Company Profile
Company Overview
The Collective Voice for Fish and Wildlife Conservation
America's fish and wildlife belong to all of us as a public trust, and for more than 100 years, state, provincial and territorial fish and wildlife agencies have upheld the primary responsibility for conserving and preventing the exploitation of those resources on public and private lands and waters within their borders.
The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies represents North America’s fish and wildlife agencies to advance sound, science-based management and conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitats in the public interest.
The Association represents its state agency members on Capitol Hill and before the Administration to advance favorable fish and wildlife conservation policy and funding and works to ensure that all entities work collaboratively on the most important issues. The Association also provides member agencies with coordination services on cross-cutting as well as species-based programs that range from birds, fish habitat and energy development to climate change, wildlife action plans, conservation education, leadership training and international relations.
Working together, the Association’s member agencies are ensuring that North American fish and wildlife management has a clear and collective voice.
Company History
In 1902, eight wildlife managers from six states met in Yellowstone National Park on behalf of the nation’s beleaguered fish and wildlife populations to establish “a system of mutually beneficial interstate cooperation in game and fish management.” There, these members of the new National Association of Game and Fish Wardens and Commissioners (NAGFWC) advocate mandatory state hunting licenses to fund wildlife management and an end to spring waterfowl hunting.
The NAGFWC becomes the International Association of Game, Fish and Conservation Commissioners in 1917 to reflect the Association’s interest in full cooperation with Canada after the U.S. signs a Migratory Bird Treaty with the country for the protection of migratory birds by prohibiting or regulating their hunting. In 1976, the organization is renamed the International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, then shortened to its current name, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, in 2006.
Though the Association’s name may have changed over the last 100 years, its commitment protecting and supporting state, provincial and territorial authority for fish and wildlife conservation and preventing the exploitation of natural resources on public and private lands and waters within their borders has not.
Major achievements over the past 100+ years
1918: Participates in Migratory Bird Treaty Act
1934: Creates model of state fish and wildlife agencies
1937: Supports passage of Pittman-Robertson Federal Aid to Wildlife Restoration Act
1950: Supports passage of Dingell-Johnson Federal Aid to Sport Fish Restoration Act
1972: Establishes Association office in Washington, DC
1973: Supports Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) agreement
1978: Represents states’ right to charge license fees in Supreme Court
1984: Supports Wallop-Breaux Boating Trust Fund Amendment to Dingell-Johnson
1985: Advocates conservation in Farm Bill
1986: Supports North American Waterfowl Management Plan
1996: Leads “Teaming With Wildlife” to prevent wildlife from becoming endangered
2000: Begins Multistate Conservation Grant Program with USFWS – which has directed more than $56 million to 150+ priority projects of state agencies
2004: Leads summit on conservation education, evolves into North American Conservation Education Strategy
2005: Leads support for of State Wildlife Action Plans
2006: Founds the National Conservation Leadership Institute, a seven-month leadership development program
2007: Leads National Fish Habitat Action Plan
2008: Supports passage of Farm Bill Re-authorization, includes an increase of $4 billion in total spending
2010: Advocating for dedicated funding in climate change legislation for natural resource adaptation