Missouri conservation organization gets national recognition. Here's what it does

A statewide organization aimed at advocating for threatened and endangered species recently was nationally recognized again for its work in the state.

Conservation Federation of Missouri was recognized for the third time late last month as the National Wildlife Federation's Affiliate of the Year.

"I could not be more proud of our organization and team who have pulled the rope together to achieve this amazing accomplishment. Our work in the Missouri Capitol we do to ensure conservation of Missouri's wildlife and natural resources and preserving our states outdoor heritage is so important and it takes a great team and a great state. We have all come together to receive this honorable recognition," said Tyler Schwartze, CFM executive director.

CFM is less of a department watchdog and more of an advocacy organization, not only statewide but to congressional lawmakers. The organization has three main pillars, said Nick Darling, CFM education and communications coordinator, which are education, advocacy and partnerships.

One thing CFM continues to push for is the passage of the Recovering America's Wildlife Act , which would — in Missouri — provide $20 million to support more than 600 species of concern in the state , Schwartze said.

"It is an important piece of legislation and would help each year (support) Missouri's diversity of wildlife in forests, prairies and caves. Missouri visitors enjoy spending time outdoors fishing, hunting, birding, those types of activities. With one-third of America's wildlife at increased risk of extinction, Missouri could lose much of its wild heritage," he said, adding the act itself could help at-risk species before they are endangered. "(This would help) create jobs and help wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world."

The act was introduced in the last two congressional sessions in the U.S. Senate, but has not advanced further than committee assignments and discussion. The bill would provide $1.4 billion annually "in proactive, on-the-ground, collaborative efforts to help species at risk by restoring habitat, controlling invasive species, reconnecting migration routes, addressing emerging diseases and more" in the U.S., the NWF noted on its website.

While the act's proposed funding would help with 600 species of concern in Missouri, among the top of that list are the Eastern Meadowlark , Shovelnose Sturgeon and Monarch butterfly , among other butterfly species, Schwartze said.

The national bill was supported by Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., before his retirement and has been less of a priority for Missouri's current U.S. Senate representation, Darling said. That doesn't mean lobbying work has ceased, he said.

"We're still working on trying to get it through," Darling said, adding CFM sends out information to members and Missouri residents about the benefits of the bill for the state. "We are trying to rally (residents) behind this bill, so they can write their representatives and let them know that it is important to try and get it passed."

The funds could help projects adjacent to what is provided through the Endangered Species Act , Darling said. The idea is to use the revenue to support species before they get placed on the Endangered Species List , he said.

"It really saves taxpayers in the long run, because once they get on that list it is a very intensive effort and a lot of money spent to keep that population from going completely extinct. The goal of that (Recovering America's Wildlife) Act really was to try and prevent species from getting on the Endangered Species (List) in the first place."

Other CFM programs

CFM works in tandem with the Missouri Department of Conservation on programs such as Share the Harvest and Operation Game Thief . It also has its own youth program with the Conservation Leadership Corps .

With Share the Harvest, those who hunt deer can request a portion or all of what is processed to go toward Share the Harvest, which provides ground deer meat to food banks and pantries throughout the state.

"We work with MDC to process those checks and get the processors paid for their efforts in that. We do fundraising for that program as well," Darling said.

Operation Game Thief and the adjacent Operation Forest Arson is about reporting poaching or arson incidents through a statewide hotline, which can be done anonymously.

High school and college students interested in conservation advocacy can participate in the Conservation Leadership Corps, Darling said.

CFM's main focus is on conservation advocacy, so it crafts resolutions it sends to agencies and lawmakers urging policy changes. This is both among CFM leadership and its board and through the Conservation Leadership Corps program.

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"We have our Conservation Day at the (Missouri) Capitol every early April, so a lot of our students will come out to that and speak with their representatives there," Darling said, adding he hopes students from all sorts of backgrounds and interests apply for the program, and not necessarily just those interested in natural resources, conservation or political science.

While CFM has a close relationship with the Missouri Department of Conservation, the organization does not always agree with everything the state department does, which is when it provides its policy input to the state.

"The relationship is very positive when it comes to working on programs," Darling said. "We are not just sitting around for MDC to do something we disagree with. Sometimes they ask for our input when they are considering a policy change."

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Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on X, formerly Twitter. Subscribe to support vital local journalism.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Missouri conservation organization gets national recognition. Here's what it does