Wandering Out West - the Case for Building Partnerships

The Western Native Trout Initiative (WNTI), a venture of the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, was developed by a collaboration of western state fishery agencies and several federal agencies in 2005 and 2006.  WNTI uses a partner-based approach to more efficiently accomplish on-the-ground science, habitat and educational projects as well as securing increases in funding for the conservation of the western native trout complex. The mission of WNTI is all about getting projects done that will help improve the abundance and status of western native trout across a variety of landscapes. The Initiative reflects the success of having a partner relationship with  twelve western states including Alaska, the National Fish Habitat Action Plan, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The U. S.  Forest Service, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, and many tribal, non-governmental conservation organizations, private landowners, and business entities through whom the WNTI annually solicits native trout conservation projects as well as securing the funding to accomplish them.

As the Initiative has matured and evolved since 2006, two new programs have been developed to increase the potential for new projects, new partners and new funding.  In 2011, WNTI initiated the Small projects-Small Grants Funding Program, and in 2012 WNTI initiated the "Campaign for Western Native Trout" to develop new conservation partners and new sources of funding.  With these programs WNTI hopes to expand it conservation work that has resulted in over 70 completed, on-going or planned projects.  This effort has been supported with a partner contribution match valued at over 12.4 million dollars.  The future ability and capacity of the WNTI to continue its great work will depend the development of additional new funding partnerships, as state and federal funding becomes less secure.