Although the Department of Natural Resources coordinated the effort, Federal, State and local agencies, tribes, and other conservation partners, including NGOs, academic institutions and private individuals, participated in action plan development. The continued participation of all conservation partners will be necessary for effective implementation of the action plan and for review and revision of future editions.

A list of conservation partners provides names of the 203 agencies, organizations and non-affiliated individuals who were solicited for participation and actively participated in development of the action plan. Further conservation partners have expressed an interest in the action plan since development was completed and this list will be updated in the future.

Federal Agencies

• Representatives of several Federal agencies, especially USFWS and USFS, participated as species experts, attended meetings and workshops, provided information and data, and participated in the formal public review.
• The Region 3 USFWS Development Assistance Team provided information to help States better understand and fulfill the Federal requirements for the SWG and WCRP plan/strategies.

State Agencies

• The DNR Wildlife Division coordinated development of the action plan with substantial participation from Fisheries Division staff and many others within the Department, as well as a few others closely associated with the Department.
• An MDEQ specialist involved with water quality monitoring programs, which include the monitoring of macroinvertebrates, participated as one of our species experts for aquatic invertebrates.
• A Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) specialist involved with mitigation effects and monitoring transportation project effects on environmental indicators and wildlife participated in multiple Regional Technical Workshops and as a species expert.

Local Agencies

• Representatives from several Conservation Districts, and county and city governments attended public meetings and/or Regional Technical Workshops, and remained apprised of continued action plan development through the action plan listserve group.

Native American Tribes

• All recognized Native American Tribes with management authority over significant land areas within Michigan were contacted via letter in July 2004 and were invited to identify any issues, concerns or suggestions they believed should be considered in development of the action plan.
• The letter also invited tribal representatives to attend public information meetings and to join the action plan listserve group.
• Subsequent letters sent to conservation partners included tribal contacts.
• Representatives of two tribes joined the listserve group, one of whom attended the 'Kick-Off' Workshop.

Non-Governmental Organizations

Many NGOs were involved throughout development of the WAP. They participated in early discussions about the potential processes and products, meetings and workshops, writing, and review of written materials. Because MNFI, AFWA and the species experts were deeply involved throughout the entire development process, they are individually recognized below:

Michigan Natural Features Inventory
(a program of Michigan State University Extension)

• represented on the Core Development Team by an employee on contract with the DNR Fisheries Division
• represented on the Steering Committee by the Director of MNFI
• assisted with identification of SGCN, species experts and terrestrial landscape features, analysis of spatial data, writing, map production, development of an overall monitoring concept, and reviews of multiple drafts, through contracts with the DNR Wildlife Division; attended Regional Technical Workshops

Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

• coordinated and provided financial assistance to allow plan/strategy coordinators to attend national meetings
• provided information, data and products from other national conservation partners
• aided in coordination and information flow between States, communication at national levels, and clarification of Federal requirements

Species Experts

• provided assistance throughout development of the action plan, including identification of SGCN and verification of species associations with landscape features and threats
• primarily non-DNR individuals representing many academic institutions in Michigan, as well as various other public and private organizations