Provided below are the official WAFWA standing committees and working groups. Each is led by state, provincial or territorial fish and wildlife agency leaders appointed by WAFWA’s President. Committee members are nominated by their agency or organization director each year.
To support efforts of WAFWA public agencies to create a more accessible and engaging workforce by eliminating barriers and developing broad and meaningful relationships with an array of people and organizations.
Solicit and judge nominees for annual WAFWA awards.
Solicit ideas from commissioners for discussion, evaluation and recommendation to the Executive Committee; keep commissioners informed of issues and actions and similar items with national or regional importance of a policy nature; and interact with other committees as necessary. Commissioners must recognize that all Commissions do not have the same authorities or responsibilities in each State.
The Fish and Wildlife Administrative Officers from the Western Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) and the Conservation Business Managers Association (CBMA) throughout the United States and Canada are dedicated to raising the standards and establishing best practices in support of promoting a broader understanding and acceptance of the value of business management as a tool of natural resource management.
We aim to promote collaboration, information sharing, policy development, capacity building, professional development, and international cooperation among western wildlife agencies.
Make interim decisions for the Association as defined in the Constitution and Bylaws; consider petitions for technical committees, workshops and other regional coordination efforts within the domain of the Association; set registration fee for next year’s conference; review and approve ideas, recommendations and decisions of other committees as appropriate; and oversee all contracts.
Evaluate issues facing inland and marine fisheries affecting western states and provinces and to provide recommendations for actions to WAFWA to address these issues.
Advance wildlife and fishery health by reviewing and recommending methods to conserve, restore and manage habitats on both public and private lands and waters in the West.
Serve as a forum for discussion and appropriate action on Human Dimensions in Wildlife (HD) research topics and applications, including, but not limited to: HD projects underway in WAFWA member states and provinces; HD projects initiated by the committee itself; current HD theory, methodologies, and practical applications; training and other HD professional development opportunities; other HD research conferences, networks and professional associations; and implementation of the Issues Management Handbook. The committee will work with other similar committees and other associations and the International, and with appropriate federal and quasi-federal agencies.
Encourage and promote law enforcement cooperation and consistency, encourage and develop efficient and innovative law enforcement practices, promote wildlife or resource law enforcement training and education programs for officers, provide a forum for the collection and dissemination of information relating to changes in relevant law(s), review and provide comment to proposed and enacted relevant legislative changes, encourage the highest possible ethics, standards and practices for wildlife or resource related law enforcement, encourage the most courteous, impartial and efficient law enforcement services to the public, and properly staff assignments from, and convey recommendations and advice to, the WAFWA directors relating to wildlife and resource law enforcement issues.
To address legal issues of common interest to member agencies and provide networking support for the attorneys of these agencies. The committee is also available to investigate issues of interest to WAFWA.
Develop strategies for management of declining mule deer populations throughout the West, improve communication among mule deer biologists throughout the West, and provide a forum to respond to information needs from agency administration.
Recommend candidates for elected offices each year, recommend host locations for the annual conference, provide direction and assistance on how to plan for and conduct a successful annual conference, and conduct a debriefing session among committee members at the conclusion of the annual conference.
Identify and address nongame and endangered species issues, and provide support on them to the WAFWA member states and provinces. Further, coordinate relevant activities with, and among, WAFWA member states and provinces, federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and the Threatened and Endangered Species Policy Committee of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies.
Identify, address and recommend actions to enhance our ability to educate and communicate effectively with all audiences to increase the understanding of fish and wildlife conservation.
Discussing, gathering information and/or identifying actions relative to all aspects of these important issues and to report its deliberations and recommendations to the Directors for either informational purposes or their approval at both the mid-winter or annual business meetings. Implement these positions/priorities within WAFWA member agencies where there is interest in doing so and/or advance and advocate these priorities and proposed actions within the framework of AFWA to achieve even greater and more meaningful results.
Provide technical assistance to the SIC and assist in implementation of sagebrush ecosystem conservation priorities throughout the western U.S.
Discuss policy, biology, and environmental influences affecting terrestrial wildlife management throughout the West.
To provide technical guidance to agency administrations through written documents; to foster communication between those interested in wildlife health issues in the West; and to aid in efficient management of wildlife health issues through regional coordination.
A forum where jurisdictions can share information, methods, and foster collaboration on wildlife movement and migration. The committee will also serve the important function of providing information and updates to the directors and consistent messaging to media and legislators on behalf of WAFWA.
The purpose of this working group is to collaborate and inform state and USFWS planning actions associated with State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAPs) and ESA listing workload post-Multispecies District Litigation species listing actions. The ESAIWG has agreed to hold quarterly conference calls to update each other on activities and two face-to- face workshops were held in 2017 and 2019. Various species-specific workgroups have been formed and report back to the ESAIWG.
Create opportunities at WAFWA to communicate with and engage tribes and indigenous organizations to improve the conservation and management of fish, wildlife, and their habitat through relationship building, knowledge sharing, and addressing shared challenges.
The purpose of the WAFWA Fish Habitat Partnership Working Group is to convene state fish chiefs and WAFWA Fish Habitat Partnership leadership to provide a platform for collaboration among partnerships and with state leadership to improve coordination, strengthen relationships, and align priorities, enhancing the effectiveness and cohesiveness of fish habitat conservation and fisheries management across the WAFWA region.
Identify and promote unified, ecosystem-based management approaches at the landscape-level for the western population of the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus plexippus), and pollinators in general, across all partner agencies and interested partners.
Implement the habitat objectives and management recommendations outlined in the WAFWA’s Western Quail Management Plan.