This site contains information regarding the
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) agency
policies, positions or guidelines (APGs) that help to address
certain conservation issues. The following is a listing of some
conservation issues affecting the people and programs of FWC. In
most cases, conservation issues need to be addressed by developing
some form of guidance, either for FWC employees, the affected
public citizens' groups, or both.
What is a
Conservation Issue? - An issue is a problem or opportunity
of concern to the agency, affecting or related to an agency program
or resource. Issues may form the bases for agency policies and/or
positions. [An example of an issue would be establishment &
maintenance of feral cat colonies on public conservation
lands.]
What is a
Policy? - A policy is a formally-recognized (approved),
definitive statement, broad in reach and long-term in scope,
addressing how the Agency conducts its business. Policies should be
available to all employees via the Intranet, and should be approved
via the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) and the Office of the
Executive Director (OED). Most policies should be announced to the
Commission, or be approved by the Commission, and should be
documented in the Commission minutes. [An example would be a
statewide policy on restoring natural habitats. Another would be a
comprehensive policy regarding the dispensation of nuisance
animals.]
What
is a Position Statement? - A position statement is a
formal or semi-formal, specific, definitive statement that is
limited in scope, and may or may not be an outgrowth of an FWC
policy. Position statements may be documented in several ways,
including letters, memoranda, reports, or other communications, and
may come from the most appropriate level within the agency (e.g., a
Program or Office). [An example would be an agency position
statement on the disposition of Rodman Reservoir.] Note: Agency
positions should always be coordinated by the Office of Policy and
Stakeholder Coordination (OPSC) through the SLT and OED when they
affect public perception of the agency, or when they might be in
conflict or disagreement with another program or office of the
agency.
What are Guidelines? - Guidelines
are internal or external instructions governing how individuals
should comport themselves with regard to some issue or resource.
Guidelines may interpret policies or position statements, or they
may be independent of them. Guidelines may originate from any level
within the agency, but generally are prepared at some supervisory
level in order to guide the actions of subordinate employees, or to
offer suggestions on comportment to citizens with regard to a
resource-related issue. [Examples would be "Guidelines for
Resolving Crocodile Complaints" signed by Col. Brantly in April
1988, and the brochure entitled "Permanent Manatee Sign
Information" (Revised August 2004).]
Contact Information:
Office of Planning and Policy Coordination
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission
620 S. Meridian Street
Tallahassee, FL 32399
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