Heather Feeler

This document provides an overview of the Missouri Department of Conservation's (MDC) Post-Season Targeted Culling program, an initiative designed to reduce the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) in Missouri. The program involves voluntarily harvesting and testing deer in localized areas where CWD cases have been found, with landowner permission, from mid-January to mid-March. It emphasizes the program's effectiveness in controlling CWD prevalence by reducing local deer populations and gathering critical samples for understanding disease spread.

The Missouri Bird Conservation Plan focuses on conserving bird populations through collaborative efforts in Missouri. It emphasizes the importance of birds in maintaining healthy ecosystems and highlights the alarming declines in bird populations. The plan outlines strategies for bird outreach, including educating the public about the value of birds, the threats they face, and actions they can take to help. It promotes habitat improvement, reduction of bird collisions, and engagement in citizen science. The plan also aims to measure the success of outreach efforts and coordinate messaging among conservation partners.

The Missouri Bird Conservation Plan focuses on bird conservation efforts to promote collaboration among conservation partners and the public. It assigns a Missouri Concern Score to priority bird species and their habitats within Missouri's primary natural community types, recommending research and monitoring needs. The plan addresses nationwide conservation priorities, land and water conservation, research and evaluation, engagement and partnerships, full life-cycle conservation, addressing threats, and policy and funding.

The strategic plan of the Missouri Department of Conservation aims to protect and manage the state's fish, forest, and wildlife resources, providing opportunities for citizens to use and appreciate them. Key goals include maintaining healthy land, water, and forests, ensuring sustainable fish and wildlife populations, and offering accessible natural spaces. Strategic priorities involve changing the trajectory of imperiled natural communities, connecting diverse people with nature, and enhancing customer experience through initiatives like landscape assessment, community conservation, and infrastructure renewal.

The Missouri Comprehensive Conservation Strategy (CCS) integrates the State Forest Action Plan (SFAP), State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP), watershed priorities, public and private land conservation opportunities, and community conservation strategies into a unified framework. The CCS prioritizes conservation investments geographically, focusing on areas with the greatest potential benefit. Key areas of focus include maintaining and restoring healthy natural systems, increasing landscape resiliency, improving connectivity among habitats, and supporting sustainable resource production. The strategy also emphasizes citizen and partner engagement, aiming to maximize the benefits of conservation for Missourians through collaboration and efficient resource allocation. The plan addresses various themes, including species and natural systems health, pollution mitigation, private lands management, public land stewardship, climate change adaptation, soil and water resource improvement, fire management, forest product sustainability, recreation and human health, and economic valuation of ecosystem services. The CCS outlines specific actions to achieve its goals, including habitat restoration, invasive species control, and community conservation initiatives. The plan also includes a robust evaluation process to monitor progress and adapt strategies as needed.