Today's Strategy, Tommorow's Wildlife January 1983 Third Edition

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The Plan and How to Use It PURPOSE OF THE PLAN The Colorado Wildlife Commission and the Divi- sion of Wildlife are charged by law to carry out the State policy for wildlife. From State law (33 -1 -101, CRS) that policy is: "That the wildlife and their environment ... and outdoor recreation areas of this State are to be protected, preserved, enhanced, and managed for the use, benefit and enjoyment of the people of this state and visitors to this State. It is further declared to be the policy of this State that there shall be provided a com- prehensive program of outdoor recreation in order to offer the greatest possible variety of out- door recreation opportunity to the people of this State and its visitors and that to carry out such program and policy there shall be a continuous operation of planning, acquisition, and develop- ment of outdoor recreation lands, waters, and facilities." The Wildlife Commission has authorized this Plan to direct the Division of Wildlife in carrying out this State policy. Specifically, the Plan is designed to do four things: It communicates to all Division personnel the policies and objectives of the Wildlife Com- mission; it communicates to the public, the Legis- lature and other agencies what the Division is striving to accomplish; it provides a mechanism for the Commission to evaluate and update its direction to the Division; and it provides an oppor- tunity for interested individuals and groups to inform the Commission of desired changes in direction. STRUCTURE OF THE PLAN First is an overview ... a discussion of the Colo- rado habitat for wildlife, how much there is, how much there should be, and how people pressures affect the future of wildlife. Next are some details about the wildlife resource, how people use this resource and how people benefit economically from wildlife. Then there is a list of several dozens of the major goals reached since the last edition of this Plan five years ago. Both the Commission and the Division invite your particular attention to this list. Following this is another list which also deserves your thoughtful reading ... a set of real goals for the coming five years (and beyond). Note that our attention focuses where you've said you want it ... on nongame as well as sport game and sport fish. These three divisions ... game, fish and nongame ... mark the three main planning sec- tions of this document. The species programs and programs for groups of species are listed in pri- ority order. These priorities have been based on staff judgments concerning the amount of oppor- tunity to improve the status of each program through management and the amount of public demand received.