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OCR for page 61
Guidebook
59
Non-Transportation Best Practices
4
Practice
Association of Fish and Wildlife
Best
Agencies
Context Building relationships with key decision makers,
The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies such as congressional officials, is considered critical
(AFWA), representing all of North America's fish and to the AFWA. Regular, personal contact helps create
wildlife agencies, promotes sound management a presence for the association and has helped the
and speaks with a unified voice on emerging fish AFWA build a reputation among those officials.
and wildlife conservation programs and activities to Developing relationships with congressional staff,
protect the continent's natural resources. A Science as well, is considered as important as developing
and Research Liaison within the organization works relationships with congressional officials.
closely with a variety of partners to initiate and Furthermore, finding champions who will advocate
provide timely, credible, science-based information for the association, its mission, and its research
that can be used by resource managers to protect efforts is a part of the AFWA's communication
and manage fish, wildlife, and their habitats in the strategy.
public interest. Current issues involved in AFWA Challenges
research include the impacts of wind power on fish
and wildlife, global climate change, and hurricane Information overload on the part of communication
restoration and recovery. recipients is considered one of the challenges
of communication for the AFWA. Another
The AFWA considers its members to be its challenge is ensuring that recipients understand
primary audience. The U.S. Congress, sportsman's the information given to them, particularly when
organizations, conservation groups, and the general it involves complex, technical information. The
public are also considered to be key audiences. The association focuses its communication efforts on
AFWA has a Science and Research Program, which is issues of current interest, which is largely defined
designed to strengthen cooperation between state, as those issues deemed most critical by the
federal, private, and international agencies and public. To ensure there are no misunderstandings
partners. The Science and Research Program seeks or miscommunications about the information it
to expand and enhance scientific capabilities and distributes to congressional and elected officials, the
services by matching state research needs with the AFWA feels it is imperative to have someone discuss
science capabilities of federal agencies. the information with the official's staff beforehand.
Communication Approach Outcomes
Targeting communication materials and messages With goals of increasing stable, long-term funding
to specific audiences is common practice for the through federal legislation and seeking annual
AFWA. The association creates several materials congressional appropriations to help finance fish
that are similar (such as newsletters, information and wildlife conservation programs, the AFWA has
kits, and fact sheets), but distributes the materials successfully targeted Congress as its key audience.
using different methods, depending on the In 2000, AFWA efforts included passage of the
audience. The AFWA believes in being creative with Wildlife Conservation Restoration and State Wildlife
communications, particularly to bring attention to Grants Programs. In April 2006, when a massive cut
specific elements of fish and wildlife successes. An threatened the State Wildlife Grants Program, the
example of this creativity is the awards they bestow association led an intensive five-week campaign
upon congressional members. of grassroots leadership and media to help restore
program funding in the Senate.
