MDC Research

Missouri Black Bear Project
MDC is conducting research to determine the growth rate and size of the black bear population and to also examine bear habitat use and movement patterns.
Community Trees
MDC’s Community Forestry Program advises, coordinates, and facilitates the efforts that affect Missouri’s community-owned trees. We use surveys, inventories and models to assess the status of Missouri's' urban forests.
Missouri Ecological Site Project
A multi-agency, multi-discipline partnership designed to develop a land classification model based on biotic and abiotic factors.
Grasslands LiDAR Learning Project
MDC is exploring the use of LiDAR to model headcuts, bank instability, and riparian corridor condition assessment within the Grand River Grasslands.

Eagle Watch Program

The Missouri Eagle Watch Program allows volunteers to contribute to the conservation of bald eagles in the state by reporting eagle and eagle nest sightings and collecting other information.

Visitor Use at Nature Centers

MDC has twelve Conservation Nature and Interpretive Centers. Managers need to know how many visitors come, what they do, and what economic value they receive.

MDC manages 69 areas with unstaffed shooting ranges that provide various kinds of shooting opportunities including: archery, rifle, handgun, and shotgun opportunities. We assessed user needs and desires, and compliance with rules and regulations.

The Missouri Outdoor Recreational Access Program (MRAP)

MRAP increases recreational opportunities on private land by providing payments to landowners opening their land for recreational activities. We estimate the associated increase in economic benefits.