A shift in the direction we are going on two fronts is fundamental to this Plan – how we manage the resource, and how we do our work. Over the next 15-20 years we want to move away from management driven primarily by rules and regulations to where others help us conserve the resource because of our leadership and influence. This kind of influence is one where others do right by fish and wildlife of their own volition rather than by the threat of regulatory or enforcement actions by us.

Regarding work itself, we want to move from reacting to situations to being more proactive. This entails identifying and working on “emerging” issues before they overtake us. We also want to move from a single focus planning approach where single divisions or offices work on an issue to bringing all relevant disciplines of the agency to bear in a coordinated way, and doing so with an eye on a bigger landscape-level view.