| Overview |
Building on the
Legacy for Wildlife Conservation
Background
As we move forward through the 21st
Century, North America once again is at a
crossroads for our wildlife and hunting heritage. The consistent threats to
wildlife species including habitat loss and the expanding human population
persist, but are now coupled with new threats like climate change. The resulting impacts to wildlife populations
are compounded by declining access and a less outdoors-focused society and now
even our hunting heritage is at risk.
Like the visionaries that built the last century of wildlife
conservation, we are faced with the challenge - and opportunity - to set the
future course for these precious resources and traditions.
The Opportunity
On August 16, 2007, President
George W. Bush signed the Facilitation of Hunting Heritage and Wildlife
Conservation Executive Order that called for federal agencies to facilitate the
expansion and enhancement of hunting opportunities and the management of game
species and their habitat. In addition the executive order calls for a wildlife
policy conference to lay the foundation for a ten-year Recreational Hunting and
Wildlife Resource Conservation Plan. The
opportunity to shape the next decade of hunting and wildlife conservation is
upon us. With a solid non-partisan plan,
designed to build on and enhance the successful North American Wildlife
Conservation Model, we can chart the course for the future of wildlife conservation.
The Meeting
Scheduled for
Oct. 2-3 at Reno,
Nev., the White House Conference on
North American Wildlife Policy will focus on five core areas:
-
Discussions on the North
American Conservation Model
- State/Federal/Tribal Wildlife Management
- Habitat Conservation and Management
- Funding for Wildlife Conservation
- Perpetuating Hunter Traditions
Working groups made up of
some of the leading experts on wildlife management and hunting are crafting
recommendations that will lead the way for the final plan. The recommendations put forward by the
wildlife community will be used by the current Administration, Governors and
members of Congress in the final plan to ensure that it is non-partisan and
will be successful no matter who is in the White House or controls Congress.
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