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MO Teaming With Wildlife Coalition Update
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March 2012
In This Issue
2012 AFWA Fly-In
MoBCI News
Missouri Prairie Foundation
CFM Convention
Events - Ozark Summit
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Gene Gardner and Carol Davit in front of the

Russell House Office Building

 Capitol Hill Meetings during the Teaming With Wildlife Fly-In 

February 28 & 29 | Washington D.C.

  

 

Come rain or shine your TWW Steering Committee is working for you!  The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) held the Teaming With Wildlife (TWW) Fly-in on February 28th & 29th, 2012.  Gene Gardner, Missouri Department of Conservation, Carol Davit, Missouri Prairie Foundation and Debra Lee, Conservation Federation of Missouri visited offices of Missouri's congressional leaders to discuss the importance of the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants (SWG) Program, Wildlife Diversity Funds and the impact that the funding has on conservation in the state of Missouri.   AFWA conducts this annual event to showcase the national TWW Coalition asking Senators and Representatives in Congress for their support.  The Fly - In draws attention to conservation projects that are a direct result of the funding.  It gives conservation partners an opportunity to visit face to face with staff in congressional offices and to meet colleagues from other states.  Reaching out to staff opens the door for conversation about the habitat and wildlife that is restored from the SWG  program and the projects taking place in their district, statewide and across the nation.    

Congressman Clay with Carol Davit, Gene Gardner and Debra Lee

Congressman Carnahan with
Debra Lee and Carol Davit

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Debra Lee with
Christina Mahoney, Senior Legislative Assistant for Congressman Cleaver

 The Missouri team secured meetings with all 11 Missouri Congressional offices.  Senator Blunt, Congressman Carnahan, Congressman Clay, Congressman Long and Congressman Luetkemeyer took time out of their busy schedules to meet with the Missouri team in person.  To help Missouri's elected officials understand the importance of the SWG Program and the need for their support, the team delivered to each a Teaming With Wildlife success report complete with financial graph, matching funds, partners and conservation work on-the-ground by district.  The request for representatives was to sign-on to a "Dear Colleague" letter supporting the State Wildlife Grant Program

  

 Representing over 6,000 Teaming with Wildlife Coalition members nationally,  Missouri has the fourth largest coalition with 306 members.  The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and their staff work dilitgently to produce this exciting event.  It creates a powerful presence and is deeply appreciated.  A great deal of credit for SWG funding belongs to AFWA! 

Mark Humpert, AFWA
and Gene Gardner

 

 

Thank you for signing on the "Dear Colleague" letter Congressman Clay, Congressman Cleaver and Congressman Carnahan!

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

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Photo Courtesy of Charley Burwick

 MoBCI Update

The Missouri Bird Conservation Initiative held their quarterly meeting on March 13th.  The grants subcommittee met prior to the full committee meeting to review applications for the FY13 MoBCI Grants Program.    The subcommittee received 8 applications.  Following the review process and ranking, allocations in the total sum of $95,000 were distributed from MoBCI.  This program requires a match from applicants and vote for approval by the full steering committee. 

 

MoBCI Conference will be held in mid-August.  The tentative date is set for August 17th.  It will be held in Columbia, Missouri. 

 

Migratory Bird Day is May 12th!  Watch the MoBCI website to see which feathered friend will be the Bird of the Year 2012! 

 

Have you seen the live peregrine falcon webcam?  The nest can be viewed on MDC's website at mdc.mo.gov/node/16934, on Ameren's website at AmerenMissouri.com/FalconWatch and on the WBS website at worldbirdsanctuary.org. The camera is live for viewing from 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. (CDT) seven days a week.

 

 Please visit http://www.mobci.org for current news.

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Missouri Prairie Foundation Update
 

State Wildlife Grant Program Helps Protect Prairies

Thanks to three FY2012 SWG-funded grants, the Missouri Prairie Foundation is carrying out vital prairie conservation work on 4,500 acres of prairie. 

Photo by Cathy Hansen

 

 

 

Two weeks ago, a group of Missouri Prairie Foundation volunteers braved a 27-degree day and waded through chest-high brush to clear a prairie swale of invading woody growth at Stilwell Prairie, which will help prairie plants rebound. It's the kind of commitment that prairie lovers are known for, and is much appreciated.

 

Volunteer labor also helps stretch funds to get more conservation work done. The Missouri Prairie Foundation, like other conservation groups in Missouri, works hard to get the most out of every dollar. That is why funding from the federal State Wildlife Grant (SWG) program is highly valued by the Missouri conservation community.

This year, the Missouri Prairie Foundation is fortunate to be carrying out much-needed prairie management activities funded by three SWG-funded grants-two Wildlife Diversity Fund grants and a Missouri Bird Conservation Initiative grant-to fight invasives and conduct prescribed burns on 4,500 acres of prairie owned by the Missouri Prairie Foundation, Kansas City Parks and Recreation, Missouri Department of Conservation, and other prairie owners. SWG funding is augmented with matching funds and volunteer labor from MPF and other partners, making those federal dollars go farther to do the most good.

Consider that ecologists rank temperate grasslands-which include Missouri's tallgrass prairies-as the least conserved, most threatened major habitat type on earth. Prairie protection efforts in Missouri, therefore, are not only essential to preserving our state's natural heritage, but also are significant to protecting our country's natural legacy and even global conservation work.

We also know that protecting our state's wildlife diversity is what Missourians consistently value. State Wildlife Grant program funding helps deliver what matters to Missouri and the nation. -Carol Davit, MPF executive director

 

For more information on the work of the Missouri Prairie Foundation, visit www.moprairie.org. You are invited to experience beautiful Schwartz Prairie-one of our 15 properties-at our Third Annual Prairie BioBlitz on June 9 and 10 and to participate in our many other events.

 

Carol Davit

Executive Director 

Missouri Prairie Journal Editor 

Missouri Prairie Foundation

www.moprairie.org

573-893-5446 home/office

 

573-356-7828 cell

Protecting Native Grasslands

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2012 CFM Convention

   

The 76th Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM) Annual Convention was held at the Lodge of Four Seasons at Lake of the Ozarks, February 24-26, 2012.  This year CFM celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Conservation Leadership Corps (CLC) where CLC members and past CLC students were recognized for a job well done.  The convention was extremely well attended with approximately 300 registered throughout the weekend.  An outstanding line up of sessions resulted in 52 proposed resolutions.  The awards ceremony recognized accomplishments in conservation, but also featured some special awards including a proclamation from the Governor for the work of Diane Mulick and Al Vogt with the CLC as well as a leadership award for the work contributed by Amy Buechler through her service at CFM as the Teaming with Wildlife Coordinator.  The highlight of Saturday's evening banquet was the live auction featuring an exciting line-up of hunting and fishing packages.  It was an event filled with phenomenal items, spirited bidding and a very jovial atmosphere!  Be sure not to miss next year's convention!  Stay tuned!!!

 

Check out CFM's 2012 Annual Report in the March April issue of Missouri Wildlife! 

Become a member of CFM!    

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Events

The 2012 Ozark Summit will be held at Missouri State University in Springfield, Missouri on June12 - 14, 2012.  Join citizens and professionals from across the Ozarks to discuss the many facets and opportunities of habitat restoration on public and private lands.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more information visit the 2012 Ozark Summit website. 

  

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CFM logo
Debra Lee

Teaming With Wildlife Coordinator
Conservation Federation of Missouri 
728 West Main
Jefferson City, MO 65101-1559
573-634-2322 or 800-575-2322
dlee@confedmo.org