SACRAMENTO – The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) encourages its vast and varied constituents to actively participate in the California Fish and Wildlife Strategic Vision.

At a meeting on Thursday in Sacramento, the Executive Committee of the Strategic Vision announced that they are accepting applications for the stakeholder advisory group.

The stakeholder advisory group represents a diverse range of interests affecting state policies that manage fish and wildlife, including individuals representing fishing and hunting interests, nonprofit conservation organizations, nonconsumptive recreational users, landowners, scientific and educational interests, and others dedicated to habitat conservation and protection of public trust resources.

The stakeholder group will advise and support the executive committee, among other tasks.

Applications can be found at www.vision.ca.gov and will be accepted through July 13.

The California Fish and Wildlife Strategic Vision began from legislation (AB 2376, Huffman) signed into law last year that requires the Natural Resources Agency to convene a committee to develop a strategic vision for DFG and the Fish and Game Commission.

The goal is to provide real solutions to improve and enhance DFG’s capacity and effectiveness in fulfilling its public trust responsibilities for the protection and management of the state’s fish and wildlife, for their ecological values, and for the benefit of the people of the state.

“We are pleased that the process is under way,” said DFG Acting Director John McCamman. “We ask our many partners, stakeholders and other interested parties to help shape this vision, and to take this opportunity to share what has worked and what hasn’t in the department’s more than 100 years of existence.”