MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The West Virginia Division of Natural Resources (WVDNR) has announced plans for three open house meetings in July to collect public input on the State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP), which is currently under review.
On WAJR’s “Talk of the Town,” Kieran O’Malley, Wildlife Diversity Unit Coordinator said the management plan focuses on the 95 percent of wildlife in the state not supported by license or tag fees and endangered species.
“The places they exist or they occur whether it is celestial, aquatic or subterranean,” O’Malley said. ” Part of the plan also requires us to address what are some if the threats and stresses.”
The input received during these public input sessions will be incorporated into the ten year update required by the federal government. O’Malley said the comments will update the plan and qualify the state for some federal government wildlife management funding.
“I’ll have sections available for folks to look at and review, but we will have a draft plan available by August 1 for public review and comments- we’re going to solicit comments,” O’Malley said.
The program is a nationwide effort to identify and conserve declining, rare, threatened, or endangered species that support the ecosystem. The plans analyze problems in the habitat that could adversely affect species in order to produce conservation and restoration initiatives.
“Things that contribute to the ecosystem functions,” O’Malley said. ” So, pollinators like butterflies and moths and we have fresh water nails, crayfish and without them the ecosystem could be impaired.”
Information from the field and personal interactions are more possible then ever with emerging technologies and popularity of the outdoors. Pictures with time, date, location information provide evidence of the distribution and abundance of species of wildlife.
“If you encounter one of these animals you can take a picture of it with your phone,” O’Malley said. “You can download an app, drop a pin on it with some basic information like name, date, and location and that will fill in some gaps in our information.”
Agencies are required to coordinate with state, federal, tribal, and local agencies and provide opportunities for public input. The Plans are developed in collaboration with leading scientists, conservation organizations, private landowners, and interested members of the public.
“We would like to get the public more involved with implementing our plan,” O’Malley said. “Carrying it forward and doing what you can on your property, or if your a commercial industry like a timber company there are things you can do that would benefit wildlife or improve the habitat.”
The meetings will be held at the following locations from 6 to 8 p.m. and light refreshments will be available.
July 16 – Morgantown, West Virginia University, Percival Hall Main Lobby
July 17 – Martinsburg, James Rumsey Vocational and Technical School
July 30 – Alum Creek, Claudia L. Workman Wildlife Education Center