Wildlife Viewing Activities in Washington: a Strategic Plan
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W V A W A STRATEGIC PLAN R W S L M Washington Wildlife Viewing Plan Page 1 C E S O W I “W W W V What are the Primary Strategies? 6 W C A WDFW Current Activities and Tasks 7 CTED Current Activities and Tasks 9 S R - WDFW Watchable Wildlife Site Database 10 Matching Grants 10 Site Development 10 Watchable Wildlife Biologist 11 S R- CTED Research and Marketing 12 Technical and Financial Assistance Programs 13 Future Partnership Activities 13 S: W C C S e Developing Coulee Corridor Nature Tourism Story 15 A A: SB HB Second Substitute House Bill 1973 16 A B: E D W V Economic Contributions of Wildlife Viewing 18 Demographics of Wildlife Viewers 20 A C: C W V C A D: S O W V P Survey General Definitions 28 What Is A Watchable Wildlife Activity And/Or Program? 28 A E: P Government Agencies 32 Nonprofits 36 A F: R C November 19, 2003, Tourism Forum Seattle, WA 39 Comments from General Public Review 41 Additional Written Comments on Draft Wildlife Viewing Plan 44 B T P G Suggested Citation Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife and Washington Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development. Wildlife Viewing Activities in Washington: A Strategic Plan. Report to the Washington State Legislature, March 2004. Washington Wildlife Viewing Plan Page 2 Washington Wildlife Viewing Plan Page 3 E S In 2003, the Washington State From the input of the conference attendees, the following guiding principles and Legislature passed SB 5011 activities have been developed to meet this request: requesting that the departments of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and • Identify needs and opportunities to provide premium wildlife viewing recreational Community, Trade and Economic opportunities, ensuring participant safety, conservation and protection of the Development (CTED) host a wildlife being viewed; while not diminishing existing hunting and fishing working conference to adopt a opportunity. o Develop a watchable wildlife site database strategic plan to promote wildlife- o Develop an interactive Web map viewing tourism in Washington. • Market the state as a premium national and international wildlife-viewing is conference created the destination, to increase travel to wildlife viewing locations throughout the state. backbone of a plan that would o Expand advertising exposure in key metro markets promote wildlife viewing as a o Conduct a media blitz involving community wildlife viewing representatives means to provide sustainable economic development in • Develop sites to safely accommodate viewers and wildlife, with appropriate the state’s rural areas while amenities such as viewing blinds, restrooms, parking, fencing and habitat maintaining the state’s wildlife improvements that attract wildlife. diversity. e Legislature also o Develop viewing sites at premier WDFW access points o Provide matching grants for local capital projects requested that steps to implement o Increase operation and maintenance for viewing activities on WDFW land the plan be developed. • Utilize interpretation and development activities for wildlife sites to inform and educate visitors, communities and vendors on ethical viewing activities, viewing practices that ensure sustainability of the wildlife on which the species depend. o Watchable Wildlife biologist • Collect valid, reliable and credible measurements of the economic impact of wildlife viewing activities in Washington along with continued monitoring of the impacts of viewing activities on the wildlife being viewed. o Conduct economic impact research o Conduct consumer research o Conduct advertising return on investment (ROI) research • Maximize limited budgets by creating strong, sustainable partnerships with all appropriate public and private agencies in order to leverage public funds and to create involvement and multi-ownership in wildlife projects by all potential partners. o Provide matching grants for small projects o Provide professional and financial assistance for vendors and communities o Conduct wildlife viewing conference o Develop Washington State Watchable Wildlife Coalition o Support Great Washington State Birding Trail development Washington Wildlife Viewing Plan Page 2 Washington Wildlife Viewing Plan Page 3 O Washington State’s varied geography, Bill 1973 stating the legislature finds was also gathered for presentation at climates, and ecosystems have created that tourism is a growing sector of the the time of the conference (Appendix one of the richest and most diverse Washington economy. (See Appendix A D), and a detailed listing of partners habitats in the nation, giving rise to for both bills.) providing widlife viewing opportunities over 640 vertebrate species, including is included (Appendix E). Further 365 bird species; and thousands of Washington has a diverse geography, input was gathered from participants invertebrates. geology, climate, and natural resources, at a Washington State Tourism Forum and offers abundant opportunities for on November 19, 2003, and through Past conservation efforts of hunters and wildlife viewing. Nature-based tourism a general public review conducted in anglers and other conservationists have is the fastest growing outdoor activity December 2003 through January 2004 enabled some species to thrive despite and segment of the travel industry and (Appendix F). habitat encroachment by expanding the state can take advantage of this by communities. While support for marketing Washington's natural assets is report is a summary of the major traditional recreational hunting and to international as well as national findings of the conference, the survey, fishing activities remains steadfast, tourist markets. (See Appendix B for the forum and the general public review. another wildlife activity has become a full discussion of wildlife viewing It contains WDFW ‘s and CTED’s increasingly popular and important: economics and the demographics of combined vision of the future of wildlife wildlife viewing as an outdoor wildlife viewers.) viewing as an economic stimulator, recreational pastime. Economic along with recommended strategies contributions to the state’s economy are Expanding tourism efforts can and tasks to implement the plan. is $1billion per year! (U.S. Department report is not the end – instead it is a of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife “is report is not the end beginning! Service and U.S. Department of product - instead it is a Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau. 2001 beginning.” Wildlife viewing is an annual billion- National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, dollar industry in Washington. With and Wildlife-Associated Recreation provide Washington residents with the proper care and nurturing, this – Washington.) jobs and local communities with economic boost to the state’s rural needed revenues. Current efforts economies can be increased. is plan In recognizing the importance of this to promote Washington's natural for wildlife viewing in Washington is a growing interest in promoting wildlife resources and nature-based tourism start in that direction. viewing opportunities, in 2003 the to national and international markets Washington State Legislature passed SB are diffuse and limited by funding. A 5011, requesting that the departments collaborative effort among state and of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and local governments, tribes, and private Community, Trade and Economic enterprises can serve to leverage the Development (CTED) host a working investments in nature-based tourism conference to draft a strategic plan to made by each. promote wildlife-viewing tourism in Washington. e Legislature specified e conference requested by SB 5011 that WDFW and CTED should was held in Olympia on September 3, create a plan that would promote 2003. It was attended by 150 people, wildlife viewing as a means to provide representing a broad spectrum of sustainable economic development in agencies, individuals and businesses the state’s rural areas while maintaining involved in wildlife tourism–private the state’s wildlife diversity. e business, counties, cities, state and local Legislature also requested that steps to government and tribes, and the input implement the plan be developed. In from the attendees forms the core of this addition to SB 5011, the Legislature plan (Appendix C). A survey of other also passed Second Substitute House watchable wildlife activities in the state Washington Wildlife Viewing Plan Page 4 Washington Wildlife Viewing Plan Page 5 W I “W W” Watchable Wildlife is all wildlife that people might see, enjoy and learn about. Although birds and the charismatic megafauna (large, showy wildlife) are the more popular species, what people enjoy viewing is as diverse as the viewers themselves. Watchable Wildlife also consists of recreational activities of responsible viewing, photographing, feeding and learning about wildlife and wild places. In 1990, recognizing the growing an estimated $569 million in state viewing skills and responsible behavior national consumer interest in non- tax revenues and an estimated $191 and give people the opportunity to learn consumptive wildlife experiences, million in local tax revenues. (Data about wildlife, which leads to increased wildlife agencies created a new from 1991-2002 Travel Impacts and public support for wildlife conservation. national organization designated Visitor Volume available on www.ex “Watchable Wildlife”. is program periencewashington.com/industry). Watchable Wildlife strategies can has been embraced by the Washington An advantage for Washington State is range from very passive