The Ontario Federation of Anglers and
Hunters (OFAH) is partnering with key
non-governmental organizations from
Canada and the United States, and with
the support of several government
agencies in Canada, to host the first
Canadian National Fish & Wildlife
Conservation Congress, to be held at
the Westin Ottawa, May 27 – 31, 2012.
The concept for the Congress was a
collaborative effort between the OFAH
and noted Canadian conservationist
Shane Mahoney.
This first ever Canadian Congress will
bring together leading fish and wildlife
scientists and biologists, government
agencies, major NGOs and other
conservation minded leaders to
participate in plenary sessions,
workshops and debates about the future
of fish and wildlife resources in Canada,
and the integration of efforts on a
continental scale. The Congress is
framed as a Canadian event, but fish
and wildlife management, and the
people and institutions who participate
in it, share species, habitats and
practices on both sides of the border.
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Ensuring the conservation of and optimizing the economic and
social benefits from our fish and wildlife resources has never been
more challenging. This is particularly true for resource managers,
conservation organizations, researchers, local, provincial, federal
and state agencies, anglers, hunters, trappers and all others
who have conservation as their concern, or who engage these
resources for recreational or commercial purposes. Challenges
that include wildlife and industry conflicts, climate change, fish
and wildlife diseases, invasive species, funding shortfalls and
reinvestment in natural resources, the role of science versus
public opinion in policy decisions, habitat loss, protection and
degradation, species at risk and a host of other issues will be
addressed and serve as a focus of the Congress.
The Congress will facilitate the sharing of information, and the
design of future directions for fish and wildlife conservation
in Canada. It will build upon past successes, identify failures
and lessons learned, and will seek to affect a change in both
public and private sector policies and programs in Canada, and
the development of new funding models that recognize natural
resources as a priority. The Congress is intended to be results
based, and provide a meaningful forum for the development of
cooperative approaches throughout North America.
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The Technical Program Committee invites the submission of abstracts of presentations and posters relevant to the focus of the Congress. All submissions must include the topic area for which the abstract is being submitted. Abstracts that do not include that information will be returned to the author(s) for re-submission.
Abstracts should be 300 – 500 words in length and include:
- An introductory statement indicating the purpose of the work and relevance to the topic area
- A description of the work performed or proposed, and
- The results achieved if completed.
Abstracts are to be submitted in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) or PDF and submitted by email to Abstracts@nrtco.net before the Abstract Submission deadline of September 15, 2011.
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Status and Trends of Fish & Wildlife Populations in Canada and the U.S
- Population trends/dynamics of key game, non-game and fish species
- Species specific case studies
- Historical perspectives on fish and wildlife conservation in Canada
The Impact of a Changing Environment on Fish and Wildlife Populations
- Wildlife and fish diseases
- Industrial impact on fish and wildlife: agriculture, forestry, mining, aquaculture, new wind and waterpower technology/policies
- Climate change
- Invasive species
Fish and Wildlife Management Strategies
- Species at Risk
- Land use practices and policies
- Public vs. private agency roles in fish and wildlife management
- Relationship between federal and state/provincial governments in fish and wildlife management
- The role and impact of parks and protected (wilderness) areas in wildlife conservation and management Fish and wildlife restoration successes and failures
- The use of science vs. public perception as the basis of fish and wildlife management and public policy
- Hatchery/fish culture technology
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Social and Economic Dimensions of Fish and Wildlife Conservation
- Role of First Nations in fish and wildlife management
- Trends in conservation expenditures in North America
- Funding and governance models for fish and wildlife (Canada vs. U.S.)
- How does public perception and public/political support differ between Canada and the U.S. and translate into support for fish and wildlife conservation and fishing and hunting?
- Economic impact of hunting and fishing in Canada and the U.S.
- How do political and cultural differences between the U.S. and Canada impact on fishing and hunting as economic drivers?
- Public and private roles in retention and recruitment of anglers and hunters
- Importance of fish and wildlife to Canadians
- Role of Natural Capital in conservation policy
The Future of the North American Conservation Model
- Case studies of how the model is applied in Canada and the U.S.
- Continental opportunities for cooperative approaches to fish and wildlife conservation
- Examples of U.S. conservation policies and programs for adoption and implementation in Canada
- Recommendations to improve effectiveness of conservation efforts
- The North American Model – legal, ethical and ecological compatibility
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