We are reaching out to you to solicit your input and comments for the State Wildlife Action Plan, which is currently in the final draft stages.

We are holding a meeting Tuesday, August 4, from 9am-12pm to present the plan to marine stakeholders and solicit your feedback. This meeting will be held at the DMR Augusta Office, 32 Blossom Lane, Room 118.

As you may know, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, in conjunction with a broad spectrum of partner organizations, has created a draft state wildlife action plan that is now posted on the department’s website and open for public comment. The Maine Dept. of Marine Resources (DMR) has been a partner during the plan development.

Maine’s 2015 Wildlife Action Plan identifies practical and voluntary opportunities to conserve Maine’s most vulnerable fish and wildlife, while emphasizing that landowner and public participation is essential for wildlife conservation. July 13 marked the beginning of a 30-day opportunity for Maine citizens to review the action plan and provide comment. You can view the document at www.maine.gov/ifw/wildlife/reports/MWAP2015.html.

The 2015 Action Plan has incorporated more marine species and habitats than the 2005 included. The plan is not a management or regulatory tool, and is not intended as a DMR workplan. The species identified and potential conservation actions will provide an opportunity for agencies and groups to garner funding for research and investigations of marine species and habitats.

States must have an approved Wildlife Action Plan to be eligible to participate in the State Wildlife Grants (SWG) program, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). The USFWS approved Maine’s initial Wildlife Action Plan in the summer of 2005. Since then, Maine has accomplished over 50 research, management, and conservation projects, benefitting brook trout, rare freshwater mussels, dragonflies, migrant birds such as Bicknell’s Thrush and Black-throated blue Warbler, and globally rare species, such as the Tomah mayfly. Puffins, wood turtles, Atlantic sturgeon, little brown bats and bumble bees are also recognizable species that have benefitted from Maine’s Wildlife Action Plan. The state must submit the updated action plan to the USFWS by October 2015 for Maine to remain eligible for SWG funds.

PLEASE NOTE: Part of this plan describes potential conservation actions that can guide research and investigations. We received constructive feedback from marine stakeholders during the June partner meeting, and have since revised the majority of these conservation actions for marine habitats and species. The updated plan that is now available online provides these revised conservation actions.

The draft is a collaboration of 103 conservation partners — representatives from federal, state, local, tribal, and public organizations – who over the past 18 months have identified species and habitats in the greatest need of conservation, the factors negatively impacting these species and their habitats, and potential conservation opportunities that citizens, partner organizations, and agencies could undertake to address these issues. The partners completed their review in June, and based upon their feedback, partners prepared the first draft of the action plan.

Maine’s 2015 Wildlife Action plan is not solely a plan for state agencies; rather, it is a cooperative fish and wildlife conservation strategy for the entire state and all Maine’s citizens and visitors. Comments and suggestions from citizens will ensure that it reflects the values and priorities of Maine’s people.

We hope that you will be able to attend the meeting on Aug. 4. Please RSVP to me at Claire.Enterline@maine.gov.

If you are unable to attend, feel free to contact me or another state wildlife plan partner with any questions, and we encourage you to submit your comments to Submit your comments to Becky Orff at: becky.orff@maine.gov

OR

SWAP
Wildlife Division
Maine Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
284 State St. #41
Augusta, ME 04333

Please include your:

Name,
Address, and
Phone number or email address (so we can contact you if we have any questions)
If your comments represent the views of an organization, agency, or municipality, please include that information as well.