The Midwest Landscape Initiative (MLI) will host an all-day symposium Tuesday, Feb. 15 at the 82^nd Midwest Fish & Wildlife Conference  in Des Moines, Iowa.

This symposium will provide a brief overview of the MLI, a thorough examination of the Regional Species of Greatest Conservation Need effort, and an opportunity for participants to help chart the course of the collaborative group going forward.

The symposium will begin with presentations providing information about the MLI and its work, as well as perspectives of those participating in the multi-state collaboration. Attendees will have a better understanding of the MLI and the Regional Species of Greatest Conservation Need  project by the end of the group meeting.

A panel of science producers, funders, and users will then discuss their current or intended uses of the project list. The symposium will close with an interactive workshop, focused on attendee participation with the goal of identifying ways they can use resources the initiative is developing and, if interested, engage in the effort. Facilitators will guide the participants through a series of brainstorming sessions, which will provide participants an opportunity to think through application of the project’s resources in their daily work.  At the same time, participants will provide possible direction and ideas for the regional initiative moving forward.

The work of the MLI will be enhanced by the diversity of backgrounds and perspectives shared. All are encouraged to attend: directors, management biologists, researchers, students, field technicians, policy analysts and everyone in between. The MLI is also a group for those who do not work in a traditional fish and wildlife field but are interested in fish and wildlife values and considerations.