Attach to Form 990 or 990-EZ.| Identifier | Return Reference | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| PART III - #4d: CONDUCTED ONE REGIONAL CONFERENCE WITH OVER 700 ATTENDEES REPRESENTING WILDLIFE PROFESSIONAL AND OTHERS INVOLVED WITH OR INTERESTED IN NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT. THE CONFERENCE PROVIDED A FORUM TO FACILITATE THE EXCHANGE OF MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES AND METHODS INVOLVING SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES, LEGAL ISSUES, WILDLIFE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND RESPONSIBILITIES, AND ADMINISTRATION APPLYING TO RESOURCE CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION. THE CONFERENCE PROVIDES FOCUS FOR GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AS WELL AS CITIZEN CONSERVATION GROUPS TO WORK COOPERATIVELY TO ADDRESS NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES. IT ALSO HELPS TO IDENTIFY ISSUES FOR STATE AGENCIES TO ESTABLISH MULTI-STATE PROJECTS TO ADDRESS COOPERATIVE PROJECTS ACROSS STATE BORDERS. PUBLISHED THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE ABOVE CONFERENCE ON THE INTERNET, MAKING THEM AVAILABLE, WITHOUT CHARGE, TO UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES, ALL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC TO INFORM AND EDUCATE PROFESSIONAL FISH AND WILDLIFE MANAGERS, BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT DECISION MAKERS AND CITIZENS REGARDING MANAGEMENT AND PERPETUATION OF THE NATIONS' FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES. CONDUCTED TWO MEETINGS OF THE ADMINISTRATORS OF THE 15 SEAFWA STATES, PUERTO RICO, AND THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS TO EXCHANGE INFORMATION ON PERTINENT RESOURCE MATTERS, COORDINATED MULTI-STATE AND FEDERAL RESOURCE PROJECTS, ESTABLISHED PRIORITIES FOR RESOURCE MANGEMENT CONCERNS AND ACTIVITIES, AND ESTABLISHED UNIFIED POSITIONS CONCERNING THREATS TO THE WELL-BEING OF THE REGION'S NATURAL RESOURCES. CONTINUED SPONSORSHIP OF THE SOUTHEAST AQUATIC RESOURCES PARTNERSHIP (SARP), INITIATED IN 2001 TO ADDRESS THE MYRIAD ISSUES RELATED TO THE MANAGEMENT OF AQUATIC RESOURCES IN THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES, WHICH INCLUDES ABOUT 26,000 MILES OF SPECIES-RICH AQUATIC SHORELINE AND OVER 70 MAJOR RIVER BASINS. THE AREA FACES SIGNIFICANT THREATS TO ITS AQUATIC RESOURCES, AS ILLLUSTRTED BY THE FACT THAT 34% OF NORTH AMERICAN FISH SPECIES AND 90% OF THE NATIVE MUSSEL SPECIES DESIGNATED AS ENDANGERED, THREATENED, OR OF SPECIAL CONCERN ARE FOUND IN THE SOUTHEAST. SINCE ITS ESTABLISHMENT, SARP HAS CONDUCTED A NUMBER OF SUCCESSFUL PROJECTS. FOR EXAMPLE, SARP AND THE NATURE CONSERVANCY PRODUCED AQUATIC HABITAT PLANS FOR FOUR PRIORITY WATERSHEDS IN THE SOUTHEAST REGION WHICH LAID THE GOUNDWORK FOR THE SOUTHEAST AQUATIC HABITAT PLAN. AQUATIC NUISANCE SPECIES MANAGEMENT PLANS ARE CURRENTLY UNDER DEVELOPMENT IN ALL SARP STATES, AND ALL OF THE SARP MEMBER STATES ARE USING EDUCATIONAL AND PHYSICAL METHODS TO PREVENT INTRODUCTIONS AND/OR SPREAD OF INVASIVE SPECIES. PARTNERS ARE BUILDING A GIS REFERENCED AQUATIC HABITAT DATABASE AND CONDITION ASSESSMENT TOOL TO TRACK HABITAT CONDITIONS OVER TIME, VIEW CONSERVATION PROJECTS, AND ASSESS RESULTS ON A LOCAL AND REGIONAL SCALE. SARP CONTRIBUTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF A COMMUNITY GUIDE FOR AQUATIC SPECIES RESTORATION AND A REPORT ON THE ECONOMIC VALUES OF HABITAT PROTECTION. PARTICIPATED IN THE SOUTHERN WINGS PROGRAM BY REVIEWING PROPOSED PROJECTS AND PROVIDED LIMITED FUNDING. SOUTHERN WINGS IS A PARTNERSHIP OF STATE . FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES SUPPORTING BIRD CONSERVATION IN KEY WINTERING AREAS OF LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN (LAC). THE VISION FOR SOUTHERN WINGS IS ONE THAT (1) USES WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT WHERE BIRDS BREED, MIGRATE AND OVERWINTER TO GUIDE PROJECT SELECTION, (2) ALLOWS FOR RELATIVELY EASY AND SEAMLESS FINANCIAL PARTICIPATION BY INTEREST STATES, (3) REPORTS TO THOSE STATES ON PROGRESS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS, AND (4) ACHIEVES THE BENEFITS OF MATACH AND LEVERAGE OF STATE FUNDS. SOUTHERN WINGS OPERATES WITH FUNDS VOLUNTARILY PROVIDED BY STATE AGENCIES SUPPORT MONIES ARE ASSEMBLED BY REGIONAL ASSOCIATION (OR OTHER ENTITIES) INTO REGIONAL POOLS FOR DISTRIBUTION TO MEANINGFUL PROJECTS. A TECHNICAL COMMITTEE OPERATING UNDER AUSPICES OF THE BIRD CONSERVATION COMMITTEE OF THE ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES EVALUATES PROSPECTIVE PROJECT ALTERNATIVES AND MAKES SPECIFIC RECOMMENDATIONS TO REGIONAL ASSOCIATIONS FOR CONSIDERATION BY DIRECTORS OF THE REGIONAL ASSOCIATION IN CONSULTATION WITH AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY. THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE REPRESENTS THE STATES IN MAKING DECISIONS AS TO WHICH PROJECTS IN LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN IN WHICH TO INVEST STATE FUNDS. DECISIONS WILL BE MADE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY WHO WILL WORK WITH LAC PARTNERS TO COMPLETE PROJECTS. THE DEFAULT NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZAION (NGO) INITIALLY IS THE AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY (ABC). NO INVESTMENT WILL BE MADE WITHOUT THE MUTUAL ENDORSEMENT BY THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE AND THE PARTNER AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY. THE TWO WILL AGREE ON A SCHEDULE BY WHICH THE AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY WILL INVOICE REGIONAL AFWAs OR INDIVIDUAL STATES ON THE BASIS OF EXISTING CONTRACTS BETWEEN THE AMERICAN BIRD CONSERVANCY AND THE REGIONS AND/OR STATES. THE PURPOSE OF THE SOUTHERN WINGS PROGRAM IS TO ENABLE COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS THAT WILL ENHANCE CONSERVATION OF BIRD SPECIES ON KEY WINTERING GROUNDS IN SELECTED AREAS OF LAC. EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT AND PROTECTION OF THE REGION'S FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES, ENHANCED BY THE EXISTENCE AND ACTIVITIES OF THE SEAFWA, PROVIDE MANY PUBLIC BENEFITS, INCLUDING MORE EFFICIENT MANAGEMENT; SOCIETAL BENEFITS FOR INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, LANDOWNERS, AND COMMUNITIES; FULFILLS THE STEWARDSHIP MANDATES OF GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TASKED WITH THAT RESPONSIBILITY; PROVIDES ECONOMIC BENEFITS THROUGH WILDLIFE ORIENTED RECREATION; ADDS GREATLY TO THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE NATION'S CITIZENS; PROVIDES SCIENTIFIC BASIS FOR DECISIONS EFFECTING THE NATION'S ENVIRONMENT FAR BEYOND JUST FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES, INCLUDING WATER, LAND, AND AIR. ADVERSE IMPACTS ON FISH AND WILDLIFE WILL ULTIMATELY HAVE IMPACTS ON MANKIND. THE INERAGENCY NETWORKING BETWEEN STATES AND FEDERAL AGENCIES ENABLED BY THE EXISTENCE OF SEAFWA CONTRIBUTES GRETLY TO SUCH EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- PART VI - SECTION B - #11A: FORM 990 IS SENT TO AND REVIEWED BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE BEFORE SUBMISSION TO IRS. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- PART VI - SECTION C - #19: UPON REQUEST. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- PART XI - #2A: ALL FINANCIAL RECORDS OF THE ORGANIZATION, INCLUDING SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION FOR ALL RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES, ARE ANALYZED BY THE CHIEF AUDITOR OR HIS DESIGNEE OF THE MEMBER STATE HOSTING THE ANNUAL SPRING DIRECTORS' MEETING. THE STATE AUDITOR THEN MAKES A WRITTEN REPORT TO THE AUDIT COMMITTEE, AS WELL AS DISCUSSES HIS/HER FINDINGS WITH IT. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE AUDIT COMMITTEE THEN MAKES A REPORT TO THE FULL BOARD OF DIRECTORS DURING THEIR MEETING. THE DIRECTORS TAKE OFFICIAL ACTION REGARDING THE REPORT, SUCH ACTION BEING RECORDED IN THE MEETING MINUTES. |
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