AFWA is Seeking an Agricultural Conservation Coordinator

The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies is looking for a talented individual (super hero) to manage our Farm Bill conservation, forestry and bioenergy portfolio in Washington, DC.

The coordinator, under direct supervision of the Government Affairs Director, works with state fish and wildlife agencies and other Association members to enhance fish and wildlife habitat and encourage sustainably managed fish and wildlife resources through the reauthorization and implementation of conservation, forestry, energy and other provisions of the 2014 and future Farm Bills. The incumbent will work closely with the state agencies, AFWA's Agricultural Conservation Committee and its seven programmatic working groups to troubleshoot Farm Bill conservation implementation challenges and work with federal agencies and conservation partner organizations to develop policy recommendations for achieving desired outcomes. The coordinator also works with Congress during the Farm Bill reauthorization process and appropriations cycles to advance the state fish and wildlife agencies’ Farm Bill priorities.

This is a full-time position located in AFWA's Washington, DC office. 

> View the full position announcement

New Practitioner’s Guide Available for Fish and Wildlife Conservation Providers to Help Landowners Access Farm Bill Programs

The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies supported the North American Bird Conservation Initiative in producing the 2014 Farm Bill FieldGuide to Fish and Wildlife Conservation. Now available, this field guide is a tool to assist the staff of federal and state fish and wildlife agencies, nongovernmental conservation organizations, joint ventures and other conservation partners in implementing Farm Bill conservation programs.

More than two-thirds of the land area in the United States is privately owned, with 914 million acres in farms or ranches and approximately 300 million acres in private forest. These working lands, which represent much of the country’s remaining open space and habitat, are vitally important to the conservation of soil, water and fish and wildlife resources. The Agricultural Act of 2014, the most recently enacted Farm Bill, dedicates approximately $28 billion dollars until 2018 for conservation.

The 2014 Farm Bill Field Guide to Fish andWildlife Conservation was designed primarily as an introduction for fish and wildlife conservation providers—the on-the-ground biologists and conservation partners who help deliver Farm Bill conservation programs to landowners. The goal is to provide these practitioners with a tool to better understand the Farm Bill and how its programs can help landowners conserve fish and wildlife habitat.

The guide provides an overview of the Conservation Title in the 2014 Farm Bill as well as Farm Bill history, program delivery, the role of partnerships and priority setting. It also features case studies and details on the following programs: the Conservation Reserve Program, Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, Environmental Quality Incentives Program, Conservation Innovation Grants, Conservation Stewardship Program, Healthy Forests Reserve Program, Regional Conservation Partnership Program and Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incentive Program.

To download the Farm Bill Field Guide or to request a printed copy, go to http://amjv.org/index.php/2014farmbillfieldguide.

A diverse coalition of habitat conservation organizations helped the North American Bird Conservation Initiative prepare and publish this guide, including:

Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture

Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies

Intermountain West Joint Venture

The Nature Conservancy

Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever

Point Blue Conservation Science

Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory

> Learn more about AFWA’s Agricultural Conservation Focus Area