Natural Resource Professional Societies Issue Joint Statement on the Impacts of Federal Workforce Reduction

Amidst the continued terminations in the nation’s federal workforce, the American Fisheries Society (AFS) joined forces with the Society of American Foresters (SAF), Society for Range Management (SRM), and The Wildlife Society (TWS) to issue a statement in support of federal employees and their critical work for conservation. The Societies expressed deep concerns regarding cuts to the federal workforce and how this will impact science, habitat management and restoration, public education and many other aspects of natural resource conservation in America.

“These professionals serve as stewards of public trust resources across the nation,” said SAF CEO Terry Baker. “The impacts of federal downsizing of employees and budgets on forestry, fish and wildlife, rangelands and people dependent on our ecosystems are only beginning to manifest but undoubtedly will have long-lasting impacts on conservation.”

The statement highlights the importance of continued federal investment in natural resource conservation. These investments return enormous health dividends for the country and the world and are an economic engine for our national, state and local economies.

“We can all appreciate the health benefits of being outdoors and enjoying the natural world,” said AFS Executive Director Jeff Kopaska. “But it’s critical for people to understand that conservation delivery in the U.S., including the work of federal employees, pays back more than double every taxpayer dollar spent into both the local and national economies.”

The four professional societies support auditing federal agencies, budgets and work, but only if they follow a more transparent and credible process. “An audit of government agencies with metrics designed to assess economic and other factors of performance is undoubtedly a good exercise and could yield redundancies, poor return on investments and other issues,” said TWS CEO Ed Arnett. “However, it’s unclear how the federal agencies and their workforce are currently being assessed relative to the consequences of terminations we’re witnessing. The leveraging capability and economic return on conservation investments of federal dollars should be part of the process, as well as engaging legislative representatives responsible for appropriating taxpayer dollars.”

Federal agencies responsible for sound natural resource management have experienced declining staff capacity and funding to do their critical work for decades. Jess Peterson, Executive Vice President of SRM, worries about the future ability to fully support managing our system of public lands and waters and delivering private lands conservation. “When layoffs target probationary employees — often early-career professionals — it damages the pipeline of expertise and professional workforce. Current staffing levels already are significantly less than what is needed to manage both public and private lands,” said Peterson. “Continued layoffs and budget cuts to federal agencies will only make it harder to deliver conservation on our private and public lands and waters that benefit all Americans.”

JOINT PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY STATEMENT
Our Federal Workforce and the Conservation of America’s Natural Resources

Our professional societies represent tens of thousands of professionals and students that have dedicated their
careers – their lives – to researching, conserving, and educating about America’s incredible natural resources
that have fueled the success of our country and its quality of life.

These professionals are managers of our oceans, forests, waterways, rangelands, grasslands, and lakes, fish and wildlife populations, and the waters, habitats, and ecosystems all species and people depend on. They are field specialists that restore degraded habitats, improve water quality, and assist ranchers, forest owners, and farmers with conservation efforts, scientists working to understand the natural world to inform management decisions; and educators for the public, decision-makers, and future generations.

The recent and continued termination of federal employees in the U.S. deeply concerns us and should be alarming to all Americans. These professionals are our neighbors, friends, and community members, and serve as stewards of public trust resources across the nation.

The termination of federal employees with probationary status is especially troubling and unduly impacts early career professionals – the next generation beginning their careers in civil service for our land management agencies, fish hatcheries, forest nurseries, national parks and monuments, research facilities, and academic institutions. These actions have and will set back the landscape of career development for our professions for years, perhaps decades.

The very foundation of natural-resources conservation in this country indeed rests on science to inform decisions supported by a strong workforce of professionals to ensure sustainable use and enjoyment for all citizens. Our continued system of federal investment in natural resource conservation returns enormous health dividends for the country and the world and is an economic engine for our national, state and local economies.

According to a report by Southwick and Associates in 2013, the $38.8 billion of direct spending on conservation efforts – 60% of which comes from the federal government – generates $93.2 billion of total economic activity. That means every dollar spent on conservation in the US has a positive return of 2.4 times its original investment. Additionally, the economic contributions of conservation support over 660,000 jobs with $41.6billion of income (salaries and wages) while adding $59.7 billion to the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The resulting economic activity returns $12.9 billion in the form of tax revenues to the state, local, and federal governments which in effect represents a “conservation rebate” relative to the public’s investment.

We support the need to audit federal agencies, their budgets and work. However, workforce reduction efforts
should engage the citizens that benefit from sound natural resource management and their legislative
representatives responsible for appropriating taxpayer dollars to fund these positions.

Federal bureaus and agencies have long experienced declining funding and resources for staff to fully support
private lands conservation and manage our system of public lands. Indeed, current staffing levels are
significantly less than what is needed to do so. Continued layoffs and other recent attempts to further erode
what is needed to manage our natural resources will have long-term devastating impacts on everyone across
this great nation who relies on the management of our private and public lands and waters for their livelihoods
and well-being.

Our professional societies stand strong and united in our support for the federal workforce. The value they
bring to conservation, science, and stewarding our public trust resources cannot be overstated – all which
benefits every American citizen.