Innovative Approaches to Wildlife and Highways Interactions (IAWHI)

Photographer: Sandra Jacobson, USFS	Habitat fragmentation on the Ocala National Forest with State Route 40. The Ocala NF is one of the last contiguous blocks of sage scrub habitat in the world, with incredible biodiversity.	Hosted in collaboration with the USDI Fish & Wildlife Service, National Conservation Training Center, State Departments of Transportation, and State Departments of Natural Resources
	Photo courtesy Sandra Jacobson USFS	This black bear was killled on State Route 40 on the Ocala National Forest at the location of a planned wildlife underpass. The IAWH course helped Forest Service, Florida DOT and consultants to collaboratively plan effective mitigation for black bears and other wildlife.
Photographer: Dave Romero, USFS	Traffic volume is increasing on highways on and off public lands. For these bighorns on the Bitterroot National Forest, even a modest increase in the traffic volume will impact their movement and increase the chance of vehicle collisions. The IAWH course helps students to recognize imminent impacts and investigate appropriate actions.

Objectives & Description:

Upon completion of this course, you will...

• explain how highways affect terrestrial wildlife
• demonstrate tools to identify and reduce highway-related impacts to wildlife
• explain the highway planning process, including large scale connectivity analyses
• develop interdisciplinary networking opportunities.

Topics include an overview of wildlife issues relative to pre-existing highways and future highway planning; differences in impacts and solutions between low volume and high volume roads; structural and nonstructural solutions to wildlife mortality and habitat connectivity; mitigation and funding for existing highway impacts to wildlife including loss of habitat connectivity and vehicle-caused mortality; and an introduction to current resources on wildlife/highway crossings and interactions

Of special interest to Forest Service employees will be discussions on the use of statewide habitat connectivity workshops to provide a framework to identify and prioritize linkage areas in an interagency context, and the current transportation bill's mandate to involve the resource agencies in integrating transportation and conservation planning...these are practical ways Forest Service employees can influence the 'loss of open space' and its effects on adjacent national forests.

USDOT/FWA
Photographer: Chuck Bartlebaugh

Target Audience:
Resource management biologists and engineers. Open to federal, state, and private applicants.


Tuition: $510 (does NOT include travel, lodging and meals).
Includes:

• Instruction
• Materials
  
  

Dates:	Location:	Facilities:	Registration Status:
March 3 - 5, 2009	Ocala, FL	TBA	Open
July 20 - 24, 2009	Truckee, CA	Sagehen Creek Field Station	Open

Registration:
Log into the DOI LEARN system as a "guest": http://doilearn.doi.gov/coursecatalog

Search the Public Catalog for keyword: TBA

Payment: After registering online, call the FWS National Conservation Training Center at 304-876-7692 providing credit card information for tuition payment. Otherwise your registration will not be processed. Contact Glenn_Gravatt for assistance.

Vendor: USDA Forest Service and USDI Fish & Wildlife Service, NCTC


AgLearn Keywords: highway, transportation, wildlife. We will add FS participants' information in AgLearn. Forest Service employees can "Request" in AgLearn.


Finding in AgLearn :: If you need help registering, contact Shelly Witt for registration



Dropping from the Workshop: Tuition is low for this workshop consequently there is not much leeway on letting people drop. If you are registered, check with us first, just in case we have a waiting list. If there is not a waiting list, you will need to find a substitute or pay fixed costs. The budget has been set and spent based on current confirmation. Thank you for your understanding and consideration.

Agenda & Workshop Info | Related Readings | Hand Outs |


Contact:

Glenn Gravatt, Technical Training Manager, NCTC Conservation Land Management Branch
Glenn_Gravatt@fws.gov
304-876-7456


Cadre: