Carol Browner Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change, Obama Administration

To Ms. Carol Browner:

On behalf of the following conservation groups and our millions of members across the country, we want to thank President Obama for his campaign commitment to safeguard wildlife and natural resources from the impacts of global warming.

Natural resources are the backbone of public health and the American economy. Healthy natural systems provide clean water, clean air and protect communities from catastrophic weather- related disasters, ranging from hurricanes to floods to forest fires. Outdoor recreation, which is based on our nation's natural environment and includes hunting, fishing, camping, climbing, hiking, paddling, backcountry skiing, mountain biking, wildlife viewing, and other activities, contributes a total of $730 billion annually to the economy, supporting 6.5 million jobs (1 of every 20 jobs in the U.S.), and stimulates 8% of all consumer spending, according to The Outdoor Foundation. The economic value of the natural environment is far higher when the vast range of ecosystem services is also included; conservative estimates tally these benefits at trillions of dollars annually. Given the grave threats posed by global warming, investing in our natural resources today will provide huge economic benefits for generations.

Safeguarding natural resources, oceans, wildlife populations and the people that rely on these resources is also a moral issue. The United States has an historic opportunity to help sustain today's unsurpassed natural legacy for our children and grandchildren, but we will need to invest in our natural resources if they are to survive a changing climate.

We applaud the following commitment President Obama made during the campaign in his energy plan regarding how a cap-and-trade program should be implemented:

"A small portion of the receipts generated by auctioning allowances will be used… to provide new funding to state and federal land and wildlife managers to restore habitat, create wildlife migration corridors, and assist fish and wildlife to adapt to the effects of a warming climate."

We further applaud the reiteration of this position in President Obama's Plan to Support the Rights and Traditions of Sportsmen.

We look forward to working with you, the full Obama Administration and the incoming Congress to accomplish our shared goal of protecting wildlife and natural resources from the impacts of global warming.

Sincerely,

National Organizations

Access Fund National Parks Conservation Association American Canoe Association National Wildlife Federation American Fisheries Society Nature Abounds American Hiking Society Ocean Conservancy American Lands Alliance Oceana American Littoral Society Outdoor Alliance American Rivers Outdoor Industry Association American Whitewater Pheasants Forever American Wild Turkey Hunting Dog Quail Forever Association Quail Unlimited Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies Restore America’s Estuaries Association of Zoos and Aquariums Sierra Club Boone & Crockett Club The Nature Conservancy Conservation Force The Organization of Wildlife Planners Defenders of Wildlife The Ruffed Grouse Society Ducks Unlimited The Trust for Public Land Earth Friends Wildlife Foundation The Wilderness Society Earthjustice The Wildlife Society Endangered Species Coalition Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Environmental Defense Fund Partnership Federation of Flyfishers Trout Unlimited Gaia Global Consulting Waterkeeper Alliance HuntingLife.com Wildlife Conservation Society International Mountain Bicycling Wildlife Management Institute Association Winter Wildlands Alliance Izaak Walton League of America World Wildlife Fund Land Trust Alliance Xerces Society for Invertebrate National Audubon Society Conservation

Regional and Local Organizations

10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania Commission Alabama Chapter of The Wildlife Arizona League of Conservation Voters Society Education Fund Alaska Conservation Alliance Arizona Wilderness Coalition Alaska SeaLife Center Arizona Wildlife Federation Alaska Wildlife Alliance Arkansas Chapter of The Wildlife Albemarle Environmental Association Society Allegheny Plateau Audubon Society Arkansas Trappers Association American Sportsmen Against Poachers Arkansas Wildlife Federation Animal Protection of New Mexico Arrowhead Chapter Trout Unlimited Animal Protection Voters Association of Northwest Steelheaders Appalachian Mountain Club Atlanta Audubon Society Arizona Chapter of The Wildlife Society Au Sable Big Water Preservation Arizona Ecumenical Council Earth Care Association Audubon New York Environmental Association of St. Audubon of Kansas Thomas Audubon Ohio Environmental League of Massachusetts Beech Creek Watershed Association Ernest Schwiebert Chapter of Trout Bill Dvorak's Kayak and Rafting Unlimited Expeditions Firelands Audubon Society Blue Ridge Forever Coalition Florida Chapter of The Wildlife Society Boone Soil and Water Conservation Florida Native Plant Society District Florida Turtle Conservation Trust Briarpatch Conservation Club Florida Wildlife Federation Bushnell, Caplan & Fielding Food Conspiracy Co-op Canton Studio Freshwater Future Carolina Mountain Land Conservancy Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Cedar Bog Association Refuges Center for Native Ecosystems Friends of Pondicherry Central Mountains and Plains Section of Friends of Pool 9, Upper Miss Refuge, The Wildlife Society IN Chestnut Ridge Chapter of Trout Friends of Saguaro National Park Unlimited Gallatin Wildlife Association Chichagof Conservation Council Gates Au Sable Lodge Chickasaw County Conservation Board Georgia Wildlife Federation Cienega Watershed Partnership Georgia Chapter of The Wildlife Society Citizens Against OLF Georgia River Network Citizens Campaign for the Environment Great Lakes Council of the Federation of Citizens Committee to Complete the Fly Fishers Refuge Great Old Broads for Wilderness Clark Fork Coalition Greathorn Properties Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection Greenway Network, Inc. Colorado Conservation Trust Groundwater Awareness League Columbiana County Federation of Gulf Restoration Network Conservation Clubs Habitat and Wildlife Keepers Conemaugh Valley Conservancy Hackensack Riverkeeper, Inc. Connecticut Forest & Park Association Hawaii Chapter of The Wildlife Society Conservation Council for Hawai'i Heart of America Flyfishers Conservation Federation of Missouri Hellgate Hunters and Anglers Conservation Northwest High Country Citizens' Alliance Conservation Trust for Florida, Inc. High Country Flies Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ High Sierra Rural Alliance Delaware Audubon Society Hoosier Fly Fishers Delaware Nature Society Houston Audubon Society Denver Chapter of Trout Unlimited Hutchinson Recreation Commission East Ascension Sportsman's League Idaho Conservation League ECHO Idaho Wildlife Federation Elkhorn Slough Foundation Indiana Wildlife Federation Environment Council of Rhode Island Iowa Audubon Environmental Advocates of New York Iowa Chapter of The Wildlife Society Environmental and Cultural Iowa Environmental Council Conservation Organization Iowa Wildlife Federation Izaak Walton League Michigan City Natural Systems Solutions Chapter Nebraska Wildlife Federation Izaak Walton League of America Nevada Chapter of The Wildlife Society Pennsylvania Chapter Nevada Wildlife Federation Izaak Walton League, Johnson County New England Chapter of The Wildlife Chapter Society Jackson County Conservation Club New Hampshire Fish and Game Joe Humphries Fly Fishing New Jersey Audubon Society Kansas Chapter of The Wildlife Society New Jersey Chapter of The Wildlife Kansas Wildlife Federation Society Keep Sedona Beautiful New Jersey Federation of Sportsman's Kindred Wild Life Club Clubs Lacey Rail-Trail Environmental New Mexico Wildlife Federation Committee New York Chapter of The Wildlife Land Conservancy of Adams County Society Lands Council North Carolina Falconers Guild Las Vegas Flyfishing Club North Carolina Wildlife Federation League of Kentucky Sportsmen Northeast Section of The Wildlife League of Ohio Sportsmen Society Lebanon Valley Conservancy Northeast Wilderness Trust Lititz Run Watershed Association Northern Alaska Environmental Center Louisiana Wildlife Federation Northern Forest Alliance Lynn Canal Conservation Northern Jaguar Project Macbride Raptor Project Northwest Habitat Institute Maine Chapter of The Wildlife Society Northwest River Guides Maryland/Delaware Chapter of The Northwest Sportfishing Industry Wildlife Society Association Massachusetts Audubon Northwest Weed Management Matanuska Electric Ratepayers Alliance Partnership Michigan United Conservation Clubs NorthWoods Stewardship Center Minnesota Conservation Federation Ohio Bass Federation Mississippi Wildlife Federation Ohio Bird Conservation International Missouri Chapter of The Wildlife Ohio Environmental Council Society Oregon Anglers Missouri Environmental Education Oregon Chapter of The Wildlife Society Association Oregon Council Trout Unlimited Missouri Master Naturalists – Orion The Hunter Institute Confluence Chapter Ozark Fly Fishers Missouri Smallmouth Alliance Pacific Forest Trust Montana Audubon Passaic River Coalition Montana Chapter of The Wildlife Pella Wildlife Company Society Penns Creek Guides Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Penns Valley Conservation Association Montana Wildlife Federation Pennsylvania Chapter of The Wildlife Moshannon Group, Sierra Club Society National Wild Turkey Federation, Pennsylvania Forest Coalition Georgia Chapter Planning and Conservation League Natural Resources Council of Maine Prairie Rivers Network Prescott College Chapter Puerto Rico Ornithological Society The Wildlands Network Quiet Use Coalition Tip of the Mitt Watershed Council Remington Arms Wildlife Tom Baltz Guide Service Renewable Resources Coalition Trout Unlimited of California Rio Grande Return Tucson Audubon Society River Valley Wildlife Federation Tumbling Creek Cave Foundation Rocky Mountain Recreation Initiative U.S. Home Designs, Inc. Sacramento-Shasta Chapter of The Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeeper Wildlife Society Utah Chapter of The Wildlife Society San Miguel Greens of Colorado Utah Waterfowl Association Santa Cruz River Alliance Valley Forge Chapter of Trout Save Our Stream Unlimited Save the Manatee Club Vermont Natural Resources Council Shaw Nature Reserve Virgin Islands Conservation Society Sheep Mountain Alliance Virginia Chapter of The Wildlife Society Sierra Forest Legacy Virginia Conservation Network Sierra Nevada Conservation Virginia State Chapter of the National Sierra Nevada Deep Ecology Institute Wild Turkey Federation Silvertip Production Virginia Teaming With Wildlife Sirius Ecovillage Leadership Council Sky Island Alliance Wagner Conservation Coalition South Carolina Wildlife Federation Washington Wildlife Federation South Dakota Wildlife Federation Watershed Alliance of Adams County Southwest Consolidated Sportsmen Watershed Management Group Southwest Environmental Center Wattensaw Bowhunters Association Southwest Missouri Fly Fishers Weatherby's Fisherman Resort Space Coast Climate Initiative West Chester Fish, Game, and Wildlife Spring River Sportsman Club West Chester Gun Club St. Croix Environmental Association Westark Wildlife St. Francis Lake Association Western Lake Erie Waterkeeper St. Petersburg Audubon Society Association Stoney Creek Valley Coalition Western Pennsylvania Conservancy Sugar Pine Foundation Western Rivers Conservancy Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Western Section of The Wildlife Society Conservancy White River Conservancy Tennessee Clean Water Network Wild Connections Tennessee Environmental Council Wilderness Fly Fishers Tennessee Wildlife Federation Wildlife Center of Virginia Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society Wildlife Foundation of Florida Texas Conservation Alliance Wildwood/Mahonia Texas League of Conservation Voters Wisconsin Chapter of The Wildlife The Atlanta Fly Fishing School Society The Conservation League of Puerto Rico Wisconsin Chapter of the Wildlife The Fyke Nature Association Society The Hilltop Conservation Club, Inc. Wisconsin Wildlife Federation The Rewilding Institute Wolf Creek Community Alliance The Wilderness Society - Alaska WyEast Expeditions Wyoming Chapter of The Wildlife Society Wyoming Wildlife Federation Yell County Wildlife Federation Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures Youth Conservation Club – Lavaca High School Youth Conservation Club –Mansfield High School