Wildlife-Associated Recreation and Education

Wildlife-Associated Recreation

A significant challenge for the Department and for the future of species of greatest conservation need is to stay relevant within societal changes occurring within North Dakota and the whole nation. Although North Dakota historically has a strong outdoor heritage, the changing demographics and urbanization of our population is having an impact on societal views of hunting, fishing and general conservation ethics. The Department relies on our constituents for a funding base as well as for political support to fulfill our mission to protect, conserve and enhance fish and wildlife populations and their habitat for sustained public use. The Department needs to continuously improve or expand our strategies to engage the public and increase conservation awareness of fish and wildlife resources and the actions to combat threats.

Nature-based recreation and education is vital for effective State Wildlife Action Plans. To increase public awareness of conservation needs; while maintaining their personal connection with nature, biodiversity is important to individuals participating in nature-based recreation. Therefore, by restoring and protecting vital habitats, the Department ensures future generations can enjoy and observe a diversity of wildlife.

By conserving wildlife diversity, we’re also enhancing the experience of wildlife watchers which contribute significantly to the state’s economy. According to the 2022 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, wildlife-watching participants contributed 250.2 billion dollars or 63% of the total annual expenditures for wildlife-related recreation in the United States.

SWAPs are vital in identifying strategies to conserve wildlife and their habitats, but equally important is to effectively increase public awareness and advocacy through various activities by increasing recreational and educational opportunities for the public.

The following actions were identified to increase public participation and education:

• Hunting and Fishing: SWAPs often identify threats to both terrestrial and aquatic habitats for both game and nongame species. By protecting or restoring habitat, SGCN’s also benefit from management of games species.
• Wildlife Viewing and Photography: By conserving diverse ecosystems and protecting wildlife, SWAPs support wildlife viewing activities, such as birdwatching and nature photography. These activities provide significant economic benefits to local communities.
• Outdoor Recreation: Healthy ecosystems, protected by SWAPs, offer a wide range of outdoor recreational opportunities, including hiking, camping, and boating. These activities contribute to physical and mental well-being and support local economies.
• Nature-Based Tourism: SWAPs can help promote nature-based tourism, attracting visitors from around the world. This can generate revenue for local businesses and create jobs in the tourism industry.
• Public Access: Many SWAPs include provisions for increasing public access to wildlife-rich areas through the development of trails, wildlife viewing platforms, and interpretive signage.
• Shooting Ranges: Shooting sports have gained considerable popularity with limited ranges in the state. Shooting sports also contribute considerable federal dollars to the Department and the local economy. The Department currently manages five public shooting ranges on its wildlife management areas.

Education

Environmental education is extremely relevant to the successful implementation of the SWAP. Educating our constituents on conservation threats and actions is key in creating advocacy for issues such as habitat loss, climate change, urbanization, wetland drainage, energy development and other threats to our SGCNs. Individuals that are conservation informed appreciate North Dakota’s landscapes and can advocate change through legislative actions, community outreach, agricultural producer support as well as teaching future generations of conservation challenges.

The Department experiences several challenges in implementing environmental education programs such as funding, personnel, societal changes, lack of empathy for the environment and lack of volunteers to assist in the implementation of programs. By implementing additional opportunities for education, we develop additional advocacy to successful implement our SWAP and hopefully recover more SGCNs. However, to stay relevant today, the Department has identified the following enhancements to our existing environmental education programs.

• Educational and Interpretive Opportunities: SWAPs can support educational programs and interpretive centers that teach people about wildlife, ecology, and conservation. These programs can inspire future generations of conservationists and outdoor enthusiasts. The Department maintains a Conservation & Outdoor Skills Park at the North Dakota State Fairgrounds and at the Outdoors & Wildlife Learning Site (OWLS) at the Headquarters property in Bismarck.
• Pollinator Education/Demonstration Plots: By promoting and implementing urban pollinator plots, the Department can educate people regarding the importance of maintaining a healthy prairie ecosystem and its importance to bee’s and other pollinator species. The Department maintains a list of preferred blooming plants in North Dakota on its website for anyone interested in learning more about gardening for pollinators.
• Community Science: Providing the public an opportunity to actively participate in research and monitoring efforts connects them with nature as well as providing needed monitoring data.
• Outreach/Communication: Utilize the Department’s communication strategies to increase awareness of conservation activities promoting landscape stewardship and education opportunities.
• Producer Education: Create workshops or field trips to inform agricultural producers of programs available to benefit their operation as well as for wildlife production.
• Recruit, Retain, Reactivate (R3): Increase marketing efforts and expand programs to support R3 goals such as supporting and incentivizing hunting and fish mentorships opportunities, bolstering external partnerships with other state and federal agencies, tribal governments, nongovernmental agencies and industry partners. Approximately 25% of North Dakota residents participate in fishing/hunting activities, which makes the R3 Strategic Plan a top priority.
• Shooting sports: Increase activities associated with school-associated recreational shooting leagues and programs to help sustain and increase outdoor recreation activities outside of the school setting.
• Hunter and Bow Hunter Safety/Fur Harvester Programs: Continue to support and expand programs to teach safety and conservation strategies to participants. As a means of increasing participation and, as a matter of convenience, hunter education courses include the regular in-person course, along with the home-study version, along with archery. Most participants choose the in-person course (Table 41 and Table 42).
• Boating and Water Safety: Continue enhancing programs to instruct and educate participants to reduce boating and other water related incidents. Despite Department efforts, participation has decreased over the last ten years (Table 43).

Table 41. Percentage of participants for hunter education courses offered at the Department.

Table 42. Hunter education participants from 2015-2024.

Table 43. Boat and water safety participants at the Department from 2015-2024.

By investing in nature-based recreation and education, we build advocacy for the conservation of wildlife and their habitats. SWAPs not only protect biodiversity but also safeguard the recreational opportunities that enrich lives and contribute to our state’s economy. Through successful implementation of the SWAP, we can ensure that future generations will have the opportunity to experience the many recreational benefits that wildlife and their habitats provide to our constituents.