Funding, Implementation, and Review

Oak woodland in the winter. Photo Credit: Keith Kohl, ODFW

FUNDING

Banding Greater Sandhill Cranes at the ODFW Ladd Marsh Wildife Area
Photo Credit: ODFW. Banding Greater Sandhill Cranes at the ODFW Ladd Marsh Wildlife Area

Oregon’s State Wildlife Action Plan identifies priorities for conservation actions and for collecting further information about Oregon’s species and habitats. Currently, many agencies, tribes, and organizations have insufficient funding and capacity to address all of the conservation priorities. Funding is necessary to support the ongoing efforts of ODFW and partner organizations to implement actions identified in the SWAP. The SWAP supports collaborative efforts to identify funding for conservation priorities and to maximize limited time and resources.

IMPLEMENTATION

Everyone Can Help

Birding at the Tualatin National Wildlife Refuge.
Photo Credit: Liz Dreith. Birding at the Tualatin National Wildlife Refuge.

Although ODFW leads the effort to develop and update the SWAP, partnering organizations are essential to success. Partners include federal, state, and local agencies, tribes, conservation organizations, outdoor recreation groups including guides, hunters, and anglers, private landowners, and related organizations (e.g., SWCDs, watershed councils, irrigation districts, etc.). Some ways to implement the SWAP include:

  • Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife:
    • Continue to support ODFW’s ongoing conservation and restoration work statewide. ODFW’s fish and wildlife biologists have strong local knowledge and invaluable relationships with local partners to help guide conservation opportunities and find economies-of-scale.
    • Continue to use the SWAP to update Wildlife Management Area plans, help prioritize Access and Habitat Program projects, and assist in prioritizing Willamette Wildlife Mitigation Program projects.
    • Use the SWAP to inform agency workplans. Focus survey and conservation efforts on priority SGCN. Provide updates on implementation progress to the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission.
    • Use the SWAP for guidance when responding to emerging issues. For example, develop and provide recommendations to agencies responding to drought that offer relief for fish and wildlife species. Continue to participate in the implementation and update of Oregon’s Integrated Water Resources Strategy, and continue using the SWAP to shape ODFW input on state and federal public forest and rangeland management planning efforts.
    • Use the SWAP to guide implementation of the ODFW Climate and Ocean Change policy for SGCN and Key Habitats.
  • Outdoor interest groups, businesses, travel organizations, landowners, and conservation partners:
    • Use information on SGCN and Key Habitats and the lists of associated conservation actions to guide conservation and restoration efforts.
    • Promote efforts to get outdoors for recreation and wildlife viewing.
    • Get involved with community science efforts to report wildlife sightings.
    • Business owners can promote local or ‘conservation certified’ products, engage employees in restoration efforts, support habitat protection investments, and improve habitats on company lands.
  • Universities and community science groups:
    • Address research needs and data gaps identified in the SWAP.
    • Collect biological data to expand mapped or modeled data on SGCN and Key Habitats.
    • Report monitoring results to online central databases (for example, iNaturalist, eBird, Oregon Biodiversity Information Center, etc.) that can be used for adaptive management and evaluation.
    • Provide information about the SWAP when conducting outreach.
  • State and federal agencies, counties, and municipalities:
    • Continue to utilize the priorities in the SWAP to administer funds and programs, manage lands, develop or revise management plans, monitor species, and restore habitats.
The Painted Hills near Mitchell, Oregon.
Photo Credit: Keith Kohl, ODFW. The Painted Hills near Mitchell, Oregon.

REVIEW PLAN

ODFW will continue coordination with federal, state, and local agencies, tribes, conservation organizations, outdoor recreation organizations, and other groups to evaluate, implement, and review the SWAP. Coordination efforts will follow the outline in this document, as well as continuing existing efforts through ODFW’s district offices.

The SWAP website will offer updated supporting content, including new guidance documents, species monitoring plans, community science efforts, local conservation efforts, potential partners, and other supporting information. ODFW anticipates updating the supporting information to the extent possible. Changes will not be made to the Eight Required Elements without U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) consultation and review.

ODFW will lead the next comprehensive review of the SWAP, covering all USFWS requirements, no later than October 1, 2035.