Gulf Coast Plains and Ozarks North LCC Workshop

October 2 and 3, 2012

Agenda and Presentations

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Tuesday, October 2, 2012

7:30-8:30 Registration

8:30 Welcome, key points about objectives of these two days, what it is and what it isn’t
E. J. Williams, Assistant Regional Director, Migratory Birds, USFWS, Atlanta, GA

8:45 The Vision – Where is FWS Headed with Surrogate Species and Why
Mark Musaus, Deputy Regional Director, Southeast Region, USFWS, Atlanta, GA

9:00 A Conservation Conversation
Mark Musaus, Deputy Regional Director, Southeast Region, USFWS, Atlanta, GA
Steve Patrick, Assistant Executive Director, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Nashville, TN
Paul Schmidt, Chief Conservation Officer, Ducks Unlimited, Memphis, TN

9:45 Break

10:00 Historical Role of Conservation and the Role of Selecting Species for Landscape-scale Conservation
Bob Ford, Deputy Assistant Regional Director, Science Applications, USFWS, Memphis, TN

10:30 Strategic Habitat Conservation Overview
Randy Wilson, Supervisory Wildlife Biologist, Mississippi Migratory Bird Field Office, Jackson, MS

11:00 Gulf Coastal Plains and Ozarks Landscape Conservation Cooperative
Greg Wathen, Coordinator, Gulf Coastal Plains and Ozarks Landscape Conservation Cooperative, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, Nashville, TN

11:30 Lunch

12:30 Selecting Species as Drivers for Landscape-scale Conservation - Key Concepts
John Tirpak, Science Coordinator, Gulf Coastal Plains and Ozarks Landscape Conservation Cooperative, USFWS, Lafayette, LA

1:15 USFWS Regional Efforts of Selecting Species
Jack Arnold, Deputy Assistant Regional Director, Ecological Services, USFWS, Atlanta, GA

1:45 Working Example: Tennessee NWR Conservation Planning and Implementation
Barron Crawford, Project Leader, Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge, USFWS, Paris, TN

2:15 Break

2:30 Draft Technical Guidance on Selecting Species for Design of Landscape-scale Conservation
E. J. Williams, Assistant Regional Director, Migratory Birds, USFWS, Atlanta, GA

3:00 Facilitated discussion related to purpose of the Draft Technical Guidance and the use of species as focal points for landscape-scale conservation design
Ricky Campbell, Hatchery Manger, Private John Allen National Fish Hatchery, USFWS, Tupelo, MS
Randy Wilson, Supervisory Wildlife Biologist, Mississippi Migratory Bird Field Office, USFWS, Jackson, MS

Adjourn for the Day

Wednesday, October 3

8:00 General Refresher/Overview from Yesterday’s Discussions
Moderator: Jim Boggs, Project Leader, Arkansas Ecological Services Field Office, USFWS, Conway, AR

8:15 Overview of the Draft Technical Guidance on Selecting Species for Design of Landscape-scale Conservation – Field Examples and Discussion
Bob Ford Deputy Assistant Regional Director Science Applications, USFWS
Barron Crawford Project Leader, Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge, USFWS

Step 1: Develop and clearly specify management or
conservation objectives for the surrogate species
approach.

Step 2: Identify geographic scale.

Step 3: Determine which species to consider in the
identified landscape.

Small break (10 minutes)

Step 4: Decide which criteria to use in determining
surrogate species.

Step 5: Establish surrogate species.

Step 6: Identify species requiring special attention.

Step 7: Identify population objectives.

Small break (10 minutes)

Step 8: Test for logic and consistency.

Step 9: Identify Knowledge gaps and uncertainties.

Step 10: Monitor the effectiveness of the approach

Field Examples: Alligator Gar work on St. Catherine’s Creeks NWR
Ricky Campbell, Hatchery Manger, Private John Allen National Fish Hatchery, USFWS, Tupelo, MS

Field Example: Migratory Bird example
Randy Wilson, Supervisory Wildlife Biologist, Mississippi Migratory Bird Field Office, USFWS, Jackson, MS

Questions and Discussion

12:15 Catered Lunch

1:15 Group Discussion on the Draft Technical Guidance - Continued
Bob Ford, Deputy Assistant Regional Director, Science Applications, USFWS, Memphis, TN
Barron Crawford Project Leader, Tennessee National Wildlife Refuge, USFWS, Paris, TN

2:15 Break

2:30 Providing Feedback on the Draft Technical Guidance
Jim Boggs Project Leader Arkansas Field Office, USFWS

3:30 Next Steps and Continuing the Conversation and Engagement
Mark Musaus, Deputy Regional Director, Southeast Region, USFWS, Atlanta, GA

4:00 Closing thoughts: questions, comments, feedback from participants, adjourn

In Your Words: Videos Featuring Thoughts from Attendees

Randy Wilson, the wildlife biologist & supervisor in the Service's Mississippi Migratory Bird Office, shares some concerns about capacity needs once species are selected next year, and his perspective that conserving the right habitat in the right places to benefit sustainable fish and wildlife populations is one big reason why we will select surrogate species.

Steve Reagan, the Service's project leader at Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge near Starkville, Mississippi, shares his thoughts about this process.

Paul Schmidt, Ducks Unlimited's chief conservation officer, shares his thinking about how important selecting surrogate species is and shares an example why here.

List of Participants

Download list of participants in PDF