The MN Wildlife Action Plan 2015-25, (WAP) identifies a pool of 36 Conservation Focus Areas (CFAs) within the Wildlife Action Network (MN WAP, Fig.1.5, 1.6). CFAs are not a prioritization of the most important areas for SGCN within the Wildlife Action Network. Rather, the identification of these areas was based on where the best opportunities may exist for working with partners to develop and implement terrestrial or aquatic habitat projects that address conservation needs, and to report on the effectiveness of management actions, which meet the WAP objectives of increasing wildlife, habitat and landscape biological diversity with a focus on Species in Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN). Because monitoring and reporting on effectiveness is resource intensive, Minnesota has committed to actively working in at least six CFAs statewide, over the ten years of the plan.
There is no regulatory or other formal authority associated with CFAs . The selected Conservation Focus Areas will address a fundamental need for states to demonstrate to Congress, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the public that Wildlife Action Plans and the State Wildlife Grants Program:
- Support on the ground habitat projects: States are being encouraged to focus WAP implementation on habitat management to benefit Species in Greatest Conservation Need.
- Are effective in meeting WAP goals and objectives: States are expected to report on results (both activities implemented and the effectiveness of those activities).
- Involve collaboration with a broad base of partners.
Over the period of the plan (2015-2025), Ecological and Water Resources staff within the DNR Regions will meet with internal and external partners to evaluate and select Conservation Focus Areas from the pool in their region. See CFA Overviews for more information on CFAs. Information on selected CFAs will be posted on our website.
Conservation Focus Area (CFA) Overview Sheets. CFA Overview Sheets provide information about target species, habitats and conservation issues and potential actions for each CFA. In addition to informing the selection of a CFA, this information may also be useful when developing or implementing conservation activities within the Wildlife Action Network. We recommend checking to see if a project or activity is within, or intersects the WAN, and if so, checking to see if a CFA Overview is available, which would provide additional information about important resources and issues in the area. Shape and Layer file of the Wildlife Action Network. (44.1 mb)