Wildlife, Water, Energy Issues to be Examined at Annual Fish and
Wildlife Meeting
Contact: Kirsten Macintyre, DFG Communications, (916) 322-8911
Wildlife experts from across North America will converge in California
this summer to explore issues related to the conservation and management
of natural resources. Hosted by the California Department of Fish and
Game (DFG), the 2009 Western Association of Fish and Wildlife
Agencies' (WAFWA) annual meeting, titled "Wildlife, Water and
Energy: Balancing Our Future," will be held July 10-15 at the Hyatt
Regency in Newport Beach. WAFWA member states take turns hosting the
association's meetings. The last time DFG hosted was in 1996.
"We are honored to welcome everyone to California," said DFG
Director Donald Koch. "This meeting is designed to encourage
collaborative efforts among state and federal agencies to address
collective concerns facing natural resource managers in the West. We
look forward to a productive conference."
Topics to be addressed during the five-day meeting include climate
change, renewable energy, invasive species, human/wildlife conflicts,
and stimulus money and fish work. Plenary session speakers include
Anthony Barnosky from UC Berkeley who will talk about nature in an age
of global warming; several prominent members of the Governor's cabinet
who will discuss renewable energy, energy transmission and water
delivery; industry representatives; and a distinguished panel of State
Fish and Wildlife Directors from across the West.
Founded in 1922, the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
has been a key organization in the promotion of sound resource
management principles and the strengthening of federal, state and
private cooperation in protecting and managing fish and wildlife and
their habitats in the public interest. The organization represents 23
states and Canadian provinces - an area covering nearly 3.7 million
square miles that is inhabited by more than 1,500 wildlife species.
For conference information, including registration and schedule
information, visit the WAFWA Web site at
http://www.wafwa.org/html/summer09.shtml
