2018 was filled with many successes for conservation in Wyoming. Here is a look back at the year-gone-by, highlighting our work and some of the major accomplishments achieved, all through the help of our active and supporting members.
Your Voice Matters
This year, efforts to develop oil and gas within vital habitat zones has increased dramatically. While we support the balance of energy development and conservation, these particular efforts were heavy-handed and too focused within areas of important big game habitat. Through your support and action, along with WWF’s work with local communities, we helped conserve 178,000 acres of critical big game habitat in Wyoming. This included migration corridors and winter range.
Working for Wildlife
For the last 82 years, WWF has advocated for the needs of wildlife. Helping to protect their habitat, craft sustainable and science-based management policies, and engage hunter, angler, and wildlife enthusiasts on the issues facing Wyoming’s wild. This year, those actions included –
Working with state agencies, we helped identify 43 priority wildlife crossing projects.
Your voice and action helped support wildlife policy at the State and National level.
With help from our members and other conservation organizations – Muley Fanatic Foundation, Greater Yellowstone Coalition, The Nature Conservancy of Wyoming – the Wyoming Legislature passed Wyoming’s first conservation license plate.
WWF continues to be the sporting voice on the Sage Grouse Implementation Team.
Photo: Landon Blanchard
Building Connections
Throughout 2018, Wyoming Wildlife worked to build connections with members, the public, affiliate groups, as well as state and federal agencies throughout the state. Through doing so, we help to strengthen and unite the conservation voice in Wyoming. We did this by –
Hosting SIX conservation advocacy training’s throughout the state. These training’s helped to educate and inform members of the public on how to effectively advocate for conservation issues.
Hosted THREE Field to Table outreach events, engaging members, gaining new ones and building a more diverse and connected conservation community.
Hosted Camo at the Capitol, a legislative training day in Cheyenne that was open to the public and aimed to help folks effectively communicate with elected officials for, or against legislation.
Hosted the only Gubernatorial Candidate Forum in Casper, bringing conservation into the gubernatorial primary.
Launched Hunters for the Hungry, a program designed to connect hunters, outfitters, and guides with food processors and charitable food organizations in their communities, helping them share the harvest with community members in need.
Launched our Conservation Ambassadors program. This program will consist of 6-10 Conservation Ambassadors spread throughout the state, all from varied backgrounds and interest groups. They will help grow and expand the WWF voice across Wyoming and give more access to the organization and our work.
Photo: Landon Blanchard
Moving Forward
As we close out 2018 and move into 2019, we are focused on creating lasting and positive changes in Wyoming, conserving wildlife and their habitat, while elevating the voice of hunters, anglers, and conservationists throughout the state. Looking ahead we plan to, with your help –
Work with state and federal agencies to identify and conserve migration corridors.
Advocate for strong conservation measures in the plan to manage 3 million acres as part of the Rock Springs Resource Management Plan.
Maintain current sage grouse management plan for BLM and NFS.
Work with Governor-Elect Gordon to continue Wyoming’s conservation legacy
Photo: Mark Gocke