Serving Nature and You on Conservation Areas
Facing our challenges:
Public land is becoming increasingly important for Missourians to enjoy a variety of outdoor recreational activities and for the conservation of our fish, forests and wildlife.
Managing land for people can conflict with the needs of our natural resources. The Conservation Department’s challenge is to provide service that will benefit both Missourians and the fish, forest and wildlife resources that Missourians cherish.
Conservation lands, which represent less than 2 percent of the state, will be managed so that they provide nourishing habitat for our state’s wildlife, as well as easy access and comfortable facilities so that people can enjoy them with friends or family.
Goal: The Conservation Department will manage public lands to produce the highest benefit to fish, forests, wildlife and the Missourians who enjoy these resources.
Results we want to achieve:
- Conservation Areas managed for long-term conservation of fish, forests and wildlife.
- Diverse and balanced outdoor recreation opportunities on public land that are consistent with resource management goals.
- Safe and enjoyable outdoor experiences at clean, well-maintained facilities that invite public use.
What we will do:
- Actively manage Conservation Areas to serve as role models for best management practices and natural community conservation that benefits a diversity of wildlife.
- Enhance public opportunities for recreation on 10 Conservation Areas close to urban areas by providing a combination of restrooms, drinking water, security lighting, picnic tables, trails, interpretive signs, enforcement patrol and paved parking lots by 2025.
- Encourage public use by hosting 16 annual “Serving Nature and You” events statewide to demonstrate recreational opportunities available on Department lands.
- Respond to Missourians’ desire for walking, hiking, bicycling and horseback-riding opportunities by expanding and renovating trails on 40 Conservation Areas by 2015.
- Expand opportunities for family-oriented outdoor experiences on select Conservation Areas by designating camping areas that include drinking water, picnic tables, restrooms and trails by 2015.
- Provide, by 2008, an online Conservation Atlas that includes photographs of features and facilities available on Conservation Areas.
- Include features in Conservation Area construction projects that allow people of all ages and abilities to better access the outdoors.
What Missourians tell us
Almost three-quarters (73 percent) of Missourians agree that “Land should be acquired for fish, forest and wildlife conservation.”
When asked about the less than 2 percent of Missouri’s land owned or managed by the Department of Conservation, only 2 percent of those polled report that this is “too much.”
When asked about their need for activities within 20 minutes of their home: 63 percent listed hiking and walking trails; 60 percent, picnicking; 59 percent, nature center or nature viewing; 54 percent, boating or canoeing; 51 percent, fishing or camping; and 50 percent, bicycling.
“Not enough time,” “Not enough money,” “Not enough information,” and “Crowded activity areas” are the most frequent responses when Missourians are asked about obstacles keeping them from outdoor activities.
