Resources and Links
Government Agencies and Programs
Government agencies at all levels play an important role in conservation, through both regulatory and voluntary programs. Agencies provide information and programs about species, habitats, funding, and partnerships—plus local offices and contacts. This section includes:
British Columbia Government
Ministry of Environment/Environmental Stewardship Division
British Columbia is home to a rich diversity and abundance of native species and habitats. The Ministry of Environment conserves biodiversity, provides opportunities for the use and enjoyment of wildlife, and maintains a balance between the needs of wildlife and the needs of the people. Programs include:
- Alien species
- Biodiversity
- B.C. Frogwatch
- Endangered and at-risk species and ecosystems
- Fish, wildlife, and big tree inventories
- Stewardship information
State Wildlife Action Plans
These comprehensive wildlife conservation strategies target each state’s coordinated conservation efforts toward the highest priorities. The wildlife action plans identify at-risk species and habitats, prioritize conservation actions, recognize the importance of keeping common species common, and build and strengthen conservation partnerships with agencies, tribes, organizations, and citizens.
U.S. Federal Agencies
National Marine Fisheries Service, Northwest Office
National Marine Fisheries Service is dedicated to the stewardship of living marine resources through science-based conservation and management, promoting healthy ecosystems, and providing economic opportunities. The Fisheries Service is within the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA), U.S. Department of Commerce. Programs in the Northwest Region include:
- Grants for marine species and habitat conservation
- Groundfish and halibut
- Marine mammals
- Salmon (species, conservation status, harvest, hatcheries, hydropower, recovery planning)
- Sustainable marine fisheries
- U.S. Endangered Species Act (for marine and anadromous species)
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service works with partners to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is within the U.S. Department of the Interior. Programs include:
- Grants for fish, wildlife, and habitat conservation
- Invasive species
- Migratory birds, pollinators, coastal areas, and more
- Photo library
- Programs and partnerships for private landowners
- U.S. Endangered Species Act (for terrestrial and freshwater species)
U.S. Global Change Research Program
The Global Change program coordinates and integrates federal research on changes in the global environment and their implications for society. Thirteen U.S. departments and agencies participate in the Global Change program, which was known as the U.S. Climate Change Science Program from 2002 through 2008. Information includes:
- Adaptation actions to take, in addition to reducing emissions
- Climate change impacts on wildlife, ecosystems, and humans
- Extreme weather events, their impacts, and their relationship to climate change
- Future scenarios that describe economic, environmental, and emissions conditions
U.S. Federal/State Agencies
National Estuary Program
This U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program assists 28 nationally significant estuaries to develop partnerships that conserve and manage native fish and wildlife, habitat, water quality, and public water supplies. In the Pacific Northwest, there are three National Estuary Programs:
West Coast Governors’ Ocean Action Plan
This regional collaboration seeks to protect and manage the ocean and coastal resources along the entire West Coast of the United States. The states of Washington, Oregon, and California work together, and with the U.S. federal government, to promote:
- Healthy and clean ocean, beach, and coastal habitats
- Ecosystem-based management
- Ocean awareness and literacy
- Ocean and coastal scientific information, research, and monitoring
- Sustainable economic development of coastal communities
Western Governors’ Wildlife Corridors Initiative
This initiative of the Western Governors’ Association is a multi-state collaborative effort to identify key wildlife corridors and crucial wildlife habitats to develop and coordinate implementation of needed policy options and tools for conserving those landscapes.
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