management of Need active management of vegetative successionvegetative succession

Sustainable forest practices, Sustainable forest practices, in accordance with BMPs, in accordance with BMPs, improve forest health and improve forest health and resilienceresilience


72% 72% of forest land in New York is of forest land in New York is

privately ownedprivately owned..


NYFOA ContractNYFOA Contract

Develop Materials and WebsiteDevelop Materials and Website Publicize CWCS implementation needs to Publicize CWCS implementation needs to

Forest OwnersForest Owners Landowner visitsLandowner visits DatabaseDatabase Map of landowners and critical habitatsMap of landowners and critical habitats Strategic PlanStrategic Plan


Boreal Forest BirdsBoreal Forest Birds


Deciduous/Mixed Deciduous/Mixed Forest Breeding BirdsForest Breeding Birds


Early Successional Forest/Shrubland Early Successional Forest/Shrubland BirdsBirds


Forest Breeding RaptorsForest Breeding Raptors


High Altitude Conifer Forest BirdsHigh Altitude Conifer Forest Birds


Tree BatsTree Bats


Vernal Pool SalamandersVernal Pool Salamanders


Woodland/Grassland SnakesWoodland/Grassland Snakes


Thank you!Thank you!

Jenny Ann Landry

NYSDEC

[email protected]

585-226-5491


Documents

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation State Wildlife Grants Program and the Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy Jenny A. Landry