DNR Media Contacts:
Columbia - Brett Witt (803) 667-0696
Clemson - Greg Lucas (864) 654-1671, ext.22
Charleston - (803) 667-0696
Spokesman - Mike Willis (803) 734-4133
After Hours Radio Room - (803) 955-4000

DNR News
SC Dept. of Natural Resources
P 0 Box 167
Columbia, SC 29202

** Archived Article - please check for current information. **

#05-278 December 26, 2005

S.C. wildlife strategy submitted to federal government

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (DNR), through a partnership with the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), has written a Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy for the citizens of South Carolina.

South Carolina stands to qualify for millions of federal dollars for wildlife conservation in the future once DNR, working with wildlife conservation groups and individuals, has the detailed strategy for the conservation of the state's native wildlife approved by the USFWS. A decision on the strategy is expected around February 2006.

Read the strategy by going to the DNR website at http://www.dnr.sc.gov/wcp/tablecontents.htm.
The strategy includes specific directional indicators, called Eight Required Elements. These are federally mandated areas that DNR had to address in its drafting of the strategy.

• What's here now? - Distribution and abundance of wildlife species. Focus on low and
  declining species that are indicators of the health of the state's wildlife.
   
• Health check - Location and condition of habitats that are vital to conserving priority
  species.
   
• Threats - Identify problems that may harm wildlife species and/or habitats, and priority research for conservation actions.
   
• Actions - Prescriptions and priorities for conserving wildlife species and habitats.
   
• Monitoring - How to assess and measure effectiveness of conservation actions.
   
• Review - Assessment at intervals not to exceed ten years, although South Carolina has agreed to a review every five years.
   
• Coordination - Involvement of federal, state, and local agencies and Native American tribes that manage lands or programs affecting wildlife.
   
• Public participation - Required by law and essential for success in developing and implementing strategies.

Congress charged each state and territory with developing a statewide Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy in order to make the best use of the State Wildlife Grants (SWG) program. SWG is a federal grant that will help biologists and citizens protect and manage species and habitats of special concern. It was approved by Congress to supplement traditional license revenues and excise taxes for wildlife conservation.

The strategy will provide an essential foundation for the future of wildlife conservation and a stimulus to engage the states, federal agencies and other conservation partners to strategically think about their individual and coordinated roles in prioritizing conservation efforts.

South Carolina has been awarded more than $3 million in State Wildlife Grants.

Is DNR going to be asking all its partners for funding to fully realize the strategy? "We're not necessarily asking for money from our partners; we're asking them to use their money to manage their property based on information in the strategy," says project leader Lynn Quattro.

What does this mean for South Carolina hunters and anglers? It's likely the landscape will look just the same, but they may see the land on which they were hunting or fishing has more species variety.