Wildlife Management and Conservation Principles
“A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise.” — Aldo Leopold, 1949
As you can see, a wildlife manager’s job is not as simple as just counting animals. Rather, she or he must use a large toolbox of skills and knowledge to maintain the number of animals in a habitat at or below the habitat’s carrying capacity, so that no damage is done to the animals or to their habitat. Expounding on the link between the values and aims of wildlife management and conservation ideals, early officers of The Wildlife Society stated:
"Management along sound biological lines means management according to the needs and capacities of the animals concerned, as related to the environmental complex in which they are managed. It does not include the sacrifice of any species for the benefit of others, though it may entail the reduction of competing forms where research shows this is necessary. It consists largely of enrichment of environment so that there shall be maximum production of the entire wildlife complex adapted to the managed areas. Wildlife management is not restricted to game management, though game management is recognized as an important branch of wildlife management. It embraces the practical ecology of all vertebrates and their plant and animal associates. While emphasis may be placed on species of special economic importance, wildlife management along sound biological lines is also part of the greater movement for conservation of our entire native fauna and flora.”
— Bennitt et al. 1937: Bennitt, R., J. S. Dixon, V. H. Cahalane, W. W. Chase, and W. L. McAtee. 1937. Statement of policy. Journal of Wildlife Management 1:1-2.
The Arizona Game and Fish Commission vision is to be the nation's leading wildlife agency and conservation leader. To meet this vision, The Director, Department Staff and Commission shall maintain a prominent presence in-state, out-of-state, and abroad to maintain and enhance its national leadership role, sustain the continuation of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, and incorporate the latest best practices in wildlife and recreation management.
With greater understanding of the biology and resource requirements for many species, wildlife managers also must consider historical population trends, current habitat conditions, breeding population levels, genetic diversity, long-term projections, age ratios (i.e., ratio of adults to young animals), breeding success, juvenile survival and recruitment, to name a few. Thankfully, wildlife managers have a variety of practices at their disposal to keep habitats healthy and in balance with wildlife populations.