CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE 13
M ississippi's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CWCS) is part of a nationwide
collaboration of state and federal agencies, non-profit organizations and individuals to address the
habitat needs of declining wildlife. These state strategies mark the first time in U.S. history that state
wildlife agencies and the broader conservation community have cooperated to design a conservation
blueprint for all wildlife species.
This national planning effort is an outgrowth of the efforts led by the Teaming with Wildlife Coalition.
Since the early 1990s, the 3,000-member nationwide Teaming with Wildlife Coalition has worked to
secure funding for state fish and wildlife agencies to take preventative actions keeping rare species from
becoming endangered and common species abundant. In 2001, Congress responded to this need by
creating the State Wildlife Grants (SWG) program and the related Wildlife Conservation and
Restoration Program (WCRP). From 2001 - 2005, over $300 million has been allocated to state wildlife
agencies using a formula based on population and land area.
In order to make the best use of the State Wildlife Grants (SWG) program, Congress charged each state
and territory with developing a CWCS. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks
(MDWFP) is coordinating this effort on behalf of the State of Mississippi. These strategies will provide
an essential foundation for the future of wildlife conservation and a stimulus to engage states, federal
agencies and other conservation partners to strategically think about their individual and coordinated