Business and Conservation Interests Support Dedicated Funding to Recover America’S Fish and 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 and wildlife from becoming endangered by dedicating $1.3 billion annually into the federal Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program, using existing revenue from the development of energy and mineral resources on federal lands and waters. We support this recommendation of 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 fish and wildlife. 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 Wildlife Grants pro- gram 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. 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 populations at a scale in- conceivable just a few decades ago. This growing wildlife crisis poses a threat to America’s vibrant outdoor economy. Hunters, anglers, birders, hikers, campers, and backyard wildlife watchers have created a fast growing outdoor con- sumer base that depends on healthy wildlife populations. Today, the outdoor economy contributes $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 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 fish and wildlife heritage by supporting efforts to direct dedicated funding into the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Pro- gram. Sincerely, www.nwf.org • 1 National and Regional North American Bluebird Society, Purple Mar- Allegheny Highlands Alliance tin Conservation Association American Bird Conservancy Northeast Section of The Wildlife Society American Birding Association Northwest Section of The Wildlife Society American Fisheries Society Pheasants Forever American Fly Fishing Trade Association Ramseur Records American Littoral Society Southern Environmental Law Center American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpe- Southeast Section of The Wildlife Society tologists Southeastern Fishes Council American Ornithological Society The Avett Brothers Artemis Sportswomen The Raptor Trust Association of Field Ornithologists The Conservation Fund Association of National Estuary Programs The Wildlife Society Association of Zoos & Aquariums Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Trout Unlimited Bass Pro Shops Quail and Upland Wildlife Federation Bat Conservation International Quality Deer Management BookKeeping Express Western Section of The Wildlife Society Born Free USA Wildlife Forever Central Mountains & Plains Section of The Wildlife Habitat Council Wildlife Society Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation Cornell Lab of Ornithology National Wildlife Federation Affiliates Delta Waterfowl Foundation Alabama Wildlife Federation DJ Case & Associates Arizona Wildlife Federation Greater Yellowstone Coalition Arkansas Wildlife Federation Izaak Walton League of America Association of Northwest Steelheaders Maryland-Delaware Chapter of The Wildlife So- Colorado Wildlife Federation ciety Connecticut Forest & Park Association National Audubon Society Conservation Coalition of Oklahoma National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative Conservation Council for Hawai’i National Wildlife Federation Conservation Federation of Missouri National Wild Turkey Federation Conservation Northwest Nature Abounds Delaware Nature Society NatureServe Earth Conservation Corps *National organization www.nwf.org • 2 Environmental Council of Rhode Island Alabama Florida Wildlife Federation Alabama B.A.S.S. Nation Georgia Wildlife Federation Alabama Wildlife Federation Idaho Wildlife Federation Auburn University Indiana Wildlife Federation Pelican Coast Conservancy Iowa Wildlife Federation Pritchett Environmental & Property Law LLC Kansas Wildlife Federation Kentucky Waterways Alliance Alaska Louisiana Wildlife Federation American Fisheries Society, International Asso- Minnesota Conservation Federation ciation of Great Lakes Research Mississippi Wildlife Federation Alaska Nature Guides Montana Wildlife Federation Alaska Survival National Aquarium Alaska Wild Harvest, LLC Nebraska Wildlife Federation American Fisheries Society, Alaska Chapter Nevada Wildlife Federation Audubon Alaska New Hampshire Audubon Paper Gold Publishing New Jersey Audubon Susitna River Coalition New Mexico Wildlife Federation Talkeetna Spinach Bread North Carolina Wildlife Federation The Wildlife Society, Alaska Chapter North Dakota Wildlife Federation University of Alaska, Anchorage Ohio Conservation Federation University of Alaska, Fairbanks PennFuture West Hair Studio Planning and Conservation Council Prairie Rivers Network Arizona Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña Inc. American Fisheries Society, Arizona Chapter South Carolina Wildlife Federation American Fisheries Society, Arizona-New Mex- South Dakota Wildlife Federation ico Chapter Tennessee Wildlife Federation Arizona Antelope Foundation Texas Conservation Alliance Arizona Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Vermont Natural Resources Council Arizona Council of Trout Unlimited Virgin Islands Conservation Society Arizona Elk Society West Virginia Rivers Coalition Arizona Mule Deer Organization Wyoming Wildlife Federation Arizona Wildlife Federation Vermont Natural Resources Council Audubon Arizona Wisconsin Wildlife Federation Borderlands Brewing Company *National organization www.nwf.org • 3 Catalina Brewing Company Creative Ideas Coconino Sportsmen Entegrity Desert Rivers Audubon Society Friends of White River National Wildlife Refuge O.S.H.O Brewing Fowl Smokin’ Swine Catering Prison Hill Brewing Company Ozark Society Sahara Painting, Inc Ozarks Water Watch Sonoran Audubon Society Chapter Pine Ridge Gardens Sprague’s Sports LLC Quail Forever, Arkansas Chapter Strategic Planning Consultants, LLC Quality Deer Management Association Town & Country General Contractors River Valley Mulch, Inc. Trout Unlimited Zane Grey Chapter RNT Calls Ware Farms, LLC Robert Huston Productions Wren House Brewing Company RW Standage Fisheries Services Yuma Rod & Gun Club The Arkansas Fly Fishers The Wildlife Society, Arkansas Chapter *Arkansas Van Buren School District The following organizations were also included Westark Wildlife Conservation Club in a state-specific letter. White River Waterkeeper American Fisheries Society, Arkansas Chapter AR Sierra Club California Arkansas Interfaith Power & Light Alpine Historical Society Arkansas Natural Sky Association American Fisheries Society, California-Nevada Arkansas Public Policy Panel Chapter Arkansas State Chapter National Wild Turkey American Fisheries Society, Santa Cruz-Monte- Federation rey Bay Area Subunit Arkansas State University Audubon California Arkansas Wildlife Federation California Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Audubon Arkansas Anglers Beaver Watershed Alliance California Department of Water Resources Best Pallets, Inc. California Invasive Plant Council Black OPS Calls California Oaks Branded Branos California Wildlife Foundation/California Oaks Building Plastics Inc. ECOSLO-Environmental Center of San Luis Byrd’s Adventure Center Obispo Charles S. Buckner Real Estate Appraisals Endangered Habitats League Cornerstone Club, LLC *National organization www.nwf.org • 4 Foothill Conservancy Pierce Lending, LLC Giving Tree Club Pikes Peak Outfitters Highway Safety Stewards Pikes Peak Recreation Alliance Humboldt State University RepYourWater Institute for Bird Populations The Wildlife Society, Colorado Chapter Kern Audubon Society Vet Voice Foundation National University Wild Zora Foods, LLC Natural Solutions for Advocacy Planning and Conservation League Connecticut Point Blue Conservation Science Audubon Connecticut River Partners