Project Leader Tracy Hill traveled to Shepherdstown, West Virginia, July 17, to attend the Strategic Habitat Conservation Technical Advisory Team (TAT) Meeting. 

The purpose of the TAT is to provide direction and support to the FWS and USGS as the agencies move forward in cooperative implementation of Strategic Habitat Conservation which was recently endorsed by the Service Directorate. 

Strategic Habitat Conservation is a crucial endeavor to shape the future for both FWS and USGS and improve science-based resource management.   The TAT will also be working with regional implementation teams to plan and conduct a national workshop, and to support implementation efforts.    

The meeting primarily addressed establishing a clear and common understanding of the TAT’s role with Strategic Habitat Conservation implementation.  Subgroups were formed to address three specific areas of implementation Expand understanding, Expand engagement and ownership and Expand operational capacity.