8:30-9:45am CHALLENGE
Turkeys 101: History/Ecology, Research/Management, and Partnerships/Challenges
Turkey management has a long history in Missouri. The panel will work through providing a brief history and update on turkeys, research, and management in Missouri. An open discussion regarding turkey management, challenges, and the importance of partnerships will round out the session.
Changing Wildlife Values
In 2018 researchers at Colorado State University partnered with Fish and Wildlife agencies across the country to undertake one of the largest ever studies focused on the human dimensions of wildlife management. Their research revealed a widespread shift in values-orientations away from the traditionalism and domination that characterized wildlife management for much of the 20th century, towards a more mutualist orientation, where wildlife are understood as an extension of human social networks. MDC partners and staff are invited to participate in an interactive world café session focused on exploring the implications of these changing wildlife values for conservation in Missouri and beyond. Participants will discuss the ways in which MDC is already responding to these changes and identify pathways for a wider array of values and priorities to inform decision making at MDC. Participants will discuss how the Department is already adapting to changing wildlife values, where work still needs to be done, and collaboratively envision an inclusive future for conservation in Missouri.
50 Years of the Endangered Species Act: Successes, Challenges and Opportunities
Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act! Participants in this workshop will learn more about MDC’s endangered species and wildlife diversity conservation program and explore partnership opportunities. The session will begin with a panel discussion featuring MDC Species Recovery Leads and partners including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the WildCare Institute at the Saint Louis Zoo. During the second half of the session participants will break into groups to invite partner input into MDC’s endangered species and wildlife diversity program, explore opportunities for more effectively collaborating towards species recovery and conservation efforts, and consider new partnership opportunities.
10:15-11:30 COLLABORATION
Rallying Points: Embracing Missouri's Natural Communities
Missouri is home to amazing natural communities, boasting remarkable species diversity, including prairies and savannas, woodlands and forests, glades, cliffs and talus, caves and karst features, wetlands, rivers, and streams. Of Missouri’s natural communities, however, most prairie and savanna, wetland, and bottomland forest/woodland types are listed as either critically imperiled or imperiled, and our stream communities harbor a concerning percentage of our most imperiled species. Only through immense and innovative approaches and collaborations can we change the trajectory of these natural systems, their associated species, and the incredible, often under-recognized, ecosystem functions they provide.
A Place for All of Us: How Conservation Relevancy Can Open Pathways to the Outdoors
Missouri’s population is becoming increasingly diverse, often with fewer opportunities to connect with nature due to urban sprawl, lack of transportation and/or green spaces, an ever-growing number of day-to-day tasks related to modern life, and a dwindling level of traditional ecological knowledge.
What can conservation organizations do to encourage or facilitate connections to the outdoors, particularly for Missourians who may encounter barriers to enjoying nature? What is our responsibility as a conservation community to provide equitable opportunities in the outdoors? How does the concept of conservation relevancy help us to pass along traditional ecological knowledge to current and future generations?
In this session, we will provide an overview of MDC’s recent conservation relevancy efforts and then offer participants an opportunity to dialogue about key concepts related to our state’s collective efforts to share the outdoors with everyone.
Invasive Species: Collaborative Solutions to Shared Challenges
Invasive species are recognized worldwide as the second biggest threat to native species and natural communities. Agencies, organizations and private citizens struggle independently to prevent, eradicate, control, and manage invasive species within their own boundaries. The conservation community now aims to expand partnerships and collaborations to achieve success across land ownership boundaries, via landscape-scale early detection and control of the constant threat of invasive species.
12:45-2:00 COMMUNITY
Add Zeros to Your Return on Investment: Recruiting and Retaining Hunters and Anglers by the Thousands not by Tens
This break-out session will provide partners the opportunity to collaborate on our efforts to help recruit, retain and reactivate hunters, anglers, trappers, and recreational shooters. Presentation on past and current efforts will be given, and partners are encouraged to provide feedback on how best to work together to achieve R3 goals of all involved.
Community Conservation and YOU
A look at today’s Conservation efforts. How we are tackling environmental issues in Missouri and around the country.
The Sky is Not Falling (But It Sure Feels Like It!): How to Take Care of Nature and Yourself at the Same Time
Taking care of nature and you is important! The conservation field is hard work and burnout is real, especially when we see negative changes in nature all around us. Join us for an engaging, interactive session where we fill our toolboxes with inspirational tips and tricks from one another to help re-energize our professional and personal lives. Do you have a strategy or activity that you employ to help you take care of yourself while also taking care of nature? If you’d be willing to share it with the group by way of a short (5 minutes or less) presentation, please email your material to Lorisa.Smith@mdc.mo.gov no later than Friday, September 22.
