"I really appreciate the Partners
for Fish and Wildlife Program. I could not have accomplished
these goals without the assistance of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service. Thank you so very much." --Chuck Hatch, South-central
Oklahoma cattle rancher
 In
1990, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Partners for Fish
and Wildlife Program (PFW) was initiated in Oklahoma. The
Partners Program provides technical and financial assistance
for restoration and enhancement of fish and wildlife habitat
on private lands, in partnership with other state and federal
agencies and non-governmental organizations. The Partners
program has grown in size, scope and success since 1990. We
have enrolled 970 private landowners, tribes, public schools,
state agencies, universities, non-governmental organizations
(NGO) and other cooperators into wildlife habitat enhancement,
restoration and establishment activities. These activities
have improved over 301,000 wildlife habitat acres state wide,
which includes 22,406 wetland acres (see
map).
Ninety-five percent of the land in Oklahoma is privately
owned. The landowner-friendly Partners for Fish and Wildlife
Program is the ideal program to enhance and restore Oklahoma's
diverse fish and wildlife habitat on private lands. Native
grassland restoration, controlling invasive plant species
such as eastern red cedar and salt cedar, wetland restoration,
and stream and cave restoration are all examples of Partner
for Fish and Wildlife Projects. A total of 948 projects have
been successfully implemented with private landowners across
the state of Oklahoma.
Mechanical techniques (see
example) and prescribed burning is used to control
Eastern red cedar and salt cedar that have increased dramatically
in native ecosystems across Oklahoma. The invasion of eastern
redcedar into native plant communities changes habitat structure
and composition which adversely affects native wildlife. Many
bird species, such as prairie chickens, bobwhite quail and
the endangered black-capped vireo have been negatively affected
by this invasion.
"…the Partners Program is one government
program that truly benefits all. Children are our future and
environmental studies for children are disappearing. Approximately
2 percent of our children now have an opportunity to work
in an outdoor classroom or learn about the environment compared
to the early 1900's almost all children had an opportunity
to work the land or understand wildlife, so we're asking,
please help us to continue to explore and understand their
environment." Debbie Straughn, Principal, Deer Creek
Elementary School, Statement given at legislative field hearing
Since 1993, the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program has
developed Outdoor Conservation Classroom projects (see
example) throughout Oklahoma. Currently 132 Outdoor
Conservation Classrooms, with an emphasis on wetlands and
other important ecosystems, have been completed or are under
development in Oklahoma (see
map). These sites provide a great opportunity
to help connect children and adults to nature. To successfully
educate young people on these resource issues, a "hands on,"
proactive and interactive Outdoor Classroom provides the ideal
structured environment for learning. These projects simultaneously
provide long-term educational opportunity, quality fish and
wildlife habitat, and help to promote conservation of our
Nation's natural resources. The Partners Program provides
up to $7,000 per Outdoor Classroom project which is used to
leverage funds from many other sources.
Technical and Financial Assistance for:
- Wetland Restoration
- Stream Restoration
- Outdoor Classrooms
- Invasive Species Control
- Native Habitat Restoration
- Endangered Species
- Riparian Habitat Enhancement
To contact us, please call:
Oklahoma's Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
9014 East 21st Street
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74129
918-581-7458
918-581-7467 (fax)
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