NYS Fish and Wildlife Management Board
History
The New York State Fish and Wildlife Management Act was passed by the Legislature in 1957 for two major purposes:
- to encourage the preservation and development of fish and wildlife resources on privately-owned lands and waters, and
- to improve public recreational access to fish and wildlife resources on privately-owned lands and waters.
The purpose, membership, and duties of State and Regional Fish and Wildlife Management Boards are set forth in New York State Environmental Conservation Law § 11-0501.
Composition of the Board
The Act established Regional Fish and Wildlife Management Boards (FWMB) in each Department of Environmental Conservation region that are comprised of county-appointed representatives of government, landowners and sports persons from each county in the region. The State FWMB is comprised of three elected voting representatives from each Regional Board, along with advisory members from the following organizations:
- NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
- NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets
- NYS Soil and Water Conservation Committee
- NYS Forest Practice Board
- NY Farm Bureau
- NYS Grange
- NYS Conservation Council
- NYS Chapter, Izaak Walton League
- College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse University
- College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University
All FWMB representatives are volunteers that serve without pay.
The State FWMB meets biannually to consider issues submitted by Regional Boards, advisory members and others that pertain to fish and wildlife management in the state. Over the years, the role of the State FWMB has become that of a citizen forum for examination of such issues, with a particular slant toward the viewpoint of the private landowner. The power of the Board consists solely of the advocacy of its resolutions.
The State FWMB may be contacted via the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Fish & Wildlife, which provides support services.
Bi-Annual Meeting Notes
Notes from bi-annual meetings of the State Fish and Wildlife Management Board from the previous three years can be found below:
- March 2019 Meeting Notes (PDF)
- March 2019 Presentations and Handouts, Part 1 (PDF)
- March 2019 Presentations and Handouts, Part 2 (PDF, 7.8 MB)
- September 2019 Meeting Notes (PDF)
- September 2019 Presentations and Handouts (PDF)
- March 2018 Meeting Notes (PDF)
- March 2018 Presentations and Handouts (PDF, 8.7 MB)
- September 2018 Meeting Notes (PDF)
- September 2018 Presentations and Handouts (PDF)
- March 2017 Meeting Notes (PDF, 9.6 MB)
- March 2017 Presentations and Handouts, Part 1 (PDF)
- March 2017 Presentations and Handouts, Part 2 (PDF, 8 MB)
- September 2017 Meeting Notes (PDF)
- September 2017 Presentations and Handouts, Part 1 (PDF, 5.7 MB)
- September 2017 Presentations and Handouts, Part 2 (PDF, 8 MB)
