APPENDIX VI 369
Wildlife Issues. MDWFP. Spring/Summer 2005.
Mississippi's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy Update
By Elizabeth Barber, Charles Knight, and Larry Castle
As a result of the Teaming with Wildlife Coalition's advocacy efforts, Congress passed the State
Wildlife Grants (SWG) program in 2001. Since then, new federal dollars have been funneled to states to
prevent species and habitats from becoming endangered. To make the best use of SWG funds, Congress
charged each state with developing a statewide Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (CWCS)
focused on species of greatest conservation need (SGCN). These strategies provide the essential
foundation for the future of all wildlife conservation and a stimulus to engage the wildlife agencies and
conservation partners to strategically think about their individual and coordinating roles in prioritizing
conservation efforts.
Mississippi's strategy is being developed by the MDWFP with a diverse group of technical experts,
agencies, and stakeholders. The effort is being coordinated by Charles Knight, Conservation Biology
Coordinator at the Museum of Natural Science in concert with an internal Technical and Steering
Committee, a large external Advisory Committee, and a broad list of taxonomic experts.
Our approach includes eight elements required by Congress: 1) distribution and abundance of species,
with a focus on low and declining species that are indicators of biodiversity and health; 2) location and
condition of key habitats vital to conserving SGCN; 3) identification of problems that adversely affect
SGCN, and research and survey priorities; 4) actions necessary to conserve SGCN and their habitats; 5)
plans to monitor the effectiveness of conservation actions; 6) procedures to review the CWCS; 7)
coordination with other agencies and stakeholders; and, 8) broad public participation.
"This is not just another planning effort," said Knight. "All states and territories are putting together
these strategies and coordinating their efforts with the help of the International Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. It is perhaps the largest conservation planning
effort ever undertaken in this country and is linked to a new funding source for these species of greatest
conservation need."
Mississippi's SGCN, which includes 299 animals, was developed using the Natural Heritage Program's
Animals of Special Concern track list. Threatened and endangered species and some species with low
population density, low reproductive potential, and narrow geographic distributions were also added.
Eighteen habitat types and 94 subtypes are being prioritized based on the number of SGCN using those
habitats. Threats, conservation actions, research and survey needs, and monitoring are being identified
by surveys of scientists, by species recovery plans and other planning tools, and through existing
monitoring protocols.