Abstract

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) hosted a Wyoming Landscape Conservation Initiative (WLCI) Science Workshop at the University of Wyoming on May 15, 16, and 17, 2007. The goal of the workshop was to gather information from stakeholders about research needs and existing data resources to help develop the USGS WLCI science plan.

The workshop focused on six research and management needs identified by WLCI partners prior to the workshop: evaluate the cumulative effects of development activities; identify key drivers of change; identify condition and distribution of key wildlife species, habitat, and species habitat requirements; evaluate wildlife and livestock responses to development; develop an integrated inventory and monitoring strategy; and develop a data clearinghouse and an information-management framework.

These topics correlated to six plenary panels and discussions and six breakout sessions. Several collective needs were identified: create a long-term, accessible information database; identify key habitats, indicator species; collect and research missing critical baseline data; begin on-the-ground projects as soon as possible; and implement a monitoring program to assist with adaptive management techniques.

Several concerns were expressed repeatedly: secure adequate and long-term funding; meeting the WLCI workload with agencies that are already understaffed; assess cumulative effects as an analysis approach; perform offsite mitigation in a way that is valuable and effective; focus all research on providing practical applications; and involve the public in WLCI proceedings.

Revised April 16, 2009

First posted October 14, 2008