Western Governors' Wildlife Council

Western Governors' Wildlife Council
Name	Western Governors' Wildlife Council
Formation	2002
Headquarters	Denver, Colorado
Region served	Western United States
Leader title	Chair
Parent organization	Western Governors' Association

Western Governors' Wildlife Council The Western Governors' Wildlife Council is a multistate body convened to coordinate wildlife conservation across the American West. It works with states and federal agencies to address species conservation, sagebrush ecosystems, migratory corridors, and landscape-scale planning. The Council engages with stakeholders from tribal nations to energy companies to implement the recommendations of regional plans and executive directives.

Overview and Purpose

The Council provides a forum for coordination among state executives such as Gov. Jared Polis, Gov. Spencer Cox, Gov. Greg Abbott, and representatives from entities including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, and tribal governments like the Navajo Nation, Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, and Yurok Tribe. It aims to preclude listings under the Endangered Species Act for species including the greater sage-grouse, Columbian sharp-tailed grouse, Sierra Nevada red fox, and yellow-billed cuckoo by fostering collaboration among state wildlife agencies such as the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. The Council's purpose intersects with landscape initiatives like the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan, restoration efforts tied to the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, and corridor planning related to the Interstate Highway System and Pacific Crest Trail.

History and Formation

The Council was established in response to mounting concerns over habitat loss, energy development, and species declines following high-profile deliberations such as those around the Sagebrush Rebellion and management changes after the 1994 California Wolf Reintroduction debate. Early convenings involved Western Governors associated with the Western Governors' Association and drew on commissions including the National Fish, Wildlife and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy working groups. Influences included litigation over the Endangered Species Act listings of the spotted owl and policy shifts after the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and directives from administrations like those of George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Founding discussions referenced regional science from institutions such as United States Geological Survey, Smithsonian Institution, Colorado State University, and University of Wyoming.

Membership and Governance

Membership comprises gubernatorial appointees from Western states and territories including California, Oregon, Washington (state), Nevada, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Alaska. Governance aligns with protocols used by the Western Governors' Association and involves liaisons to federal agencies including the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of the Interior. The Council interacts with nonprofit partners such as The Nature Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited, National Audubon Society, Defenders of Wildlife, and World Wildlife Fund and coordinates with research centers like the Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis and the Rocky Mountain Research Station. Tribal participation involves entities such as the Crow Nation and consults legal frameworks including precedent set by the U.S. Supreme Court in cases like Arizona v. United States.

Programs and Initiatives

Major initiatives include sagebrush conservation strategies modeled on efforts by the Sage Grouse Task Force, landscape-scale planning parallel to the North American Conservation Plan, and habitat restoration projects similar to work done under the Reclamation Act. The Council supports mapping and monitoring projects using data from National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Landfire program, and collaborates on wildlife corridors inspired by projects such as the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative and the Mojave Desert Tortoise Recovery Plan. It sponsors workshops with universities including University of Arizona, Montana State University, and Oregon State University and convenes stakeholders from extractive industries like ExxonMobil, Chevron Corporation, and BP for mitigation planning. The Council helped shape mitigation frameworks akin to the Compensatory Mitigation Rule and supports adaptive management approaches promulgated by the Convention on Biological Diversity and recommendations from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Funding and Partnerships

Funding sources include contributions from state legislatures, cooperative agreements with federal agencies such as the Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Land Management, grants from foundations like the Gund Foundation and Packard Foundation, and partnerships with NGOs including Environmental Defense Fund and Trust for Public Land. The Council has received technical and financial support through programs associated with the North American Wetlands Conservation Act, Landscape Conservation Cooperatives, and initiatives tied to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Corporate partners have included energy firms and utilities such as NextEra Energy and Pacific Gas and Electric Company in project-specific roles, while academic grants have come from entities like the National Science Foundation.

Controversies and Criticisms

Critics have cited potential conflicts involving industry partners such as Chevron Corporation and ExxonMobil, legal challenges referencing the Endangered Species Act, and disputes over state versus federal authority exemplified in cases like Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection Agency. Conservation groups including Sierra Club, Center for Biological Diversity, and Earthjustice have argued that Council policies favor development interests over strict protections for species like the Sagebrush Sparrow and Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem fauna. Litigation in federal courts and debates in state legislatures, echoing controversies from the Sagebrush Rebellion era and rulings such as Oregon v. Ice, have scrutinized mitigation measures and transparency in stakeholder engagement. Some tribal governments have raised concerns akin to disputes seen in Cobell v. Salazar about consultation and treaty rights.

Impact and Conservation Outcomes

The Council's coordinated plans contributed to large-scale conservation actions that influenced outcomes for species including the greater sage-grouse, migratory birds tracked via Migratory Bird Treaty Act protections, and habitat restoration efforts in basins like the Colorado River Basin and Columbia River Basin. Outcomes include voluntary conservation agreements, habitat easements comparable to those under the Conservation Reserve Program, and collaborative fire management strategies influenced by the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy. Evaluations draw on monitoring by the U.S. Geological Survey, academic assessments from University of Colorado Boulder and University of California, Davis, and reports submitted to bodies like the Congressional Research Service. While some metrics show stabilizing populations in targeted areas, debates continue over long-term effectiveness amid pressures from renewable energy development and extractive projects under laws like the Mineral Leasing Act.

Category:Conservation organizations in the United States