Topic: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) publishes
draft strategic plan for migratory birds, seeks comments
Background: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has embarked upon
a
strategic planning effort to recommit to its migratory bird trust
responsibilities and set a course for migratory bird conservation over
the next
decade. A Steering Committee comprised of USFWS employees has produced
a draft
strategic plan – entitled A Blueprint for the Future of Migratory Birds
- for
public review and input. The USFWS seeks comments from a broad
audience, including
all Service employees and numerous partners and constituents. In
issuing the
request for comments, the USFWS wrote, “The Service is keenly aware
that
effective management of migratory birds depends upon the collective
efforts of
many individuals, organizations, agencies, and nations. That is why it
is
absolutely essential that the Service develop its migratory bird
strategic plan
in consultation with the many partners and constituents who share an
interest
in, responsibility for, and active involvement in migratory bird
conservation.”
Comments will be compiled by a team of reviewers and brought to the
attention
of the Steering Committee, but the USFWS states that “we will not be
able to
address every recommendation in the final plan nor will we be able to
respond
individually to every commentor.”The Steering Committee will report on
the
results of this consultation to a diverse set of partners at a
Migratory Bird
Conservation Forum to be held in January 2004. The Forum will provide
an
opportunity for the Service and its partners to refine and focus
outstanding
issues on the strategic plan and gain consensus on priority actions.
The draft
strategic plan can be found at
http://migratorybirds.fws.gov/mbstratplan/mbstratplan.pdf
and comments (6,000
words or less) can be submitted through a webpage:
<http://migratorybirds.fws.gov/mbstratplan/mbstratplan.htm>.
Note: if you submit comments through the website, you may want to copy
and
paste from a word-processed document, so you can retain a copy of your
comments!
Longer comments can be sent by mail to Migratory Bird Strategic Plan
Steering
Committee, US Fish and Wildlife Service, 4401
North Fairfax Drive, Mailstop 4075,Arlington,
VA 22203.
The Ornithological Council congratulates the USFWS on taking this
measure,
which represents a considerable effort. While many federal agencies are
involved in bird conservation, the USFWS has a central role, and this
planning
effort will help the agency better fulfill its role. Your comments can
be
invaluable in helping to shape the plan, which will benefit not only
the USFWS,
but bird conservation as well. The Ornithological Council strongly
encourages
ornithologists to read and comment on this plan; we ask that you copy
your
comments to us (epaul@concentric.net).
Knowing what you think of the plan will be helpful to us in drafting
our own
comments.
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