Recovering America's Wildlife
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Business and Conservation Interests Support Dedicated Funding to Recover America’s Fish and Wildlife We, the undersigned, support preventing fish, wildlife , and plants from becoming endangered by cre- ating a dedicated federal fund for proactive conservation efforts, led by the states, territories, and tribal nations, to address the nation’s looming wildlife crisis. We support this concept as initially rec- ommended by the Blue Ribbon Panel on Sustaining America’s Diverse Fish and Wildlife Resources, comprised of national business and conservation leaders. Our nation has been blessed with a diverse array of flora and fauna. While some of these species are thriving, many more are facing increasing challenges and are in steep decline – increasing their pos- sibility of becoming endangered. State fish and wildlife agencies have identified 12,000 species na- tionwide in need of proactive conservation action. At the request of Congress, every state has developed a State Wildlife Action Plan to assess the health of their state’s fish and wildlife and outline conservation actions necessary to sustain them. Collec- tively, these action plans have identified these 12,000 species and formed a nationwide strategy to prevent them from becoming endangered. However, the current federal State and Tribal Wildlife Grants program is funded at only a fraction of what states need to conserve these species. State fish and wildlife biologists estimate that it would cost $1.3 billion annually to implement 75 percent of these actions. In addition, our nation’s tribes need similar funds ($97.5 million/annually) to address the hundreds of species and millions of acres of lands they steward. The magnitude of the solution must match the magnitude of the challenge. America has a proud history of bringing fish and wildlife back from the brink of extinction through professional wildlife management. A century ago, prized game species like elk, wood ducks, prong- horns, and striped bass were at risk of extinction—now they are thriving due largely to user fees provided by hunters and anglers. Today we face a new conservation crisis as emerging diseases, in- vasive species, habitat loss, and extreme weather threaten many wildlife and plant populations at a scale inconceivable just a few decades ago. This growing wildlife crisis poses a threat to America’s vibrant outdoor economy. Hunters, anglers, birders, hikers, campers, gardeners, and backyard wildlife watchers have created a fast growing out- door consumer base that depends on healthy wildlife populations. Today, the outdoor economy con- tributes $887 billion to our national economy annually, creates 7.6 million direct jobs, and generates $124.5 billion in federal, state, and local tax revenue. Further, by preventing the decline of species so that they do not require the stricter protections of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), other businesses will be able to operate with more regulatory certainty and reduced risk. As the decline of numerous species and their habitats across the country worsens, preemptive action can reverse this trend and keep species from the critical, yet often costly, “emergency room” measures required by the ESA. Proactive conservation is good for wildlife, good for taxpayers, and good for business. We support the protection of our nation’s precious natural her- itage by supporting efforts to direct dedicated funding into the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program as well as a Tribal program Sincerely, Sign the letter by clicking here! www.nwf.org • 1 National and Regional Maryland-Delaware Chapter of The Wildlife So- Allegheny Highlands Alliance ciety American Bird Conservancy Mule Deer Foundation American Birding Association National Audubon Society American Fisheries Society National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative American Fly Fishing Trade Association National Wildlife Federation American Littoral Society National Wild Turkey Federation American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpe- Native American Fish and Wildlife Society tologists Nature Abounds American Ornithological Society Natural Areas Association Artemis Sportswomen NatureServe Association of Field Ornithologists North American Bluebird Society, Purple Mar- Association of National Estuary Programs tin Conservation Association Association of Zoos & Aquariums Northeastern Division of the American Fisher- Backcountry Hunters and Anglers ies Society Bass Pro Shops Northeast Section of The Wildlife Society Bat Conservation International Northwest Section of The Wildlife Society BookKeeping Express Pheasants Forever Born Free USA Ramseur Records Cardno Ruffed Grouse Society Central Mountains & Plains Section of The Southern Environmental Law Center Wildlife Society Southeast Section of The Wildlife Society Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation Southeastern Fishes Council Cornell Lab of Ornithology Southeastern Grasslands Initiative Delta Waterfowl Foundation The Avett Brothers Desert Fish and Habitat Partnership The Raptor Trust DJ Case & Associates The Conservation Fund E2, Environmental Entrepreneurs The Longleaf Alliance Environment America The Nature Conservancy Environmental Defense Fund The Wildlife Society Greater Yellowstone Coalition Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership HECHO Trout Unlimited Izaak Walton League of America Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation Quality Deer Management *National organization www.nwf.org • 2 Western Landowners Alliance National Aquarium Western Section of The Wildlife Society Nebraska Wildlife Federation Wildlands Network Nevada Wildlife Federation Wildlife Forever New Hampshire Audubon Wildlife Habitat Council New Jersey Audubon Wildlife Management Institute New Mexico Wildlife Federation World Wildlife Fund North Carolina Wildlife Federation Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative North Dakota Wildlife Federation Ohio Conservation Federation National Wildlife Federation Affiliates PennFuture Alabama Wildlife Federation Planning and Conservation League (CA) Arizona Wildlife Federation Prairie Rivers Network Arkansas Wildlife Federation Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña Inc. Association of Northwest Steelheaders South Carolina Wildlife Federation Colorado Wildlife Federation South Dakota Wildlife Federation Connecticut Forest & Park Association Southeast Alaska Conservation Council Conservation Coalition of Oklahoma Tennessee Wildlife Federation Conservation Council for Hawai’i Texas Conservation Alliance Conservation Federation of Missouri Vermont Natural Resources Council Conservation Northwest Virgin Islands Conservation Society Delaware Nature Society West Virginia Rivers Coalition Earth Conservation Corps Wyoming Wildlife Federation Environmental Council of Rhode Island Wisconsin Wildlife Federation Florida Wildlife Federation Georgia Wildlife Federation Alabama Idaho Wildlife Federation Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation Indiana Wildlife Federation Alabama Wildlife Federation Iowa Wildlife Federation AU Davis Arboretum Kansas Wildlife Federation Auburn University Kentucky Waterways Alliance National Speleological Society Louisiana Wildlife Federation Pelican Coast Conservancy Michigan United Conservation Clubs Pritchett Environmental & Property Law LLC Minnesota Conservation Federation The Longleaf Alliance* Mississippi Wildlife Federation Montana Wildlife Federation *National organization www.nwf.org • 3 Alaska Desert Rivers Audubon Society American Fisheries Society, International Asso- Navajo Nation Dept. of Fish and Wildlife ciation of Great Lakes Research Northern Arizona Audubon Society Alaska Nature Guides Northern Arizona University Alaska Survival O.S.H.O Brewing Alaska Wild Harvest, LLC Prescott Audubon Society American Fisheries Society, Alaska Chapter Prison Hill Brewing Company Audubon Alaska Sahara Painting, Inc City of Whittier Alaska Sonoran Audubon Society Chapter Paper Gold Publishing Sprague’s Sports LLC Southeast Alaska Conservation Council Strategic Planning Consultants, LLC Susitna River Coalition Town & Country General Contractors Talkeetna Spinach Bread Trout Unlimited Zane Grey Chapter The Wildlife Society, Alaska Chapter Tucson Audubon Society University of Alaska, Anchorage Ware Farms, LLC University of Alaska, Fairbanks Wren House Brewing Company West Hair Studio Yuma Rod & Gun Club Arizona *Arkansas The following organizations were also included American Fisheries Society, Arizona Chapter in a state-specific letter. American Fisheries Society, Arizona-New Mex- American Fisheries Society, Arkansas Chapter ico Chapter AR Sierra Club Arizona Antelope Foundation Arkansas Interfaith Power & Light Arizona Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Arkansas Master Naturalists Arizona Council of Trout Unlimited Arkansas Natural Sky Association Arizona Elk Society Arkansas Public Policy Panel Arizona Mule Deer Organization Arkansas State Chapter National Wild Turkey Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company Federation Arizona Wildlife Federation Arkansas State University Audubon Arizona Arkansas Wildlife Federation Borderlands Brewing Company Audubon Arkansas Bulton Brew House Beaver Watershed Alliance Catalina Brewing Company Best Pallets, Inc. Coconino Sportsmen Black OPS Calls Desert Fish Habitat Partnership* Branded Branos *National organization www.nwf.org • 4 Building Plastics Inc. California Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Byrd’s Adventure Center Anglers Charles S. Buckner Real Estate Appraisals California Department of Water Resources Cornerstone Club, LLC California Invasive Plant Council Creative Ideas California Oaks Entegrity California Waterfowl Association