What is the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act?
In March 2023, Senators Heinrich (D-NM) and Tillis (R-NC) reintroduced the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act in the U.S. Senate, a major step forward in securing $1.4 billion annually for state and tribal fish and wildlife agencies to undertake significant, proactive conservation of imperiled species.
The Growing Crisis
Despite the remarkable diversity of fish and wildlife in the U.S., populations of many species are in decline. Freshwater animals have been particularly hard hit and approximately 40 percent of the nation’s freshwater fish species are now rare or imperiled. Similarly, an astonishing three-quarters of the nation’s freshwater mussel species are imperiled or vulnerable. Without concerted attention, our growing wildlife crisis will almost certainly lead to many more species qualifying for protection under federal and state endangered species laws.
How would it work?
Investing in conservation makes a difference. State and federal wildlife agencies have been battling the decline of fish and wildlife for decades, but evolving threats and insufficient funds have limited the ability of these agencies to adequately address the crisis.
State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAPs) assess the health of fish and wildlife within each state and outline the conservation actions necessary to prevent them from becoming listed under the Endangered Species Act. Collectively, these plans have identified nearly 12,000 species nationwide that are in need of conservation attention and action. Currently, funding only covers a fraction of the need. As a result, states are forced to focus only on just a very few species, with many more at-risk and heading towards becoming endangered.
This bill would provide the funding needed to implement three-quarters of every state’s action plan. Conservation efforts could include reintroduction of imperiled species, conserving and restoring important habitat, fighting invasive species and disease, and more. This would significantly reduce the number of species in decline and would ultimately prevent these species from needing protections afforded under the Endangered Species Act.
How will it benefit the fisheries profession?
This bill brings with it more employment opportunities for aquatic resource professionals in state agencies and in the private sector. Fisheries biologists and other resource professionals will be able to address the serious peril that aquatic species face in light of habitat degradation, water quality impairment, rising temperatures and reduced water availability, and other existential threats. Due to the increased and dedicated funding, state agencies will be to hire more fisheries professionals who will be better able to enact long-term, science-based programs to protect and restore our nation’s imperiled aquatic resources. Click here to see an estimate of how much your state would receive.
Support passage of the bill
Recovering and conserving America’s fish and wildlife will be no easy task. Halting and reversing the current trend will require investment in widespread on the ground efforts by state and federal agencies along with local and private partners. Now is the time to build on the successes of the past!
AFS is teaming up with the National Wildlife Federation, The Wildlife Society, and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and others in support of the bill. We need the help of our members!
- Sign a letter of support from your chapter in support of the bill.
- Call your member of Congress today and ask them to co-sponsor the bill! Here’s the current list of co-sponsors and a call script with the important messages and details.
- Use social media to raise awareness using the hashtag #RecoverWildlife.
Email Drue Winters to get involved.
- RAWA Fact Sheet
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Support of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act: A Guide to Grassroots Advocacy Webinar
Latest News about the Act
AFS Supports Conservation Funding Bills and a Science-based Endangered Species Act
July 23, 2024 Chairman Cliff BentzU.S. House of RepresentativesCommittee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries1324 Longworth House Office BuildingWashington, DC 20515 Ranking Member Jared HuffmanU.S. House of RepresentativesCommittee on Natural ResourcesSubcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries1324 Longworth House Office BuildingWashington, DC 20515 Re: Legislative Hearing on H.R. 7544, H.R. 8308 & H.R. 8811 Dear Chairman Bentz and Ranking Member Huffman: The American Fisheries Society (AFS) respectfully submits the following information in response to the July 9, 2024 legislative hearing of the U.S. House of Natural Resources Committee Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries on H.R. 7544, H.R. 8308 & H.R. 8811. AFS is the world’s oldest and largest professional society of fishery and aquatic scientists and managers. AFS seeks to improve the conservation and sustainability of fishery resources and aquatic ecosystems by advancing fisheries and aquatic science, promoting the development of fisheries professionals, and promoting the use of best available science in policy-making efforts. AFS supports the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act (ACE), particularly as it relates to re-authorization of the National Fish Habitat Partnerships. The society also supports dedicated funding for state fish and wildlife agencies, as provided for in the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, S. 1149, to prevent Endangered Species Act (ESA) listings and to recover listed species. AFS has concerns with several proposed changes to the ESA as provided in the draft discussion bill that we explain more fully below. America’s Conservation Enhancement Act AFS supports the ACE Act, particularly as it relates to re-authorization of the National Fish Habitat Partnerships. NFHP is a voluntary, non-regulatory, and locally driven program that has funded more than 1,300 on-the-ground aquatic habitat improvement projects since 2016. AFS urges swift, unanimous passage of the ACE Act and supports funding levels for the NFHP, as authorized in the Senate-passed S. 3791. AFS Support Recovering America’s Wildlife Act AFS supports dedicated funding for imperiled species conservation as called for in the bi-partisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA), S.1149, as introduced by Sen. Martin Heinrich and Sen. Tom Tillis. Populations of many species are in decline and at least 40 percent of the nation’s freshwater fish species are now rare or imperiled. Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would be the only federal conservation program that provides sustained funding to tribal nations and state fish and wildlife agencies for the proactive conservation of at-risk species and populations. With increasing habitat loss and evolving threats as a result of a changing climate, state and federal agencies will need adequate funds to address the biodiversity crisis. Currently, funding only covers a fraction of the need. As a result, states must focus on very few species, with many more at-risk and heading towards endangerment. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would provide funding to implement three-quarters of every State Wildlife Action Plan, state-led, congressionally mandated, science based blueprints for imperiled species conservation. Through actions such as reintroduction of imperiled species, conserving and restoring important habitat, and fighting invasive species and disease, states would have the ability to significantly reduce the number of species in decline and prevent these species from needing protections afforded under the ESA. Without significant funding to address these declines, many more species will qualify for protection under federal and state endangered species laws, vulnerable species are more likely to progress to more dire conditions where regulatory actions are required, time is short, and litigation and community resistance impede recovery. AFS Supports a Science-Based, Collaborative ESA The ESA is a powerful science-based tool for recovering America’s fish and wildlife. The law has been the catalyst for successful delisting or down listing of many endangered fish, which took decades of planning and commitment by interdisciplinary teams of individuals. Under the current structure of the ESA and its regulations, including high levels of private, state, and federal collaboration, several species of fish have recovered sufficiently to be delisted (Okaloosa Darter, Snail Darter, Borax Lake Chub, Foskett Speckled Dace, Modoc Sucker, Oregon Chub). Four of these six species have ranges in Oregon, a state that has invested revenue in watershed conservation and restoration through matching grants. Thus, delisting takes investment of collaborative teams, resources, and most importantly, time for imperiled populations to recover once threats are reduced and habitat is restored as illustrated in the following examples. The Borax Lake Chub is endemic to Borax Lake in southeastern Oregon and was listed in 1982 and delisted in 2020. Geothermal energy development, water withdrawals, livestock grazing, and recreational vehicles threatened its habitat. After listing, habitat was protected by land leases and purchases by The Nature Conservancy from willing private landholders, cessation of irrigation diversions and livestock grazing, fencing, and passage of the Steens Mountain Cooperative Management & Protection Act, which limited private lands development in the basin (Bangs et al. 2020). Historically widespread in off-channel habitats along the main stem Willamette River, the Oregon Chub was listed in 1993 and delisted in 2015. Population declines were caused by habitat losses from channelization, dams, wetland drainage, and non-native fishes. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife guided recovery along with the Oregon Chub Conservation Agreement and Oregon Chub Recovery Plan while safe-harbor agreements with private landowners and land purchases by tribal governments enabled success. Today, chub occur in 59 previously undocumented populations and 19 introduced populations; half the latter are on private property (Hughes et al. 2019). The Foskett Speckled Dace was listed in 1985 and delisted in 2019. Livestock grazing and groundwater pumping threatened this fish found in a single eastern Oregon spring/wetland system. The Bureau of Land Management obtained the spring and its riparian zone via a land exchange with private landholders and livestock were excluded from most of the habitat thanks to private, state, academic, and federal participants and a Cooperative Management Plan (USFWS 2019). The Modoc Sucker is endemic to the upper Pit River basin of northeastern California and southeastern Oregon. It resides in small streams that traverse nearly equal amounts of public and private lands. It was listed in 1985 because of habitat losses
More than 160 Organizations Call for Passage of Recovering Americas Wildlife Act
April 17, 2023 The Honorable Chuck Schumer Majority Leader United States Senate The Honorable Mitch McConnell Minority Leader United States Senate Dear Majority Leader Schumer and Minority Leader McConnell, Our coalition of diverse organizations, businesses, professional societies, state fish and wildlife agencies, and tribal nations collectively represent millions of Americans. We are writing to express our thanks for your leadership on this bill and respectfully request that you support and advance the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (S.1149) toward passage in the Senate. This bill was reintroduced by Senators Heinrich (D-NM) and Tillis (R-NC) on March 30th and is currently gathering bipartisan cosponsors. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would immediately address the biodiversity crisis by helping to recover and conserve species at risk by investing $1.3 billion annually for states and territories and $97.5 million for tribal nations for on-the-ground conservation projects. The legislation funds the implementation of congressionally mandated State Wildlife Action Plans, which outline specific, science -based conservation actions necessary to recover and sustain healthy fish and wildlife populations. Similarly, tribal nations will be able to expand successful conservation efforts on their lands, which provide vital habitat for hundreds of fish and wildlife species, including more than 500 species that are listed as threatened or endangered. It also will support much needed investments in continued economic growth and job creation in Tribal communities. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would be the only federal conservation program that provides sustained funding to tribal nations and state fish and wildlife agencies for the proactive conservation of at-risk species. One-third of the fish and wildlife species in the United States are at risk of becoming threatened or endangered. The challenges facing our nation’s fish and wildlife are daunting, but this legislation provides a solution. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will provide state and territorial fish and wildlife agencies and tribal fish and wildlife managers with dependable, dedicated resources to address more than 12,000 species in need of proactive, voluntary conservation before a listing as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act is warranted. This legislation represents a smart, future focused investment that will also strengthen the economy and create a significant number of jobs that help grow the $862 billion outdoor economy and bring support to key sectors such as agriculture and forestry – all while supporting the conservation of America’s fish, wildlife, and the habitats they depend on. Public polling demonstrates that more than 70 percent of Americans support this bill and less than 5 percent oppose. Taking measures to conserve species before they are on the brink of extinction and ensuring healthy populations is fiscally responsible and will help save taxpayer dollars and prevent these species from needing costly “emergency room” measures under the Endangered Species Act – truly an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Rather than defaulting to regulation and litigation, this bill saves America’s imperiled wildlife through collaborative and constructive voluntary partnerships. This collaborative approach to conservation is good for wildlife, good for taxpayers, good for landowners, good for business and good for America. Further, this bill builds on the successful restoration track records of state fish and wildlife agencies which for more than eight decades have successfully managed game species. Congress passed the Pittman-Robertson Act in 1937 and the Dingell-Johnson Act in 1950 to restore iconic game species such as deer, elk, striped bass, and wild turkey. Passage of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would complete the safety net so state fish and wildlife agencies and tribes have resources to conserve all fish and wildlife species. This Congress can join the legacy of the 75th and 81st Congress’s to ensure our nation’s rich fish and wildlife legacy is sustained for future generations. Over 100 million Americans participate in some form of wildlife recreation. Increasingly, Americans from all walks of life have turned to the outdoors and nature to improve physical and mental well-being. Creating thousands of jobs immediately, restoring natural resources infrastructure, increasing access to the outdoors, and reducing long-term costs through enactment of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will unify Americans and elected officials that represent diverse constituencies. Thank you for your consideration of our request to support a Senate floor vote and passage of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. We thank you for your support of America’s fish and wildlife and look forward to working with you to enact this groundbreaking legislation. Sincerely, Accent Signs LLC American Bird Conservancy American Clean Power Association American Fisheries Society American Fisheries Society, Colorado/Wyoming Chapter American Society of Landscape Architects American Sportfishing Association Archery Trade Association Arkansas Chapter of The Wildlife Society Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies Atlantic Salmon Federation Audubon California Audubon Delta (AR, LA, MS) Audubon Great Lakes Audubon Great Plains Audubon Mid-Atlantic Audubon Minnesota/Iowa/Missouri Audubon New York Audubon Rockies Audubon South Carolina Audubon Texas Audubon Vermont Audubon Washington Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Barry Conservation District Bass Pro Shops Bat Conservation International Bayou Land Conservancy Belltown Sportsmen’ Club, Inc. Bexar Audubon Society Bristol Fish & Game Association Bucks County Audubon Society Buffalo Nations Grasslands Alliance Cabela’s Caddo Lake Institute California Invasive Plant Council Central Mountains and Plains Section of The Wildlife Society Cibolo Center for Conservation Clark Fork Coalition Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation Connecticut Audubon Society Connecticut Conservation Officers Association Connecticut Falconers Association Connecticut Hunter Education Association Connecticut River Conservancy Connecticut Trappers Association Inc Conococheague Audubon Society Conservation InSight Dallas Zoo Delmarva Birding Weekends DLF Consulting, Inc. Ducks Unlimited East Glastonbury Fish and Game Assoc. Inc Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (EPCAMR) Ecological Society of America Entomological Society of America Environment America Fin and Fur Films Firstlight Printing & Graphics, LLC Fisheries Advisory Council – State of CT Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society Friends of CE/FS Friends Of Connecticut Sportsmen Friends of Scarborough Marsh Friends of the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge Georgia Audubon Georgia Chapter AFS Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance Gulf Coast Bird Observatory Heart of the Rockies Initiative Hill Country Alliance Hill Country Conservancy Houston Wilderness HuntStand Innovative
Businesses, Scientists, Conservation Groups, and Agencies Call for Passage of Recovering Americas Wildlife Act
December 5, 2022 The Honorable Chuck Schumer Majority Leader United States Senate The Honorable Mitch McConnell Minority Leader United States Senate The Honorable Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the House United States House of Representatives The Honorable Kevin McCarthy Minority Leader United States House of Representatives Dear Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leader McConnell, Speaker Pelosi, and Minority Leader McCarthy, Our coalition of diverse organizations, businesses, professional societies, state fish and wildlife agencies, and tribal nations collectively represent millions of Americans. We are writing to respectfully request your support for passage of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (H.R.2773/S.2372) this year, including as part of a funding package. This bill was introduced by Sens. Heinrich (D-NM) and Blunt (R-MO) and Congresswoman Dingell (D-MI) respectively in the 117th Congress. Recent public polling demonstrates that more than 70 percent of Americans support this bill and less than 5 percent oppose. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would immediately address the biodiversity crisis by helping to recover and conserve species at risk by investing $1.3 billion annually for states and territories and $97.5 million for tribal nations for on-the-ground conservation projects. The legislation funds the implementation of congressionally mandated State Wildlife Action Plans, which outline specific, science -based conservation actions necessary to recover and sustain healthy fish and wildlife populations. Similarly, tribal nations will be able to expand successful conservation efforts on their lands, which provide vital habitat for hundreds of fish and wildlife species, including more than 500 species that are listed as threatened or endangered. It also will support much needed investments in continued economic growth and job creation in tribal communities. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would be the only federal conservation program that provides sustained funding to tribal nations and state fish and wildlife agencies for the proactive conservation of at-risk species. One-third of the fish and wildlife species in the United States are at risk of becoming threatened or endangered. The challenges facing our nation’s fish and wildlife are daunting, but this legislation provides a solution. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will provide state and territorial fish and wildlife agencies and tribal fish and wildlife managers with dependable, dedicated resources to address more than 12,000 species in need of proactive, voluntary conservation before a listing as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act is warranted. This legislation represents a smart, future focused investment that will also strengthen the economy and create a significant number of jobs that help grow the $862 billion outdoor economy and bring support to key sectors such as agriculture and forestry – all while supporting the conservation of America’s fish, wildlife, and the habitats they depend on. This common-sense, fiscally responsible solution passed the House of Representatives with a bipartisan vote in June and has 42 bipartisan Senate cosponsors and was passed out of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works with a bipartisan vote in April. Now is the time to pass this widely supported transformational legislation. Taking measures to conserve species before they are on the brink of extinction and ensuring healthy populations will help save taxpayer dollars and prevent these species from needing costly “emergency room” measures under the Endangered Species Act – truly an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Rather than defaulting to regulation and litigation, this bill saves America’s imperiled wildlife through collaborative and constructive voluntary partnerships. This collaborative approach to conservation is good for wildlife, good for taxpayers, good for landowners, good for business and good for America. Further, this bill builds on the successful restoration track records of state fish and wildlife agencies which for more than eight decades have successfully managed game species. Congress passed the Pittman-Robertson Act in 1937 and the Dingell-Johnson Act in 1950 to restore iconic game species such as deer, elk, striped bass, and wild turkey. Passage of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would complete the safety net so state fish and wildlife agencies and tribes have resources to conserve all fish and wildlife species. This Congress can join the legacy of the 75th and 81st Congress’s to ensure our nation’s rich fish and wildlife legacy is sustained for future generations. Over 100 million Americans participate in some form of wildlife recreation. Increasingly, Americans from all walks of life have turned to the outdoors and nature to improve physical and mental well-being. Creating thousands of jobs immediately, restoring natural resources infrastructure, increasing access to the outdoors, and reducing long-term costs through enactment of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will unify Americans and elected officials that represent diverse constituencies. Thank you for your consideration of our request to support passage of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act this year. We thank you for your support of America’s fish and wildlife and look forward to working with you to enact this groundbreaking legislation. Sincerely, ABQ BioPark Acorn Studio, Inc. Alabama Ornithological Society Allamakee County Protectors ~ Education Campaign American Eagle Foundation American Fisheries Society American Fisheries Society – Fisheries Administration Section American Fisheries Society Sacramento-Davis Student Subunit American Fisheries Society, Ball State University Student Subunit American Fly-Fishing Trade Association American Forests American Hunting Dog Club, Inc. American Sportfishing Association American Woodcock Society Appalachian Mountain Club Aquarium of Niagara Aquashicola/ Pohopoco Watershed Conservancy Aqua-Terra Environmental Ltd. Archery Trade Association Arizona Chapter of The Wildlife Society Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum Arkansas Chapter American Fisheries Society Arkansas Chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Arkansas Chapter of The Wildlife Society Aspetuck Land Trust Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Audubon Mid-Atlantic Audubon Society Mahoning Valley Audubon Society of Portland Audubon Texas Audubon Vermont Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust Austin Science Advocates Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Backcountry Hunters & Anglers – California Chapter Barry Conservation District Bartlett Tree Experts Bass Pro Shops Bassdozer Worldwide Bass Fishing LLC Bat Conservation International Baton Rouge Zoo Foundation Bayou Land Conservancy Bear-Paw Regional Greenways Belltown Sportsmen’s Club, Inc. Bergen County Zoo BGSU American Fisheries Society Student Subunit Big Thicket Natural Heritage Trust
Conservation and Sporting Organizations Call for Passage of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act
November 30, 2022 The Honorable Chuck Schumer Majority Leader United States Senate The Honorable Mitch McConnell Minority Leader United States Senate The Honorable Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the House United States House of Representatives The Honorable Kevin McCarthy Minority Leader United States House of Representatives Dear Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leader McConnell, Speaker Pelosi, and Minority Leader McCarthy, On behalf of the millions of hunters, anglers, recreational target shooters, boaters, professional scientists, and outdoor enthusiasts our organizations represent, we write to strongly urge immediate passage of the bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (H.R. 2773/S. 2372), including as part of a potential comprehensive government funding bill. For nearly a century, America’s sportsmen and women have been our nation’s leading conservationists and have maintained unmatched forethought to the health of our nation’s fish, wildlife, and other natural resources. Through the enactment of the Pittman-Robertson Act of 1937 and Dingell-Johnson Act of 1950, the two most important fish and wildlife conservation programs in the country, sportsmen and women have continuously led the way for conservation. These programs, which are funded on the backs of the very industries and individuals we represent, generated approximately $1.5 billion for state-based funding in FY22. It is through Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson that iconic species like elk, wild turkey, white-tailed deer, striped bass, and waterfowl that were once on the brink, are now thriving. Unfortunately, today, we face a new wildlife crisis; one in which the magnitude of the solution must match the magnitude of the challenge. Conservation efforts are at a critical point, with more than one-third of American species at-risk and in need of proactive recovery. State Wildlife Action Plans, developed with the best available science in collaboration with federal, local and tribal agencies, have collectively identified more than 12,000 “Species of Greatest Conservation Need”. These plans include species cherished by many of us such as Northern bobwhite quail, monarch butterflies, artic graying, brook trout, big horn sheep, songbirds, many waterfowl species, and nearly 12,000 other fish and wildlife identified as Species of Greatest Conservation Need. That is why we write today urging passage of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. H.R. 2773/S. 2372 would provide the necessary funding to implement the congressionally mandated, but severely underfunded, State Wildlife Action Plans, as well as critical Tribal and Territorial wildlife conservation programs, conserving wildlife populations before they become threatened or endangered, while helping to recover those that already are. By ensuring passage of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, this Congress will ensure that our fish, wildlife and outdoor recreation traditions and their associated national economic benefits will endure for the benefit of future generations. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act represents an historic opportunity to simultaneously benefit wildlife, conservation, sportsmen and women, the economy and taxpayers. Earlier this year, Recovering America’s Wildlife Act received a successful, bipartisan vote to pass the House in June, where it has the support of 194 bipartisan cosponsors. In the Senate, S. 2372 has the support of 42 bipartisan cosponsors, and passed the Environment and Public Works Committee on a strong bipartisan vote of 15-5. The House floor vote and the Senate Committee vote demonstrate the wide-spread support for H.R. 2773/S. 2372. Given the robust showing of support in both chambers and the urgency of the biodiversity crisis, now is the time to pass Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. The collaborative, non-regulatory approach of this bill will empower conservation for the full diversity of American’s wildlife as well as critical natural resources. Failure to fund these conservation efforts will not only endanger many more at-risk species, but threaten the local, state, and federal economies bolstered by the $862 billion outdoor industry, which employs 4.5 million Americans. We urge you to pass this high priority legislation for fish, wildlife, and sportsmen and sportswomen before the 117th Congress adjourns. We thank you for your support for conservation. Sincerely, American Catfishing Association American Fisheries Society American Sportfishing Association American Woodcock Society Archery Trade Association Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.) Bear Trust International Bonefish & Tarpon Trust Boone and Crockett Club California Waterfowl Association Camp Fire Club of America Catch-A-Dream Foundation Coastal Conservation Association Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports Dallas Safari Club Delta Waterfowl Ducks Unlimited Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation Houston Safari Club International Game Fish Association Izaak Walton League of America Major League Fishing Marine Retailers Association of the Americas Masters of Foxhounds Association Mule Deer Foundation National Association of Forest Service Retirees National Bobwhite & Grassland Initiative National Deer Association National Professional Anglers Association National Shooting Sports Foundation National Wild Turkey Federation National Wildlife Federation North American Falconers Association North American Grouse Partnership Orion: The Hunter’s Institute Pheasants Forever Pope & Young Club Quail Forever Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Ruffed Grouse Society Safari Club International Sportsmen’s Alliance Texas Wildlife Association The Bass Federation The Conservation Fund The Walleye Federation The Wildlife Society Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership Trout Unlimited Whitetails Unlimited Wild Sheep Foundation Wildlife Forever Wildlife Management Institute Wildlife Mississippi
Recovering America’s Wildlife Act Video Contest
The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act is nearing the finish line. AFS is joining our partners in a social media blitz to mobilize personal networks around Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. We are asking people to make videos to share with their friends, followers, connections (particularly on social media, but any digital medium can be used), describing why this bill gives them hope for the future of the wildlife they love, and to encourage their networks to urge their U.S. Senators to vote yes. Share a link to your video here! AFS will share the best on our social media channels and contributors will be entered into a drawing for an AFS gift membership. Here are the details: Post a video encouraging your followers/friends to contact their senators and urge them to VOTE YES on Recovering America’s Wildlife Act! We have provided sample scripts below, along with an example video! Feel free to use your own messaging to connect with your specific audience but please keep the video under 1 minute in length. Post your video on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, send it to your network via email, or use any other channel for getting the word out! In your caption, please encourage followers to share and/or make their own videos/posts in support of Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, and use hashtag #RecoverWildlife. Example video from the bird community: https://youtube.com/shorts/FtJtr-TTrRE?feature=share Sample Video Scripts (Shorter – 10 to 15 seconds): “I feel hopeful for the future of ____________ [insert favorite species/wildlife group] because of Recovering America’s Wildlife Act! Help us get it across the finish line. Contact your senators to urge them to VOTE YES on this bill!” Link: bit.ly/3CtWt74 “People and wildlife need clean air, clean water, and healthy environments. Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will provide $1.4 billion a year to keep plants, wildlife, and the habitats they depend on healthy in a changing world. Contact your senators at the link in the caption [or in my bio]” Link: bit.ly/3CtWt74 Sample Video Scripts (Longer – 30 to 40 seconds): “I have hope for the future of wildlife like __________ [insert species or ecosystem(s) of your choice] because Recovering America’s Wildlife Act is nearing the finish line! It would provide $1.4 billion a year to states and Tribes to prevent wildlife from becoming endangered in every corner of the country. It has support from Democrats and Republicans, and it just passed the House of Representatives because people who care about ____________ [insert species, animal group, ecosystem, etc.] like me and you stood up and took action. Now, it has to pass the Senate, so we are still needed! Please click the link in the caption [or in my bio] to urge your senators to VOTE YES on Recovering America’s Wildlife Act!” Link: bit.ly/3CtWt74 “Do you want to help ____________ [insert species, animal group, ecosystem, etc.] thrive in our changing world? Well, there is a real reason to have hope for the wildlife and plants that call our neighborhoods home across the US! Legislation called Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will provide the biggest investment in wildlife conservation in a generation, and it’s supported by Democrats and Republicans! It passed the House of Representatives because people who love wildlife, like you and me, stood up and took action. Now it has to pass the Senate, so we are still needed! Please click the link in the caption [or in my bio] to urge your senator to VOTE YES on Recovering America’s Wildlife Act!” Link: bit.ly/3CtWt74
Recovering America’s Wildlife Act Passes House
Contact: Drue Banta Winters, 504-220-7868, [email protected] Caroline Murphy, 301-968-1903, [email protected] America’s Natural Resource Professionals Commend Passage of Recovering America’s Wildlife Act June 14, 2022 – Today, fisheries and wildlife professionals from across the United States are celebrating the bipartisan House passage of groundbreaking legislation to conserve the nation’s fish and wildlife. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (H.R. 2773), introduced by Representative Debbie Dingell and supported by 231 Representatives, will secure nearly $1.4 billion in funding annually for states and tribes to conserve the nation’s at-risk species. For species that have already reached the point of endangerment, the proposal also provides much-needed funds to guide species successfully through the Endangered Species Act recovery and delisting process. “This legislation will enable proactive conservation of all fish and wildlife species with a focus on precluding population declines,” said Gordon R. Batcheller, President of The Wildlife Society. “Thanks to bipartisan leadership in the House of Representatives, we are one step closer to ensuring that state and tribal natural resource professionals are empowered with the tools needed to conserve the full richness of fish and wildlife diversity.” The House’s action follows recent movement in the Senate, where the legislation was passed out of committee earlier this year. The Senate companion bill (S. 2372) enjoys broad bipartisan support from over 35 Senators and is awaiting floor action. “After almost two decades of working on this legislation with our partners in the science, conservation, and outdoors communities, we are ecstatic to see this historic bill pass in the House of Representatives,” said Leanne Roulson, President of the American Fisheries Society. “I’ve seen firsthand how effective conservation efforts for imperiled species can be, as long as states and tribes have the resources they need to be proactive. This bill promises to be a turning point for fish and wildlife, especially for the 40% of freshwater species already at risk.” State fish and wildlife agencies have identified 12,000 species at-risk of becoming threatened or endangered through detailed, proactive conservation blueprints known as State Wildlife Action Plans. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will enable states to fully implement these plans, and provide tribes with the funds needed to undertake similar planning efforts. To learn more about TWS’ and AFS’ efforts on the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, check out the Reversing America’s Wildlife Crisis report, a collaboration between TWS, AFS, and the National Wildlife Federation. # # # Founded in 1870, the American Fisheries Society (AFS) is the world’s oldest and largest fisheries science society. The AFS mission is to improve the conservation and sustainability of fishery resources and aquatic ecosystems by advancing fisheries and aquatic science and promoting the development of fisheries professionals. With its renowned journals, books and conferences, AFS is the leading source of fisheries science and management information in North America and around the world. fisheries.org Founded in 1937, TWS and its network of affiliated chapters and sections represent more than 15,000 professional wildlife biologists, managers, and educators dedicated to excellence in wildlife stewardship through science and education. TWS’ mission is to inspire, empower, and enable wildlife professionals to sustain wildlife populations and habitat through science-based management and conservation. wildlife.org
Policy Column: Crossing the Finish Line: Help Pass the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act this Congress
Drue Banta Winters | AFS Policy Director. Email: [email protected] Imagine a world where fisheries professionals have enough resources to keep fish from sliding to extinction. Sounds like a fairytale, right? Given the challenges facing fish and the hurdles of navigating big ticket legislation through Congress, I would normally agree. Yet, we’ve never been closer to making the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act a reality. Both chambers in Congress have now moved the bill through committee and we’re poised for a historic win, but it will take all of us to make this dream come true! Over the past 5 years, AFS has been working towards passage of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, a bill that would provide fish and wildlife biologists and managers with funding to implement state and tribal-led, science-based conservation of imperiled fish and wildlife. The legislation would direct US$1.4 billion annually to state and tribal fish and wildlife agencies to reverse species declines as provided for in each state’s Wildlife Action Plans. The idea behind the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act has been around for nearly 25 years, but the steep price tag and the tricky problem of how to pay for it has always bogged down the bill in Congress. Yet, the broad bipartisan coalition that has been advocating for this bill the past 5 years has finally managed to break through the gridlock. We have a real chance of passing the bill THIS Congress. The U.S. House of Representatives voted the bill out of the Natural Resources committee in January with a strong bipartisan vote. Yet, the key to progress was the successful Senate markup in early April that cleared the bill out of the Environment and Public Works committee following a significant compromise that provided for an additional $750 million investment in endangered species recovery. Now, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act is positioned for a floor vote in both chambers. In this history of this bill, we have never come this far and it’s going to take all of us to get the bill to the finish line. Five years ago, AFS wasn’t positioned to engage in supporting federal legislation in a meaningful way. We’ve changed that through the support and commitment of our leadership, our Chapters, and our members , and today, AFS is an important part of the coalition supporting the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. Through letters of support from the many of our Chapters, Capitol Hill educational briefings, meetings with House and Senate offices, calls and emails from our members to their U.S. Senators and Representatives, and building visibility and action through social media, we have helped to grow cosponsors and support for this very important legislation. Over the next few months, AFS will be actively working to get this bill to the finish line. We will be calling on our members to engage in various ways. If you’ve been sitting on the sidelines, NOW is the time to get in the game and help the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act get the votes we need to get it to President Biden’s desk. Members can email me at [email protected] to learn how to get involved. This is an important moment for fish and for fisheries professionals. We can’t do this without you. Join us in making the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act a dream come true.
AFS and TWS Urge Senate Environment Committee to Approve the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act
AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY ● THE WILDLIFE SOCIETY 06 April 2022 Senator Tom Carper, Chair Senate Environment and Public Works Committee 410 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Senator Shelley Moore Capito, Ranking Member Senate Environment and Public Works Committee 456 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Chairman Carper and Ranking Member Capito, The Wildlife Society and the American Fisheries Society thank you and your colleagues for your consideration of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (S. 2372) – groundbreaking legislation that would empower our nation’s fish and wildlife professionals to proactively and cost-effectively conserve at-risk species. Our organizations would like to express sincere support for the amendment in the nature of a substitute submitted by Chairman Carper. We appreciate the collective efforts of you and your staff to reach bipartisan language that will allow state, tribal, and federal fish and wildlife professionals to hold our nation’s fish and wildlife in the public trust for generations to come. The Wildlife Society and the American Fisheries Society are dedicated to development of natural resource professionals, advancing science, and conserving fish and wildlife. With your support of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, our nation’s natural resources professionals will be able to work in partnership with stakeholders to meet the needs of at-risk species before costly emergency action is required. For species that have already reached the point of Endangered Species Act listing, newly targeted funds will provide much-needed resources to help species recover. We strongly encourage the committee to favorably consider this legislation in order to provide fish and wildlife professionals with a stable and predictable funding source to combat the growing biodiversity crisis and maintain native species for the enjoyment of all Americans. If you have any questions in the lead up to Thursday’s markup, please do not hesitate to reach out to Drue Winters, Policy Director at AFS ([email protected]) or Caroline Murphy, Government Relations Manager at TWS ([email protected]). Sincerely, Douglas J. Austen, Ph.D. Executive Director American Fisheries Society Gordon R. Batcheller, CWB® President The Wildlife Society Founded in 1937, TWS and its network of affiliated chapters and sections represents more than 15,000 professional wildlife biologists, managers, and educators dedicated to excellence in wildlife stewardship. TWS’ mission is to inspire, empower, and enable wildlife professionals to sustain wildlife populations and habitat through science-based management and conservation. wildlife.org Founded in 1870, the American Fisheries Society (AFS) is the world’s oldest and largest fisheries science society. The AFS mission is to improve the conservation and sustainability of fishery resources and aquatic ecosystems by advancing fisheries and aquatic science and promoting the development of fisheries professionals. With its renowned journals, books and conferences, AFS is the leading source of fisheries science and management information in North America and around the world. fisheries.org
AFS and TWS Urge Senate Committee to Consider Recovering America’s Wildlife Act
AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY ● THE WILDLIFE SOCIETY 07 December 2021 Senator Tom Carper, Chair Environment and Public Works Committee U.S. Senate 410 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Senator Shelley Moore Capito Environment and Public Works Committee U.S. Senate 456 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Chairman Carper and Ranking Member Capito, The Wildlife Society and the American Fisheries Society thank you for holding a hearing on the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (S. 2372) – groundbreaking legislation that would empower our nation’s fish and wildlife professionals to proactively and cost-effectively conserve at-risk species. Our organizations are dedicated to development of natural resource professionals, advancing science, and conserving fish and wildlife. We work to promote science-based policies that empower fish and wildlife professionals to hold our nation’s fish and wildlife in the public trust for generations to come. With more than 200,000 species of plants and animals across America, our nation’s fish and wildlife professionals are working on the front lines of species diversity and conservation. The “Reversing America’s Wildlife Crisis” report (attached), released by the American Fisheries Society, The Wildlife Society, and the National Wildlife Federation, documents how the diversity of native species face alarming declines from threats such as habitat loss, invasive species, disease, and the accumulating problems caused by a changing climate. As detailed in the report, up to one-third of U.S. species need immediate conservation action, including 40 percent of freshwater fish species and 42 percent of amphibian species. As relayed by the more than 1,700 natural resources scientists in a 2019 letter to Congress (attached), reversing these staggering declines requires a proactive and cooperative approach that will empower state and tribal natural resource managers to work directly with stakeholders, creating buy-in at all levels of governance. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would help achieve this goal by providing nearly $1.4 billion in dedicated funding annually for the more than 12,000 species determined by state fish and wildlife agencies to be at-risk. Specifically, the legislation would provide funding for implementation of states’ wildlife action plans. These congressionally mandated action plans provide a roadmap for full implementation of at-risk species recovery efforts by state agencies alongside federal and non-government partners. The bill would also provide $97.5 million in dedicated funding annually for tribal fish and wildlife agencies to work on at-risk species recovery. Unfortunately, years of inadequate federal funding has not allowed for the goals of state wildlife action plans or tribal species recovery efforts to be realized. Tribes have continuously been left out of federal funding opportunities for conservation. At present, no federal fund exists that tribal agencies can utilize annually for long-term conservation planning. By rewriting this narrative and investing in state and tribal species conservation, our public trust wildlife will have a chance at recovery, saving the federal government significant funds by avoiding future species listing under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). For species that have already reached the point of ESA listing, natural resource professionals will have the ability to prioritize listed species conservation efforts thanks to 15 percent of funds targeted at multistakeholder conservation efforts for listed species. We strongly encourage the committee to favorably consider this legislation in order to provide fish and wildlife professionals with a stable and predictable funding source to combat the growing biodiversity crisis and maintain native species for the enjoyment of all Americans. Sincerely, Douglas J. Austen, Ph.D., FP-C Executive Director American Fisheries Society Gordon R. Batcheller, CWB® President The Wildlife Society Founded in 1937, TWS and its network of affiliated chapters and sections represents more than 15,000 professional wildlife biologists, managers, and educators dedicated to excellence in wildlife stewardship. TWS’ mission is to inspire, empower, and enable wildlife professionals to sustain wildlife populations and habitat through science-based management and conservation. wildlife.org Founded in 1870, the American Fisheries Society (AFS) is the world’s oldest and largest fisheries science society. The AFS mission is to improve the conservation and sustainability of fishery resources and aquatic ecosystems by advancing fisheries and aquatic science and promoting the development of fisheries professionals. With its renowned journals, books and conferences, AFS is the leading source of fisheries science and management information in North America and around the world. fisheries.org
Fish and Wildlife Scientists Commend Introduction of Recovering America’s Wildlife Act
For Immediate Release July 20, 2021 Contact: Drue Banta Winters, 504-220-7868, [email protected] Caroline Murphy, 301-897-9770 x 308, [email protected] Fish and Wildlife Scientists Commend Introduction of Recovering America’s Wildlife Act BETHESDA, MD – Today, fisheries and wildlife professionals from across the United States welcomed the introduction of groundbreaking legislation that will empower natural resource managers to conserve at-risk species for generations to come. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (S. 2372), introduced by Senators Martin Heinrich (D-NM) and Roy Blunt (R-MO), will secure $1.3 billion in dedicated funding annually for state fish and wildlife agencies and $97.5 million annually for tribal nations to proactively and cost-effectively conserve the nation’s most at-risk species. “There has never been a more pressing time than now to rise to the challenge of conserving the country’s most at-risk species” said Dr. Carol Chambers, President of The Wildlife Society. “Through Senator Heinrich’s and Senator Blunt’s leadership, fish and wildlife professionals will have more robust tools to advance science-based natural resource conservation and ensure fish and wildlife populations are sustained for future generations.” Through this recent action, Senators Heinrich and Blunt are leading efforts to provide a new funding approach that would address steep declines in the nation’s remarkable biodiversity. The Senate introduction builds on the leadership from Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), and over 80 of their House colleagues who have endorsed the House companion bill (H.R. 2773). “Increases in water temperatures, lack of water in streams and rivers, poor water quality, and loss of habitat have led to 40 percent of freshwater species now being at risk and unfortunately, a changing climate means the situation will only get worse. With a dedicated stream of funding, we can implement science-based conservation plans that will build resilience in the face of climate change.” said Doug Austen, Executive Director, American Fisheries Society. State fish and wildlife agencies have identified 12,000 species at-risk of becoming threatened or endangered through detailed, proactive conservation blueprints known as State Wildlife Action Plans. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will enable implementation of these plans, empowering fish and wildlife professionals to effectively work with partners towards conservation successes and prevent species from becoming endangered and listed under federal law. # # # Founded in 1870, the American Fisheries Society (AFS) is the world’s oldest and largest fisheries science society. The AFS mission is to improve the conservation and sustainability of fishery resources and aquatic ecosystems by advancing fisheries and aquatic science and promoting the development of fisheries professionals. With its renowned journals, books and conferences, AFS is the leading source of fisheries science and management information in North America and around the world. fisheries.org Founded in 1937, TWS and its network of affiliated chapters and sections represent more than 15,000 professional wildlife biologists, managers, and educators dedicated to excellence in wildlife stewardship through science and education. TWS’ mission is to inspire, empower, and enable wildlife professionals to sustain wildlife populations and habitat through science-based management and conservation. wildlife.org To learn more about TWS’ and AFS’ efforts on the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, check out the Reversing America’s Wildlife Crisis report, a collaboration between TWS, AFS, and the National Wildlife Federation. This report calls attention to North American and migratory wildlife species facing population declines due to a variety of threats. It echoes the intent of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act in calling for more proactive management to prevent these declines and an improved funding mechanism to support such efforts.
Recovering America’s Wildlife Act Re-introduced in Congress on Earth Day
For Immediate Release April 22, 2021Contact: Drue Banta Winters, 504-220-7868, [email protected] Caroline Murphy, 301-897-9770 x 308, [email protected] Natural Resource Professionals Commend Re-introduction of Recovering America’s Wildlife Act Today, fisheries and wildlife professionals from across the United States welcomed the reintroduction of groundbreaking legislation to empower natural resource professionals to conserve at-risk species for generations to come. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, introduced by Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb) and eight of their bipartisan colleagues, would secure $1.3 billion in dedicated funding annually for state fish and wildlife agencies and $97.5 million annually for tribal nations to proactively and cost-effectively work on the conservation and monitoring of at-risk species. This bipartisan group of representatives are working to provide a new funding approach that would reverse the steep declines in our nation’s remarkable biodiversity. Today, nearly one-third of U.S. fish and wildlife species are imperiled and threats such as climate change, habitat degradation, and invasive species threaten to exacerbate the problems without proactive funding to address them. State Wildlife Action Plans have identified 12,000 species at-risk of becoming threatened or endangered, known as species of greatest conservation need, and have detailed, proactive plans to reduce population declines in an effort to prevent the need to list them under the Endangered Species Act. Funding would provide the much needed resources to implement these plans and funding for tribal nations to identify, plan, and conserve at-risk species. “The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act is a once in a generation opportunity to secure the funding needed to keep common species common and proactively invest in America’s native wildlife” said President of The Wildlife Society Carol Chambers. “We are excited to help move this legislation forward in support of America’s wildlife professionals and the species they conserve.” “Increases in water temperatures, lack of water in streams and rivers, poor water quality, and loss of habitat have led to 40 percent freshwater species now being at risk and unfortunately, a changing climate means the situation will only get worse. With a dedicated stream of funding, we can implement science-based conservation plans that will build resilience in the face of climate change.” said Doug Austen, Executive Director, American Fisheries Society. # # # Founded in 1937, TWS and its network of affiliated chapters and sections represent more than 15,000 professional wildlife biologists, managers, and educators dedicated to excellence in wildlife stewardship. TWS’ mission is to inspire, empower, and enable wildlife professionals to sustain wildlife populations and habitat through science-based management and conservation. www.wildlife.org Founded in 1870, the American Fisheries Society (AFS) is the world’s oldest and largest fisheries science society. The AFS mission is to improve the conservation and sustainability of fishery resources and aquatic ecosystems by advancing fisheries and aquatic science and promoting the development of fisheries professionals. With its renowned journals, books and conferences, AFS is the leading source of fisheries science and management information in North America and around the world. www.fisheries.org To learn more about TWS’ and AFS’ efforts on the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, check out the Reversing America’s Wildlife Crisis report, a collaboration between TWS, AFS, and National Wildlife Federation. This report calls attention to North American and migratory wildlife species facing population declines due to a variety of threats. It echoes the intent of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act in calling for more proactive management to prevent these declines and an improved funding mechanism to support such efforts.
Recovering America’s Wildlife Act Would Also Help Economic Recovery
June 11, 2020 The Honorable Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the House U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Capitol, H-232 Washington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable Mitch McConnell Majority Leader U.S. Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable Kevin McCarthy Minority Leader U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Capitol, H-204 Washington, D.C. 20515 The Honorable Charles Schumer Minority Leader U.S. Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Speaker Pelosi, Leader McCarthy, Leader McConnell, and Leader Schumer, As this Congress continues to address the enormous economic and public health crisis facing our country due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our coalition of diverse organizations, businesses, professional societies, state fish and wildlife agencies, and tribal nations request that the bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (H.R. 3742) be included in a future economic recovery package, because it represents a smart, future focused investment that will create immediate and significant numbers of direct jobs, will help restart the outdoor economy, and will support key sectors, such as agriculture, forestry, and ranching. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will put Americans back to work expanding our recreational infrastructure, restoring our natural resources, and investing in on-the-ground projects in every state, territory, and tribal lands. This common-sense, fiscally responsible solution has brought 181 Members of Congress together as cosponsors and received strong bipartisan support when it was reported out of the House Natural Resources Committee by a vote of 26-6. Our nation’s $778 billion outdoor economy—an economy that provides 5.2 million jobs, and represents 2.2 percent of the national gross domestic product—depends upon the restoration and conservation of our nation’s wildlife, lands, and waters. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, this industry boasts an annual growth of 3.9 percent, which outpaces the 2.4 percent annual growth of the national economy. The outdoor recreation economy historically shows higher increases in real gross output, compensation, and employment than the national economy. Every million dollars invested in species and habitat restoration creates 17 to 24 jobs (some estimates as high as 33 per million). Passage of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act has the potential to create between 23,800 and 33,600 jobs every year, while adding 3.36 billion of national economic output. All of this would lead to a net positive gain of $1.96 billion annually to the Gross Domestic Product. Importantly, this legislation will also provide $97.5 million annually to Tribal nations for on-the-ground conservation projects that create jobs. Tribal nations are exceptional stewards of conservation, and many Tribes’ cultures, traditions, communities, foods, and economies depend upon diverse and healthy natural resources and wildlife populations. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would be the only federal conservation program that guarantees sustained funding to Tribal governments to continue this work. Currently, these projects are primarily being carried out one project at a time, which does not allow for continued growth and job creation. Investment in Tribal communities and expertise is essential and crucial, especially as these nations feel the economic impacts of COVID-19. Finally, this legislation will save taxpayers money in the long run because it is based on the simple premise that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Rather than defaulting to regulation and litigation, this bill saves America’s imperiled wildlife through collaboration and constructive partnerships in every state, territory, and tribal lands. If we invest proactively now, we can prevent more and more of the 12,000 Species of Greatest Conservation Need from requiring listing as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act. Doing so will save American taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars compared to if all those species had to be listed (estimated at a minimum of $6.7 billion annually). Creating jobs immediately and reducing long-term costs by enacting the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will bring together Americans from East to West and the Members of Congress that represent these diverse constituencies– at a time when we really need it. More and more Americans have turned to the outdoors for a respite during this pandemic. We now have an opportunity to accelerate our national economic recovery by creating jobs restoring these important places and building upon the incredible legacy our country has of uniting during difficult times of economic uncertainty. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Menunkatuck Audubon Society Michigan Bow Hunters Association Michigan Resource Stewards Michigan United Conservation Clubs Middletown March for Science Minnesota Chapter of The Wildlife Society Minnesota Conservation Federation Mississippi Wildlife Federation Mojave Desert Land Trust Montana Audubon Montana Wildlife Federation Montmorency County Conservation Club National Aquarium National Association of Forest Service Retirees National Audubon Society National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative National Professional Anglers Association National ShootingSports Foundation National Wild Turkey Federation National Wildlife Federation Native American Fish and Wildlife Society Native Plant Conservation Campaign Natural Resources Conservation Academy National Aquarium Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife Nebraska Chapter of The Wildlife Society Nebraska Wildlife Federation Nevada Wildlife Federation New Hampshire Audubon New Hartford Conservation Commission New Jersey Audubon New Mexico Wildlife Federation North America Falconry Association North America Grouse Partnership North American Falconers Association North Carolina Wildlife Federation North Dakota Natural Resources Trust Northwest Avian Resources LLC Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association NW Guides and Anglers Association NW Guides and Anglers Fisheries Restoration Initiative Ohio Conservation Federation Oneida Nation Oregon Association of Conservation Districts Oregon chapter of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Oregon Chapter of the American Fisheries Society Oregon Chapter of The Wildlife Society Oregon Conservation and Recreation Advisory Committee Oregon Wildlife Foundation Oregon Zoo Foundation Orion: the Hunter’s Institute Orono Land Trust Outdoor Recreation Roundtable Association PDXWildlife Pheasants Forever Pines and Prairies Land Trust Pope and Young Club Prairie Rivers Network Protect Animal Migration Pueblo of Santa Ana Pueblo of Zuni Pyramid Lake Fisheries, Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Quail Forever Quality Deer Management Association Quileute Tribe Red Lake Nation REI Co-op Rob and Bessie Welder Wildlife Foundation Rogue Basin Partnership Ruffed Grouse Society Salem (OR) Audubon Society Sociedad Ornitológica Puertorriqueña, Inc. South Dakota Chapter of The Wildlife Society South Dakota Wildlife Federation Sports Angler Straits Area Sportsmen’s Club SUNY ESF Roosevelt
Senators and Representatives Urge Support of the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program
AFS and other organizations garnered support from members of Congress for the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program with letters of support to relevant House and Senate subcommittees. The program, slated for deep cuts in the President’s FY2021 budget is critical for addressing species before they become endangered. The chronic underfunding and the proposed budget cuts to this program underscore the need for dedicated funding to match the scale of the problem, such as proposed in in the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. Read the Senate letter below and the House letter here. March 23, 2020 The Honorable Lisa Murkowski The Honorable Tom Udall Chairman, Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Chairman, Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Committee on Appropriations Committee on Appropriations 131 Dirksen Senate Office Building 125 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Chairman Murkowski and Ranking Member Udall: We are writing to express our support for the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program. We appreciate your past support and hope that you will make funding for this program a priority. The State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program provides a critical investment that is necessary to sustain our nation’s most vulnerable fish and wildlife. In FY2020, $67.7 million was appropriated through apportionments and competitive grants to all 56 states, territories and the District of Columbia and Indian tribes. These funds leveraged tens of millions in state and private funds. We ask that you provide the most robust funding possible for the program in FY 2021. The State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program is the nation’s core program to prevent fish and wildlife from becoming endangered. The program has funded conservation work that prevented endangered species listings for species like the New England cottontail and arctic graying and has helped recover numerous fish and wildlife such as the Louisiana Black Bear and Lake Erie water snake. The program is saving taxpayer dollars and reducing the burden on business and private landowners by cutting down on endangered species controversies. The State and Tribal Wildlife Grant Program funds on-the-ground conservation such as invasive species control, habitat management, species reintroduction, disease abatement and research and monitoring that helps fish and wildlife biologists understand and assess declining populations of at-risk species before it’s too late. It is the only federal grant program for states, territories, the District of Columbia and tribes to conserve over 12,000 animals identified as Species in Greatest Conservation Need in State Wildlife Action Plans. These plans were developed by each state, territory and the District of Columbia using the best available science and with input from farmers, ranchers, business-owners and other publics. Additionally, the program directly benefits over 100 million citizens who depend on healthy fish and wildlife and habitat for hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing, photography, hiking and other forms of wildlife-dependent recreation. The program aids the $427 billion outdoor recreation economy and helps states meet their statutory responsibility for sustaining fish and wildlife for future generations. Again, we appreciate the Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies past support for the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program and encourage you to make funding a priority in FY 2021. Stronger funding for the program will allow fish and wildlife conservation work to expand to a greater number of the 12,000+ Species of Greatest Conservation Need. Thank you for considering our request. Sincerely, Mike Crapo U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse U.S. Senator James E. Risch U.S. Senator Joe Manchin III U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich U.S. Senator Angus S. King, Jr. U.S. Senator Robert P. Casey, Jr. U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris U.S. Senator Jack Reed U.S. Senator Ron Wyden U.S. Senator Cory A. Booker U.S. Senator Tina Smith U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto U.S. Senator Bernard Sanders U.S. Senator Tim Kaine U.S. Senator Jeffrey A. Merkley U.S. Senator Martha McSally U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein U.S. Senator Brian Schatz U.S. Senator Margaret Wood Hassan U.S. Senator James M. Inhofe U.S. Senator Christopher S. Murphy U.S. Senator Susan M. Collins U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen U.S. Senator Charles E. Grassley U.S. Senator Jon Tester U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren U.S. Senator Kyrsten Sinema U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen U.S. Senator Christopher A. Coons U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin U.S. Senator Gary Peters U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth U.S. Senator Richard Durbin U.S. Senator Christopher A. Murphy U.S. Senator Benjamin Cardin U.S. Senator Robert Menendez U.S. Senator Ed Markey U.S. Senator Mike Rounds U.S. Senator
250 Conservation Organizations, Professional Societies, Outdoor Groups, and State Agencies Call for a House Vote on Recovering America’s Wildlife Act
February 24, 2020 The Honorable Kevin McCarthy Minority Leader U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Capitol, H-204 Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Speaker Pelosi and Leader McCarthy, As organizations collectively representing millions of Americans who enjoy the outdoors through hunting, fishing, birding, hiking, paddling, and gardening, as well as the state fish and wildlife agencies and other natural resource professionals charged with stewarding our nation’s wildlife, we write to express our strong support for the bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (H.R. 3742) and urge you to advance it to the House floor for a vote. This legislation provides a comprehensive strategy to protect our wildlife heritage by assuring sufficient funding for on-the-ground activities that support states’ most urgent wildlife conservation priorities. This proactive approach to solving the ever-increasing challenges facing our nation’s fish and wildlife has brought over 170 Members of Congress together as cosponsors of this legislation. Just two months ago, the bill received overwhelming bipartisan support in the House Committee on Natural Resources and was reported out by a 26-6 vote, with a majority of Republican committee members present voting in favor. The momentum and increasingly bipartisan support building behind this bill underscore the urgency of advancing it to the floor. With more than one-third of all U.S. species at increased risk of extinction, we can’t afford not to take swift action. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will help recover and conserve species at risk by dedicating $1.3 billion for state-level conservation and $97.5 million to Tribal nations for on-the-ground conservation projects. The legislation funds the implementation of the congressionally-mandated State Wildlife Action Plans, which outline specific conservation actions necessary to recover and sustain healthy fish and wildlife populations, while also accelerating the recovery of species already listed under the Endangered Species Act. Similarly, tribal nations will expand conservation efforts on their lands, which provide vital habitat for hundreds of fish and wildlife species, including more than 500 species listed as threatened or endangered. This bill also allocates more funding for wildlife conservation in the territories, as recent natural disasters have exacerbated pressures on native species. The premise of this bill is simple: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. We can save wildlife and save money in the long run by investing in collaborative solutions before species require more restrictive and expensive “emergency room” measures under the Endangered Species Act. This approach will save federal taxpayers tens of billions of dollars by ensuring more regulatory certainty for farmers, businesses, and industry while also growing our continuously expanding $887 billion outdoor economy that supports more than 7.6 million jobs. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act builds upon the incredible legacy of the Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson Acts, which brought iconic fish and wildlife species back from the brink of extinction through cooperative, science-driven wildlife management, supported by reliable funding. It will take a similar vision and effort to address the escalating problems facing our fish and wildlife in the 21st century, and this bill presents a solution that meets the magnitude of the challenge. Passage of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act is unequivocally the most important thing this Congress can do to protect our nation’s outdoor heritage. We look forward to working with you to bring this legislation to the House floor in the coming weeks. Sincerely, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Allegan Conservation District American Fisheries Society American Sportfishing Association Anglers United Arizona Antelope Foundation Arizona Bass Federation Nation Arizona Big Game Super Raffle Arizona Bowhunters Association Arizona Chapter National Wild Turkey Federation Arizona Chapter Safari Club International Arizona Deer Association Arizona Desert Bighorn Sheep Society Arizona Elk Society Arizona Flycasters Club Arizona Houndsmen’s Association Arizona Outdoor Adventures Arizona Outdoor Sports Arizona Predator Callers Arizona Shooting Sports Education Foundation Arizona State Council of Trout Unlimited Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation Arizona Wildlife Federation Arkansas Chapter of the American Fisheries Society Arkansas Chapter of The Wildlife Society Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission Arkansas Watertrail Partnership Association of Northwest Steelheaders Atlantic Salmon Federation Audubon Arizona Audubon Minnesota Audubon Pennsylvania Audubon Society of Lincoln City, Oregon Audubon Texas Audubon Washington Austin Science Advocates Backcountry Hunters & Anglers Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Texas Chapter Barry Conservation District Barry County Drain Commissioner Bass Pro Shops Bat Conservation International Baxter State Park Bayou Land Conservancy Bexar Audubon Society Big Thicket Association Biodiversity Research Institute Biological Conservation Bird Conservancy of the Rockies Bucks County Audubon Society Buffalo Creek Watershed Association Burns Paiute Tribe Cabela’s California Invasive Plant Council Cedar Run Decoy Company Chippewa Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy’s Indian Reservation of Montana Christian Hunters of America Cibolo Conservancy Land Trust Coalition for the Delaware River Watershed Colorado Chapter of the Wildlife Society Confluence Consulting, LLC Connecticut Forest & Park Association Connecticut Ornithological Association Conservation Council for Hawaii Conservation Federation of Missouri Conservation InSight Conservation Northwest Conservation Resource Management Cornell Lab of Ornithology Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports Crow Nation Delaware Valley University Department of Natural Resources Science, University of Rhode Island Downeast Salmon Federation Downeast Trout Unlimited Ducks Unlimited Environment Council of Rhode Island Environmental Collaborative Of Ohio Environmental League of Massachusetts First Light Wildlife Habitats Flathead Audubon Society Forest Society of Maine Fort Worth Zoo Four Townships Water Resources Franciscan Earth Literacy Center Freeport Wild Bird Supply Friends of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge Friends of Stewart B McKinney NWR Friends of the Fort Worth Nature Center & Refuge Galveston Bay Foundation Georges River Chapter, Trout Unlimited Grand Prairie Friends Greater Edwards Aquifer Alliance Gulf Coast Bird Observatory Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Association Hill Country Alliance Houston Safari Club Houston Wilderness Indiana Chapter of The Wildlife Society Indiana Wildlife Federation Ingham Conservation District Innovative Wildlife Management Services, LLC Institute for Natural Resources – Portland, Oregon Iowa Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever Izaak Walton League of America Jo Daviess Conservation Foundation Kahuna’s Kids Kalamazoo Nature Center Kalamazoo River Watershed Council Katy Prairie Conservancy Kennebec Valley Chapter of Trout Unlimited Kentucky Waterways Alliance Klamath Watershed Partnership Lake
Recovering America’s Wildlife Act Passes House Committee
The bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act passed out of the House Natural Resources Committee on December 5, positioning it for a vote on the House floor. The bill would fund proactive conservation efforts to prevent species from becoming endangered and would provide additional funding for species that are already listed. “Forty percent of aquatic species are now imperiled and those numbers will only get worse without a solution that matches the scale of the problem,” said AFS Executive Director Doug Austen. “The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will providing scientists and managers with the resources to reverse this disturbing statistic and change the prospects for fish.” About the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act: The bill will provide $1.397 billion in dedicated annual funding for proactive, on-the-ground wildlife conservation efforts in every state and territory. The bill will fund additional recovery efforts for the approximately 1,600 U.S. species already listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The majority of the money—$1.3 billion—will go to wildlife recovery efforts led by state wildlife agencies. This spending will be guided by the Congressionally mandated State Wildlife Action Plans, which identify 12,000 species of concern nationwide. Tribal Nations would receive $97.5 million annually to fund proactive wildlife conservation efforts on tens of millions of acres of land. The bill complements the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (Pittman-Robertson) and Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act (Dingell-Johnson), which funds state-led recovery efforts on behalf of game and sport fish species that faced potential extinction in the 20th century. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act is the most significant piece of conservation legislation in a generation. We need your help to get the bill to the finish line. Call your member of Congress today to help secure passage in the full House.
Recovering America’s Wildlife Act Reaches 150 Co-sponsors
House Bill Addressing America’s Wildlife Crisis Gains 150+ Bipartisan Cosponsors More than one-third of all wildlife species in the United States are at-risk or vulnerable to extinction — and now more than one-third of the members of the House agree on a solution. WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, a bipartisan House bill aimed at addressing America’s growing wildlife crisis, now has 151 cosponsors. Since the bill was introduced in July, 113 Democrats and 38 Republicans have signed on. The bill would fund locally led, proactive efforts to help 12,000 species of concern identified by the state wildlife agencies. This figure includes the more than 1,600 U.S. species listed under the Endangered Species Act. “More than one-third of all wildlife species in the United States are at-risk or vulnerable to extinction — and now more than one-third of the members of the House agree on a solution,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “The overwhelming support for the bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act bill shows lawmakers from across the political spectrum are serious about addressing America’s wildlife crisis and protecting our wildlife heritage for future generations. At a time when our leaders can’t seem to agree on much of anything, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act is bringing together our leaders from both sides of the aisle to enact serious, bipartisan solutions that match the magnitude of the crises we face.” About the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act: H.R. 3742 was introduced by Representatives Dingell (D-Mich.) and Fortenberry (R-Neb.). The bill will fund conservation efforts for more than 12,000 species in need of assistance by providing $1.397 billion in dedicated annual funding for proactive, on-the-ground efforts in every state and territory. The bill will hasten the recovery of 1,600 U.S. species already listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. $1.3 billion of the funds will go to the state and territorial wildlife agencies. This spending will be guided by the Congressionally mandated State Wildlife Action Plans, which identify specific strategies to restore the populations of species of greatest conservation need. Tribal Nations would receive $97.5 million annually to fund proactive wildlife conservation efforts on tens of millions of acres of land. The bill complements the highly successful Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (Pittman-Robertson) and Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act (Dingell-Johnson), which have facilitated the state-led recovery of a range of large mammals, game birds, and sportfish that faced potential extinction last century. A 2018 report, Reversing America’s Wildlife Crisis: Securing the Future of Our Fish and Wildlife, found that one-third of America’s wildlife species are at an increased risk of extinction. More than 150 U.S. species have already gone extinct and an additional 500 species have not been seen in recent decades and are regarded as possibly extinct. Last session’s House bill garnered 117 cosponsors. Source: National Wildlife Federation press release
More than 1,000 Scientists Call for Proactive Conservation; Urge Passage of Recovering America’s Wildlife Act
[spacer height=”20px”]For Immediate Release October 17, 2019 Contact: Drue Banta Winters, 504-220-7868, [email protected] Caroline Murphy, 301-897-9770 x 308, [email protected] [spacer height=”20px”] More than 1,000 Scientists Call for Proactive Conservation; Urge Passage of Recovering America’s Wildlife Act[spacer height=”20px”] Today, more than 1,000 scientists from every state along with several territories and tribes sent a letter to members of Congress urging significant action in fish and wildlife conservation through passage of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (H.R. 3742). The Act would secure $1.4 billion in dedicated funding for state and tribal fish and wildlife agencies to conserve at-risk species in a proactive and cost-effective manner. Recent reports have highlighted the steep declines in one-third of U.S. fish and wildlife species that make up our nation’s remarkable biodiversity. In July 2019, Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) and Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) introduced the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill provides a new funding approach to reverse these grim statistics. Fish and wildlife scientists and managers in every state have action plans ready to go with scientifically-backed proposals to restore species to a healthy status. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will provide state fish and wildlife agencies and tribes with dedicated resources to address more than 12,000 species in need of this proactive conservation. “Increases in water temperatures, lack of water in streams and rivers, poor water quality, and changes in habitat have led to 40 percent freshwater species now being at risk and unfortunately, a changing climate means the situation will only get worse. With a dedicated stream of funding, we can implement scientifically based conservation plans that will change the prospects for fish and wildlife,” said Doug Austen, Executive Director, American Fisheries Society. “Our country is in need of a solution that will match the scale of the problem. America’s scientists along with conservation organizations, state, and industry partners understand the crisis at hand,” said Gary White, President of The Wildlife Society. “We look forward to continuing to work with legislators on an understanding of this crisis and the need to invest in proactive conservation for the benefit of all Americans.” # # # Founded in 1937, TWS and its network of affiliated chapters and sections represent more than 15,000 professional wildlife biologists, managers, and educators dedicated to excellence in wildlife stewardship. TWS’ mission is to inspire, empower, and enable wildlife professionals to sustain wildlife populations and habitat through science-based management and conservation. www.wildlife.org Founded in 1870, the American Fisheries Society (AFS) is the world’s oldest and largest fisheries science society. The AFS mission is to improve the conservation and sustainability of fishery resources and aquatic ecosystems by advancing fisheries and aquatic science and promoting the development of fisheries professionals. With its renowned journals, books and conferences, AFS is the leading source of fisheries science and management information in North America and around the world. www.fisheries.org To learn more about TWS’ and AFS’ efforts on the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, check out the Reversing America’s Wildlife Crisis report, a collaboration between TWS, AFS, and National Wildlife Federation. This report calls attention to North American and migratory wildlife species facing population declines due to a variety of threats. It echoes the intent of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act in calling for more proactive management to prevent these declines and an improved funding mechanism to support such efforts.
Conservation, Sporting, and Outdoor Groups Call for Passage of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act
October 17, 2019 The Honorable Jared Huffman Chairman Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Subcommittee 1522 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 The Honorable Tom McClintock Ranking Member Water, Oceans, and Wildlife Subcommittee 1522 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Chairman Huffman, Ranking Member McClintock and the Members of the Water, Oceans and Wildlife Subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Natural Resources: The undersigned organizations and businesses write to express our full support of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (H.R.3742), and respectfully request that you support and advance this important piece of legislation through the House Committee on Natural Resources to help conserve America’s most vulnerable fish and wildlife. Collectively, we represent millions of Americans who enjoy the great outdoors and value fish and wildlife. One-third of the fish and wildlife species in the United States are at risk of becoming threatened or endangered. The crisis facing our nation’s fish and wildlife is daunting, but this legislation provides a solution. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will provide state fish and wildlife agencies and Indian Tribes with dedicated resources to address more than 12,000 species in need of proactive, voluntary conservation. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will help recover and conserve species at risk by dedicating $1.3 billion annually for state-led conservation and $97.5 million to Indian Tribes for on-the-ground conservation projects. The legislation funds the implementation of the congressionally-mandated State Wildlife Action Plans, which outline specific, science-based conservation actions necessary to recover and sustain healthy fish and wildlife populations. Similarly, Tribes will expand conservation efforts on their lands, which provide vital habitat for hundreds of fish and wildlife species, including more than 500 species that are listed as threatened or endangered. Taking measures to restore species before they are on the brink of extinction and ensuring healthy populations will help prevent these species from needing costly “emergency room” measures under the Endangered Species Act. Further, ensuring healthy populations of species will also allow businesses and landowners to operate with more regulatory certainty and reduced risk. This collaborative approach to conservation is good for wildlife, good for taxpayers, good for landowners, and good for business. Our nation has a remarkable history of coming together to bring species back from the brink of extinction by funding professional, science-driven fish and wildlife management through partnerships. Eighty years ago, prized game species like elk, wood ducks, wild turkeys, and trout were at the cusp of being lost forever. Instead, hunters and anglers came together to leverage user fees for game species conservation because they understood that preserving wildlife takes a coordinated, consistent investment in collaborative conservation. Today those species are thriving because of that foresight and commitment. Passage of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will represent the largest investment in conservation funding in more than a generation. This groundbreaking legislation will help ensure that future generations can enjoy the same abundant fish, wildlife, and outdoor recreation opportunities that we have today and maybe even more. We appreciate your consideration of our request to support and advance this bill in the 116th Congress. We ask that you join Congresswoman Dingell (D-MI) and Congressman Fortenberry (R-NE) and the 138 bipartisan cosponsors in supporting the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. Sincerely, American Fisheries Society American Sportfishing Association Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies Audubon Audubon Connecticut Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Barry Conservation District Bass Pro Shops Bat Conservation International Big Game Conservation Association Bird Conservancy of the Rockies Bucks County Audubon Society Cabela’s The Connecticut Audubon Society Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Connecticut Falconers Association Connecticut Ornithological Association Connecticut Waterfowlers Association Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation The Conservation Fund Cornell Lab of Ornithology Delta Waterfowl Ducks Unlimited Fisheries Advisory Council Flathead Audubon Society Forest Landowners Association Frankfort Audubon Society Freshwater Mollusk Conservation Society Grand Valley State University, Department of Biology Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Hess Corporation Houston Safari Club Foundation Huron Pines I DO AMERICA International Raptor & Falconry Center Izaak Walton League of America Jacklin Rod and Gun Club, Inc. QuietKat, Inc. Kalamazoo Nature Center Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Foundation Kemp Design Services Kootenai Tribe of Idaho Lake Erie Islands Conservancy Maine Audubon Mattabeseck Audubon Society Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation Mojave Desert Land Trust Montana Audubon National Alliance of Forest Owners National Association of State Foresters National Marine Manufacturers Association National Shooting Sports Foundation National Wild Turkey Federation National Wildlife Federation Native American Fish and Wildlife Society Nebraska Land Trust North Dakota Natural Resources Trust Oregon Zoo Outdoor Industry Association Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever Playa Lake Joint Venture Pure Fishing Put-in-Bay Township Park District Quality Deer Management Association Ravenswood Outdoors REI Co-op Richard Childress Racing Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society Seven Mountains Audubon Shell Stocking Savvy Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership Toyota Trout Unlimited Village of Middleville, MI White River Marine Group Wildlife Ecology Institute Wildlife Habitat Council Wildlife Management Institute The Wildlife Society World Wildlife Fund Yellowstone River Parks Association cc: Chairman Raúl M. Grijalva, Ranking Member Rob Bishop
Recovering America’s Wildlife Act Reintroduction: A Major Step Forward for Fish and Wildlife Conservation
Contact: Caroline Murphy, [email protected]; Beth Beard, [email protected] Recovering America’s Wildlife Act Reintroduction: A Major Step Forward for Fish and Wildlife Conservation July 12, 2019 (Bethesda, MD) – The American Fisheries Society (AFS) and The Wildlife Society (TWS) are praising landmark legislation that seeks to transform fish and wildlife conservation across the nation. U.S. Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) and Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) have reintroduced the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, which will provide critically needed increases in funding for protecting, conserving, and managing the 12,000 species across the nation that are at risk of becoming threatened or endangered. According to a recent United Nations Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) report, more than a million species worldwide face an increased threat of extinction. Within the U.S., up to a third of species are in need of urgent conservation action. Habitat loss and degradation, invasive species, disease and pollution all pose threats to our wildlife. As noted by the report, challenges for species are being amplified by a changing climate and associated human activity. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will secure much-needed resources to combat this crisis by providing dedicated funding for State Wildlife Action Plans. These plans provide all 50 states with a roadmap for proactive, voluntary conservation of fish and wildlife to address species in decline. Unfortunately, Congress has never provided adequate funding for these plans, appropriating only about $60 million annually. This is vastly below the estimated $1.3 billion a year needed by state fish and wildlife professionals to conserve at-risk species before they reach the point of endangerment. In addition to funding for state agencies, this legislation would also provide much needed funding to tribal fish and wildlife agencies to work alongside states in the conservation of at-risk species. “Forty percent of the nation’s freshwater fish species are at risk from a variety of causes including water pollution, sedimentation, dams and other river and stream alterations. Fish and wildlife professionals can help to reverse these species declines if they have the proper funding to implement science-based conservation plans. Species like the eastern Brook Trout, a native fish that is imperiled in 17 states in the U.S., would benefit from the habitat restoration, water quality improvements and watershed connectivity that would be made possible through the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. This bill provides the support and the certainty to reverse the disturbing declines in fish across the country,” said Douglas Austen, Executive Director of AFS. “State Wildlife Action Plans have proven that species can be recovered through voluntary, non-regulatory mechanisms.” said TWS President Darren Miller. “Species such as the New England cottontail and the North American river otter have rebounded as a result of these plans, and other species such as the Delmarva fox squirrel and Louisiana black bear have recovered to the point of no longer needing Endangered Species Act protections. With the passage of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, we will further advance effective, collaborative conservation for the benefit of wildlife populations and the American public.” Passage of the bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will provide state fish and wildlife professionals and their partners with the resources needed to conserve species in a proactive, cost effective, and non-regulatory manner. The Wildlife Society and the American Fisheries Society look forward to working toward passage of this important legislation. # # # Notes to the editor: More on the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act here: https://wildlife.org/policy/recovering-americas-wildlife-act/ https://fisheries.org/policy-media/recovering-americas-wildlife-act/ Founded in 1937, TWS and its network of affiliated chapters and sections represents more than 15,000 professional wildlife biologists, managers, and educators dedicated to excellence in wildlife stewardship. TWS’ mission is to inspire, empower, and enable wildlife professionals to sustain wildlife populations and habitat through science-based management and conservation. www.wildlife.org Founded in 1870, the American Fisheries Society (AFS) is the world’s oldest and largest fisheries science society. The AFS mission is to improve the conservation and sustainability of fishery resources and aquatic ecosystems by advancing fisheries and aquatic science and promoting the development of fisheries professionals. With its renowned journals, books and conferences, AFS is the leading source of fisheries science and management information in North America and around the world. www.fisheries.org To learn more about TWS’ and AFS’ efforts on the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, check out the Reversing America’s Wildlife Crisis report, a collaboration between TWS, AFS, and National Wildlife Federation. This report calls attention to North American and migratory wildlife species facing population declines due to a variety of threats. It echoes the intent of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act in calling for more proactive management to prevent these declines and an improved funding mechanism to support such efforts.
Webinar Recording: Recovering America’s Wildlife Act Update
Recovering America’s Wildlife Act Update from fisheries on Vimeo.
Webinar on July 10: Recovering America’s Wildlife Act Update
Recovering America’s Wildlife Act Update Wednesday, July 10, 2019 2:00 pm Eastern Time Join us for a free webinar on July 10 to get up to speed on the latest updates and grassroots engagement tools to help you and your unit work to support the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. Participants will be provided with background on the legislation, tools to engage with their members of Congress, and mechanisms for building a coalition at the state level in support of this game-changing legislation. Hosted by The Wildlife Society and the American Fisheries Society, speakers will include both NGO and state-based conservation experts ready to engage professionals on how they can best utilize their expertise in support of this bill. Register now!
AFS and Other Groups Submit Letter to Congressional Hearing Supporting Biodiversity Protection
The American Fisheries Society, National Wildlife Federation, and the Wildlife Society submitted a letter for Chairman Huffman and Ranking Member McClintock on the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife as well as a comprehensive report about the necessities of biodiversity protection and the upcoming Recovering America’s Wildlife Act to be re-introduced.
AFS and Other Groups Request Recovering America’s Wildlife Act Hearing in Senate Committee
The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works will hold a hearing on the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act entitled, “Examining Funding Needs for Wildlife Conservation, Recovery, and Management” on Thursday, November 15 at 10 a.m. Is your senator on the commiteee? If so, you and/or your Chapter should call to your Senator’s office to express your support for the bill and ask them to attend the hearing and speak in favor of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. Letter regarding the hearing sent by the Alliance for America’s Fish and Wildlife: November 8, 2018 The Honorable Thomas Carper Ranking Member Committee on Environment and Public Works United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Chairman Barrasso and Ranking Member Carper, The United States is facing an historic fish and wildlife conservation crisis that could alter future Americans’ opportunities to benefit from our natural heritage. However, this challenge also presents an opportunity to address the dramatic decline of so many species of fish and wildlife and the habitats they depend on. Without much needed investments in proactive conservation, we could see widespread impacts on the fundamental life benefits provided by nature such as water purification and aquifer recharge, flood abatement, pollination, recreation and food and fiber production that are essential to human health. These species declines threaten Americans’ quality of life, and our economy, and create regulatory uncertainty for businesses and industries, further impacting jobs and the health of our communities. Fortunately, solutions exist to reverse this decline and bolster our economy. We write to respectfully request that the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW) hold a hearing and markup to advance the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (S.3223), introduced in July by Senators Risch, Manchin, Alexander and Heitkamp. We believe this legislation is a key part of a critical solution towards addressing the imminent challenges facing America’s fish and wildlife. Many of us came together to serve on the Blue Ribbon Panel on Sustaining America’s Diverse Fish & Wildlife Resources, consisting of members representing the outdoor recreation industry, retail and manufacturing sector, energy and automotive industries, private landowners, educational institutions, hunters and anglers, other conservation groups, and state and federal fish and wildlife agencies. Together, our industries represent more than a trillion dollars of economic impact, millions of non-exportable jobs, and tens of millions of members, consumers and constituents across the country, all who rely on healthy fish and wildlife populations. Today we remain united in support of legislation implementing the Blue Ribbon Panel’s recommendations as the Alliance for America’s Fish & Wildlife. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will help recover species at risk by authorizing $1.3 billion annually from existing royalty revenues generated by the development of energy and mineral resources on federal lands and waters. The funds will be apportioned to state fish and wildlife agencies (state agencies) to implement proactive conservation programs. Specifically, S. 3223 would direct funds to the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration subaccount that was established pursuant to the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act of 1937. The funds will be leveraged using a twenty-five percent nonfederal match and will also be utilized by new and existing public/private partnerships, many of which are already producing positive outcomes to conserve more fish, wildlife and habitat on the ground. Doing so will arm state agencies with the resources needed to assist in the restoration and recovery of federally listed threatened and endangered species like the Wood Bison, Red Knot and the Gopher Tortoise, while also preventing other species from being listed. Furthermore, this legislation will provide more certainty to landowners, sportsmen and women, outdoor recreation enthusiasts, retail businesses, the energy and manufacturing industries and many other stakeholder groups. We further urge Congress to enact the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act with mandatory funding, which would ensure financial certainty to states, and allow them to plan and implement multi-year conservation projects. The House version of this bill, H.R. 4647, includes a dedicated funding mechanism currently. We applaud the leadership of this committee in your pursuit of solutions to our most pressing conservation challenges in a way that does not place an additional burden on taxpayers. This legislation utilizes an innovative approach to the conservation of our treasured natural resources while simultaneously strengthening our economy and saving federal dollars in the long-run. During a recent hearing in your committee on the Successful State Conservation, Recovery, and Management of Wildlife, there was a mention of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act as a path forward to securing the necessary resources to empower our state managers to get ahead of the endangered species backlog that may occur if adequate and sustained funding is not dedicated to this pressing problem. To continue this important discussion, we encourage your committee to hold a hearing and markup on S.3223. Our nation has a proud history of addressing massive conservation challenges, including bringing species back from the brink of extinction by helping fund professional fish and wildlife management. This legislation presents the opportunity for Congress to provide future generations of Americans the same opportunities that we have had in our lifetimes to enjoy our treasured natural resources. Together we can build a brighter economic future that includes conservation of our fish and wildlife and helps sustain our communities. We the undersigned appreciate your consideration of our request for action on this important legislation. cc: Senate Majority Leader McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Schumer Sincerely, Members of the Alliance for America’s Fish & Wildlife: American Fisheries Society American Sportfishing Association Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies Audubon Audubon Connecticut Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Barry Conservation District Bass Pro Shops Bat Conservation International Big Game Conservation Association Cabela’s The Connecticut Audubon Society Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Connecticut Falconers Association Connecticut Ornithological Association Connecticut Waterfowlers Association Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation The Conservation Fund Cornell Lab of Ornithology Delta Waterfowl Ducks Unlimited Fisheries Advisory Council Forest Landowners Association Grand Valley State University, Department of Biology Hawk Mountain Sanctuary Hess Corporation Houston Safari Club Huron Pines Izaak Walton League of America Jacklin Rod and Gun Club, Inc. Kalamazoo Nature Center Kemp Design Services Lake Erie Islands Conservancy Mattabeseck Audubon Society Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation Montana Audubon National Alliance
Lame Duck Session Offers Opportunity for End of Year RAWA Co-Sponsor Push
The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act is gaining momentum in Congress. The House bill, introduced last December, now has over 100 co-sponsors. The corresponding Senate bill, introduced in July, is expected to be the subject of an Environment and Public Works Committee hearing in November. There’s a critical difference in the House and Senate bills in that the Senate bill only provides for annual appropriations while the House bill follows the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Panel on Sustaining America’s Diverse Fish and Wildlife that called for dedicated funding. AFS is working with our conservation partners to move the bill forward and to ensure that members of Congress understand the need to dedicate funding to address the fish and wildlife crisis in America. It is a critical time to get your members of Congress focused on this important legislation. Please consider engaging your Unit in support of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. Members of Congress are in their districts and will return to DC following the mid-term elections for a “lame duck” session. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act could be folded in to a funding package that addresses the maintenance backlog on national parks and re-authorizes and funds the Land and Water Conservation Fund. If the bill does not pass before the end of the year, it will need to be re-introduced in the next Congress. It is important to continue building support for funding for proactive conservation while these discussions unfold. Here are a few ways to help: Help to secure 125 co-sponsors on the House bill before the end of the year by writing a letter from your chapter to your House delegation asking them to co-sponsor the bill. We can provide you with a template. Check to see if your Senator is a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee. If so, contact them and ask them to speak up during the hearing about the need for dedicated funding for the bill. Use social media to thank current sponsors of the bill and encourage more support of Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. Contact AFS Policy Director Drue Banta Winters ([email protected]) for assistance!
Recovering America’s Wildlife Act Reaches 100 Co-Sponsors in House
The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (H.R. 4647) – legislation that would dedicate $1.3 billion annually towards the conservation and monitoring of at-risk species at the state level – has just reached 100 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives. The American Fisheries Society has been working in concert with partner conservation organizations to secure co-sponsors. The Blue Ribbon Panel on Sustaining America’s Diverse Fish & Wildlife Resources originally recommended the framework of this legislation in the spring of 2016. The Senate version of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (S. 3223) – which requires funds to be appropriated by Congress each year – has just increased its co-sponsor count to six. The Wildlife Society and the American Fisheries Society recently sent a letter (below) to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee requesting funding for proactive wildlife conservation be folded into existing discussions on an overall conservation funding framework. These discussions currently include reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund and funding for the federal lands maintenance backlog – both of which will be brought up at a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on Oct. 2. AFS also signed onto a second letter with the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, National Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation, Pheasants Forever/Quail Forever, The Wildlife Society, and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. If you are interested in learning more about the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act and how AFS members can support efforts to pass this legislation, contact Drue Winters ([email protected]). You can also check out the Reversing America’s Wildlife Crisis report, which details conservation successes to date and current funding needs in order to prevent state-identified at-risk species, known as Species of Greatest Conservation Need, from further declines. AMERICAN FISHERIES SOCIETY ● THE WILDLIFE SOCIETY September 28, 2018 Senator Maria Cantwell, Ranking Member Energy & Natural Resources Committee U.S. Senate 1329 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Chairman Murkowski and Ranking Member Cantwell, On behalf of the American Fisheries Society and The Wildlife Society and our more than 18,000 members, we urge you to consider funding for proactive fish and wildlife conservation as you seek to address the maintenance backlog on our nation’s public lands. The Wildlife Society and American Fisheries Society are dedicated to development of natural resource professionals, promoting science, and conserving fish and wildlife. Our organizations work to advance science-based policies that empower fish and wildlife professionals on the front lines of conservation in order to hold our nation’s fish and wildlife in the public trust. Many fish and wildlife professionals are tasked with managing species on our country’s public lands. The “Restore our Parks Act” (S. 3172) provides resources to ensure current and future generations of Americans can enjoy the unrivalled landscapes, wildlife, cultural heritage, and recreational opportunities throughout our National Parks. Unfortunately, more than one-third of all U.S. wildlife species are at-risk and in need of proactive conservation measures. Habitat loss and degradation, invasive species, disease, and pollution all pose threats to our wildlife. Without adequately managed, healthy populations of fish and wildlife on our public lands, the benefits provided through the improvement of recreational access and enhancement to these special places will be diminished. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (S. 3223; H.R. 4647) would meet this need by proactively funding conservation of at-risk fish and wildlife species. Like the Restore Our Parks Act, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would direct a portion of existing energy and mineral royalties from federal lands and waters to fund the conservation and monitoring of state-identified at-risk species, known as Species of Greatest Conservation Need, which will allow Congress to adequately fund an existing proactive conservation funding model in a collaborative, non-regulatory manner. This legislation has attracted broad bipartisan support, as well as the support of diverse partners from industry to conservation organizations. America’s public lands and wildlife are inextricably linked—and we are confident Congress can address the significant challenges facing both. As the Energy and Natural Resources Committee considers passage of S. 3172, we urge members to consider the importance of adequate fisheries and wildlife conservation funding within a comprehensive natural resources federal funding policy. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Dr. John E. McDonald, Jr. President The Wildlife Society
Recovering America’s Wildlife Act Funding Source Also Targeted for National Parks Maintenance Backlog
This week, the House Natural Resources Committee advanced the Restore Our Parks and Public Lands Act, a bill that seeks to fund the maintenance backlog on national parks, wildlife refuges and public lands. The American Fisheries Society and The Wildlife Society urged the committee to consider funding for proactive fish and wildlife conservation. More than one-third of all U.S. wildlife species are at-risk due to habitat loss and degradation, invasive species, disease, and pollution. Without adequately managed, healthy populations of fish and wildlife on our public lands, the benefits provided through the improvement of recreational access and enhancement to our nation’s public lands will be diminished. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (H.R. 4647) would meet this need by proactively funding conservation of at-risk fish and wildlife species. Like the Restore Our Parks and Public Lands Act, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would dedicate a portion of existing energy and mineral royalties from federal lands and waters to fund the conservation and monitoring of state-identified at-risk species, known as Species of Greatest Conservation Need, which will allow Congress to adequately fund an existing proactive conservation funding model in a collaborative, non-regulatory manner. Tell your member of Congress to support the H.R. 4647.
Recovering America’s Wildlife Act Introduced in Senate
The bipartisan Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, S.B. 3223, was introduced in the Senate on Tuesday by Sen. James Risch (R-Idaho), and cosponsored by Senators Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.); Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.), and Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.). The bill would authorize up to $1.3 billion annually, subject to appropriations, for state fish and wildlife agencies to support the implementation of State Wildlife Action Plans or SWAPs. These plans identify species at risk of becoming threatened or endangered, known as species of greatest conservation need, and detail proactive plans to reduce population declines in an effort to prevent the need to list them under the Endangered Species Act. The Senate version authorizes up to $1.3 billion each year, but would require an appropriation of funds on an annual basis. The House bill (H.R. 4647), introduced in December by Reps. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) and Debbie Dingell, (D-Mich.), provides for $1.3 billion in dedicated funding every year in to state agencies to address imperiled species. The House version of the bill is based on the 2016 recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Panel on Sustaining America’s Diverse Fish and Wildlife Resources, which was composed of conservation, recreation and business leaders who determined dedicated funding was the most appropriate mechanism for keeping species off of the endangered species list. In a statement released by The Wildlife Society and the American Fisheries Society, Doug Austen, Executive Director of AFS, states “We are pleased that the Senate is making steps to address the serious crisis for America’s fish and wildlife, but we are concerned that the lack of dedicated funding in the Senate bill will leave states without a reliable funding stream to address at-risk species before they become endangered. The crisis calls for a change in the status quo. State Wildlife Action Plans are chronically underfunded and without a shift in the approach, many species already struggling will be on the path to extinction due to increasingly warmer temperatures, drought, poor water quality, and habitat degradation and fragmentation.”
Capitol Hill Briefing Highlights Wildlife Crisis and the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act
The American Fisheries Society (AFS), The Wildlife Society (TWS), and the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) hosted a Congressional briefing on the status of U.S. fish and wildlife, along with a new funding mechanism that could address the current wildlife crisis. The event focused on a recently released report, Reversing America’s Wildlife Crisis, which shows that as many as one-third of U.S. wildlife species are at increased risk of extinction. However, the report also highlights the conservation successes made possible by State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAPs), and calls for a dramatic increase in their funding through the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (HR 4647). “Protecting our biodiversity is part of our American way of life,” said Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), who opened the briefing. She introduced the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act with Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R.-Neb.) last year. Bruce Stein, NWF chief scientist and lead author of the report, noted that extinction of species in not just hypothetical, with 150 U.S. species now extinct. “History shows us when we invest in our conservation efforts, they really pay off, as we have seen for species that are hunted or fished that already have a dedicated, secure source of funding. It is really time to ramp up the scale of our investments to match the scale of the problem.” The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would provide the funding needed to implement three-quarters of every State Wildlife Action Plan, which assess the health of fish and wildlife within each state and outline the conservation actions necessary to prevent them from becoming listed under the Endangered Species Act. Collectively, these plans have identified nearly 12,000 species nationwide (mostly non-game species) that are in need of conservation attention and action. Currently, funding only covers a fraction of the need. “State Wildlife Action Plans, that every state has, identify what needs to be done—a road map. We have the plan, we have the people to do this but we don’t have the resources to make this happen,” said AFS Executive Director Doug Austen. “It’s a shame we have to deal with these sorts of things the way we are right now—the resources simply aren’t there to do it, but the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act provides those tools.” “Just as all politics are local, so too is the best conservation,” said Carter Smith, executive director of Texas Parks and Wildlife. “In addition, the best conservation is not done from the view of a patient lying on the floor of an emergency room. It’s preemptive, it’s proactive, it’s strategic, and it’s anticipatory. State Wildlife Action Plans call for resources to be deployed before species get to the proverbial emergency room.” “For The Wildlife Society, this legislation would be a game changer,” said TWS Government Relations Program Coordinator Caroline Murphy. “It would provide the needed funds to monitor and conserve at-risk species and for wildlife professionals to hold those species in the public trust for generations yet to come.” After the briefing, attendees enjoyed meeting NWF naturalist and television personality David Mizejewski, who brought several non-game species of animals, including an alligator snapping turtle, beaver, alligator, barn owl, and spotted skunk. A Periscope recording of the briefing is available here. View photos from the briefing.
Interior Appropriations Update
The House Appropriations Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Subcommittee released a Fiscal Year 2019 funding bill last week that would restore funding to the U.S. Geological Survey’s Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units (CRUs) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s State and Tribal Wildlife Grants. President Trump’s FY19 budget proposal eliminated funding for the CRUs and cut State and Tribal Wildlife grant funding in half. The draft appropriations bill would fund the CRUs at $19.29 million with an additional $1.92 million for filling critical vacancies at research institutions. The 40 CRUs across 38 states are embedded in major research universities and bridge the gap between science and natural resource decisions. CRU scientists produce credible, applied science that meets the direct needs of cooperators and empowers the front lines of fish and wildlife conservation. Insufficient funding for the program has hindered the CRUs ability to fill 36 staff vacancies. In March, AFS wrote a letter of support for the CRU program to congressional appropriators seeking $23.9 million for the coming fiscal year which would provide funding to fill all the vacancies. State and Tribal Wildlife grants would be funded at $63.6 million in the House bill, level with Fiscal Year 2018 funding. AFS has been meeting with Senate Appropriations staff to express support for the grant program and request robust funding for the program. AFS worked with our conservation partners including the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, the National Wildlife Federation, and the Wildlife Society to secure Senate support for the program on a “Dear Colleague letter.” State and Tribal Wildlife Grants provide funding for states to implement voluntary conservation of imperiled species identified in State Wildlife Action plans. Annual appropriations provide less than 5% of the funding that would be needed to fully implement every state’s plan. Dedicated funding for the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would secure 75% of the funds to address the 12,000 at-risk species to prevent them from becoming endangered. The Senate Interior appropriations bill has not yet been finalized. Please consider contacting your U.S. Senators to express support for the CRUs and State and Tribal Wildlife Grants and don’t forget to call your representatives in the House to ask them to co-sponsor the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act if you haven’t already done so!
New Recovering America’s Wildlife Act Co-Sponsors and Reminder of May 22nd Deadline
The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act is gaining momentum in Congress. As of this month, 52 members of Congress have joined Representatives Jeff Fortenberry (R.-Neb.) and Debbie Dingell (D.-Mich.), the lead sponsors of H.R. 4647, in co-sponsoring the bill. There’s more work to be done! We’re expecting a companion bill in the Senate in the near future and we’ll need continued outreach across the country to secure co-sponsors. AFS is encouraging all Chapters to sign this letter of support before May 22. It will be delivered to members of Congress to demonstrate the support in their respective states for this important piece of legislation. Thank you to the 33 Chapters and Student Subunits that have joined the AFS headquarters office in support of the bill. Don’t forget, members of Congress will be in their districts May 28-June 1. It’s a great time to let your elected representatives know that you support dedicated funding for state-based proactive conservation through the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. Contact AFS Policy Director Drue Winters ([email protected]) for more information.
One-Third of American Wildlife at Increased Risk of Extinction
New Report Details America’s Looming Wildlife Crisis, Highlights Ways to Help Species in Trouble Contact: Lacey McCormick, National Wildlife Federation, 512-610-7765, [email protected] Martha Wilson, American Fisheries Society, 202-445-9514, [email protected] WASHINGTON (March 29, 2018) – As many as one-third of U.S. wildlife species are at increased risk of extinction, according to a new report by the National Wildlife Federation, the American Fisheries Society, and The Wildlife Society. “America’s wildlife are in crisis and now is the time for unprecedented on-the-ground collaboration,” said Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation. “Fish, birds, mammals, reptiles and invertebrates are all losing ground. We owe it to our children and grandchildren to prevent these species from vanishing from the earth. Recovering wildlife is a win-win-win: strengthening our economy, improving public health, and making communities more resilient.” About one-third of the nation’s best-known groups of species—from vertebrates, like birds and mammals, to invertebrates such as butterflies and freshwater mussels—are imperiled or vulnerable. These figures, based on conservation status assessments carried out by NatureServe and its state natural heritage program partners, paint a stark picture of the overall condition of America’s extraordinary diversity of wildlife. “I have spent more than three decades looking at how wildlife in the United States are faring,” said Bruce Stein, Ph.D., chief scientist and associate vice president of the National Wildlife Federation. “Although there have been some great conservation successes, many of our species continue to decline, and we are seeing the emergence of major new threats to America’s wildlife. It’s time to make sure that the scale of our conservation efforts match the scope of this problem.” Among the findings in Reversing America’s Wildlife Crisis: Securing the Future of Our Fish and Wildlife: One-third of America’s wildlife species are at increased risk of extinction. More than 150 U.S. species already have gone extinct. Nearly 500 additional species have not been seen in recent decades and are regarded as possibly extinct. Approximately 40 percent of the nation’s freshwater fish species are now rare or imperiled. Seventy percent of North America’s freshwater mussels are imperiled or already extinct. Pollinator populations are dropping precipitously. Monarch butterfly populations in the eastern U.S., for instance, have dwindled by 90 percent over the past two decades. Thirty percent of North America’s bat species have seen significant declines over the past two decades Amphibians are disappearing from their known habitats at a rate of 4 percent each year. “Wildlife in America need help. Species are increasingly at risk in all regions of the country and across all categories of wildlife,” said John McDonald, Ph.D., president of The Wildlife Society. “This decline is not inevitable. Wildlife professionals in every state have action plans ready to go to conserve all wildlife for future generations, but we need the funding to turn this situation around.” The report also describes success stories where concerted, collaborative efforts have been able to make a difference for at-risk species of wildlife. By the late 1970s, not a single Canada lynx was found in Colorado. These solitary cats play an important ecological role, balancing the populations of smaller mammals like snowshoe hares. Two decades ago, Colorado Parks and Wildlife started a lynx reintroduction program; today a self-sustaining population of 150-250 lynx now roam Colorado’s backcountry. New England cottontail populations have dwindled for decades due to habitat loss; the species was once a candidate for listing under the Endangered Species Act. A collaborative effort between states, federal agencies, tribes, and non-profit organizations created lost habitats and reintroduced captive-bred rabbits to the wild. Brook Trout populations in the eastern U.S. currently exist in just 10 percent of its historic habitats, but a partnership with members from Georgia to Maine—including 17 different state wildlife agencies—is working to improve the outlook for the prized sportfish. “Nearly half of our fish species are struggling. Other aquatic species, like mussels, are in even worse shape,” said Drue Winters, policy director of the American Fisheries Society. “We know how to improve the outlook for our America’s aquatic wildlife and we know this would have economic benefits as well—we just need the political will to make it happen.” *** The National Wildlife Federation is uniting all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in a rapidly changing world. The Wildlife Society works to inspire, empower, and enable wildlife professionals to sustain wildlife populations and their habitats through science-based management and conservation. The American Fisheries Society is the world’s oldest and largest organization dedicated to strengthening the fisheries profession, advancing fisheries science, and conserving fisheries resources.
New Report Details Looming U.S. Wildlife Crisis
America harbors a remarkable array of fish and wildlife, yet many are in serious trouble and up to one-third of U.S. species are at increased risk of extinction. Habitat loss and degradation, invasive species, disease, and pollution all pose threats to our wildlife—threats that are being amplified by a rapidly changing climate. Reversing America’s Wildlife Crisis—a collaboration among the National Wildlife Federation, American Fisheries Society, and The Wildlife Society—celebrates the extraordinary diversity of U.S. fish and wildlife while calling attention to the severe declines affecting many of the nation’s species. Read the press release. Although severe, these declines can be halted—and even reversed. A growing body of research demonstrates that investing in conservation can make a difference. This report highlights the conservation successes made possible by State Wildlife Action Plans, and calls for a dramatic increase in wildlife funding—particularly through the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act—to reverse this crisis and secure the future of our fish and wildlife heritage. Please join us in advancing this important piece of legislation. To find out more about how you can get involved, visit our website or contact AFS Policy Director Drue Banta Winters ([email protected]).
Bipartisan Support for RAWA Grows as 36 Lawmakers Co-Sponsor Bill
36 U.S. lawmakers signed on to support Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA) this past week. AFS Executive Director Doug Austen made the rounds with Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) President Jeff Crane and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies on Capitol Hill. They met with Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Congressman Gene Green (D-Tex.) to secure sponsors for the bill. AFS is working to ensure that Congress dedicates funding for proactive conservation of at-risk fish. Find out how you can help here. To find out if your representative is one of the Co-sponsors click here
Update: Cosponsors of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act
There are 35 cosponsors of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. To find out if your representative is one click here
Recovering America’s Wildlife Act briefing March 14th
AFS Executive Director Doug Austen met with Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus Co-Chair Congressman Gene Green and CSF president Jeff Crane on Capitol Hill on March 14th for a Recovering America’s Wildlife Act briefing.
Recording: Support of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act – A Guide to Grassroots Advocacy
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Hearing Held on Recovering America’s Wildlife Act
AFS is proud to support the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA). The congressional hearing on February 15 was a great step toward advancing this important legislation to provide state fish and wildlife agencies with the resources they need to conduct proactive conservation and to reverse species population declines. Witness Bob Ziehmer, Senior Director of Conservation for Bass Pro Shops, testified that, “It is time for a more complete funding model to enable state agencies to deliver conservation actions for all fish and wildlife, both game and non-game.” “The positive impacts of RAWA would be huge for fisheries throughout the United States. Funding for State Wildlife Plans would be considerable. In Montana alone, this legislation would increase its Fish and Wildlife budget by $28 million,” said AFS Executive Director Doug Austen. Despite the remarkable diversity of fish and wildlife in the United States, populations of many species are in decline. Freshwater animals have been particularly hard hit. Approximately 40 percent of the nation’s freshwater fish species are now rare or imperiled. Emerging diseases, invasive species, habitat loss, and extreme weather threaten many fish and wildlife populations at a scale inconceivable just a few decades ago. “If RAWA were enacted, success stories, like the Texas Park and Wildlife Department (TPWD) Guadalupe Bass Restoration Initiative, would be able to reverse these negative national trends. This is a win-win for the country,” said AFS Policy Director Drue Winters.
State Wildlife Action Plan Success Story: The Guadalupe Bass
The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA) will secure $1.3 billion annually for state fish and wildlife agencies to undertake significant, proactive conservation of imperiled species. This will provide dedicated funding for State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAPs), which assess the health of fish and wildlife within each state and outline the conservation actions necessary to prevent them from becoming listed under the Endangered Species Act. One SWAP success story is the Guadalupe Bass in Texas. The Guadalupe Bass (Micropterus treculii), is endemic to the South Llano River and other flowing waters of Texas. It is a popular species with fishermen in the central part of the state and also serves as the state fish of Texas. The Guadalupe Bass faced displacement in the 1970s due to the introduction of stocks of Smallmouth Bass. The Smallmouth Bass and the Guadalupe Bass crossed, producing a hybrid fish that displaced the native Guadalupe Bass. The Texas State Wildlife Protection Plan created a strategy to help mitigate the loss of pure Guadalupe Bass before the cost of intervention became too high. State Wildlife Grants, private donations, and grants from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation were crucial in the re-introduction of this species. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) initiated a successful hatchery program in 1992 in order to increase the number of pure Guadalupe Bass, and have since stocked 2,355,807 fish. As a result of successful stocking, there are less than 2% of hybrids in the Guadalupe Bass population. Landowners have also been key in the success of bringing back Guadalupe Bass populations. As a result of local conservation workshops, over 78,000 acres of ranchlands implemented stewardship practices resulting in the restoration of 7,754 acres of Guadalupe Bass habitat. The positive economic impact of the Guadalupe Bass is an added benefit to bringing back populations of this treasured symbol of Texas. A recent study done by Texas Tech University Llano River Field Station found that river fishing in Hill Country contributed $71 million to the economy over a 16-month period. In a survey of anglers in Hill Country, 42% specifically targeted Guadalupe Bass. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would allow for the continuous efforts of raising Guadalupe Bass stocks through the Guadalupe Bass Restoration Initiative. This initiative would stock 500,000 pure Guadalupe Bass annually, as well as address habitat degradation that is essential to Guadalupe Bass recovery. Under RAWA, the state of Texas would receive an estimated additional $60 million for conservation of Guadalupe Bass and many other imperiled species. (Click here to see an estimate of how much your state would receive.) A special thanks to Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for information on the Guadalupe Bass. Send your SWAP success stories to Drew Winters at [email protected]
Support of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act – A Guide to Grassroots Advocacy
Want to learn more about grassroots advocacy techniques? Join us for a free webinar on February 22 to learn how you can help AFS support the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act in your state. Participants will learn the fundamentals of a congressional “field visit”, the elements of a successful in-district meeting with a member of Congress, and how to prepare and deliver an “elevator speech” to spur a decision-maker into action!
A Call to Action: Support Dedicated Funding to Recover America’s Fish and Wildlife
In mid-December, Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) and Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) introduced the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act in the House, a major step forward in securing $1.3 billion annually for state fish and wildlife agencies to undertake significant, proactive conservation efforts for imperiled species. If enacted, fisheries biologists and other resource professionals will be able to address the serious peril that aquatic species face in light of habitat degradation, water quality impairment, rising temperatures and reduced water availability, and other existential threats. This bill brings with it more employment opportunities for aquatic resource professional in state agencies and in the private sector. AFS is teaming up with the National Wildlife Federation, The Wildlife Society, and the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies in support of the bill. We need the help of our members! The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act presents a once in a generation opportunity to transform the way our nation funds conservation of non-game species. State fish and wildlife agencies are tasked with managing our fish and wildlife, and they have shown great success in restoring species that were once on the brink of extinction. But, they are in dire need of adequate funding prevent at-risk species from becoming endangered. Species that are hunted or fished have dedicated funding for their conservation through license fees and excise taxes on hunting and fishing equipment. However, the thousands of fish and wildlife species that aren’t hunted or fished do not have a similar dedicated funding stream. America’s fish and wildlife are in crisis. Hundreds of species are at-risk of becoming threatened or endangered. In the last 100 years or so, more than 100 freshwater animal species have been recorded as extinct in North America. Hundreds of additional species of fishes, mollusks, crayfishes, and amphibians are considered imperiled. If models are correct, America’s freshwater ecosystems are being depleted of species as rapidly as tropical forests. Research by the U.S. Geological Survey in 2012 concluded that since 1989, the number of extinct North American fish species has increased by 25% and up to another 86 species may disappear by 2050. With increasing temperatures and decreasing water flows, the crisis for aquatic species is even more acute. State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAPs) assess the health of fish and wildlife within each state and outline the conservation actions necessary to sustain them. Collectively, these SWAPs form a nationwide strategy to prevent fish and wildlife from becoming listed under the Endangered Species Act, but funding only covers a fraction of the need. As a result, states are forced to focus only on just a very few species, with many more at-risk and heading towards becoming endangered. This bill would provide the funding needed to implement three quarters of every state’s action plan. Conservation efforts could include reintroduction of imperiled species, conserving and restoring important habitat, fighting invasive species and disease, and more. Here are three ways that members can help support this important effort: Sign-on to this letter of support. Tell the story of imperiled, non-game aquatic species. We want to highlight proactive conservation success stories or stories of individual species in great need of help. Coordinate a field visit to highlight the successful efforts of state fish and wildlife agencies to conserve species. We need AFS chapters to assist in a field visit for a member of Congress in their own backyard. We’ll be working in tandem with our conservation partners and we’ll provide the training to do it! Email Drue Winters to get involved.
PRESIDENT’S COMMENTARY: The AFS Role in High-Priority Policy Issues
By Steve McMullin, AFS President President Barack Obama once famously said, “Elections have consequences.” The first year of the Trump Administration clearly demonstrates the truth of that statement, and the consequences for fisheries and the environment are potentially “huge.” The Trump Administration’s approach to science and the environment during its first year in office included withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accords, attempts to roll back clean water protections through efforts to repeal the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, political appointees disregarding science and established processes in fisheries management decisions, failure to fill science positions in the administration, and proposed budget cuts for aquatic research and conservation, just to name a few. In my brief remarks upon being installed as president of the American Fisheries Society (AFS), I stated that AFS must be the voice for fisheries because many of our members (i.e., those who work for government agencies) do not always feel free to publicly voice their concerns when science is ignored or misused in the policy process. However, we must keep in mind that AFS is a professional society and that serving as the voice for fisheries differs from environmental advocacy. Actively engaging in the policy process raises many questions. How will we choose from among the many issues that will affect fisheries and the profession? What form will our engagement in the policy process take? Where will we find the resources we need to effectively engage? I will address each of these questions in the remainder of this column. There are at least a dozen policy issues in play with important implications for fisheries as I write this column. In order to be most effective, AFS must focus its resources on a few, select issues. A proactive, focused, and deliberate approach to policy will ensure that we engage in a timely and effective manner in the most important national debates, while leaving room for smaller issues as time and resources will allow. We will assign highest priority to national issues where we can act proactively rather than reactively and where our efforts will have the greatest impact. The traditional approach employed by AFS of developing lengthy policy statements did not allow for timely engagement and those statements were not always germane to the national debate. Though well researched and documented, those policy statements often were out of date by the time they were adopted and were rarely updated as per AFS Procedures. Based on that reality, the AFS officers identified three issues as highest priority for the next year: engaging in the repeal/replacement of WOTUS to ensure consideration of the importance of wetlands and headwater streams to aquatic resources, supporting passage of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act to secure funding for proactive conservation for imperiled fish, and ensuring that proposals for the reauthorization of the Magnuson–Stevens Act are informed by science and AFS collective management experience. AFS will continue to work to ensure that the value of wetlands and headwater streams are properly considered in the administration’s efforts to repeal the 2015 WOTUS rule and replace it with a rule that undermines protections for water quality and threatens aquatic resources. The Society has an established position on this issue and has a long history of engaging on WOTUS both individually and with its partners in the Consortium of Aquatic Science Societies. AFS will continue to ensure that the best available science is considered as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency considers whether to repeal and replace the rule. In addition to WOTUS, AFS will take an active role in supporting passage of the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. This proposed legislation would direct US$1.3 billion annually to state fish and wildlife agencies for proactive conservation. State wildlife action plans are designed to protect and recover nongame species of greatest conservation need, but the states need substantially more funding to ensure that species in decline are addressed before they become threatened or endangered. Studies of extinction rates among freshwater fauna suggest that North America is losing species as rapidly as tropical forests (Ricciardi and Rasmussen 1999). This proposed legislation provides an opportunity to address habitat loss, combat invasive species, improve water quality, and apply many other conservation strategies to prevent additional decline and improve the outlook for many other species. As an added benefit, if passed, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act would significantly increase employment opportunities for fisheries biologists. This bill could be as transformational for state fish and wildlife agencies as Pittman–Robinson or Wallop–Breaux. We will be calling on our members to get involved in this opportunity of a lifetime. Lastly, but equally as important for marine species, AFS will engage in the reauthorization of the Magnuson–Stevens Act, the federal law that governs fisheries management in the U.S Exclusive Economic Zone. Discussions are underway in the current Congress that call for additional flexibility in the law. The last reauthorization in 2007 required National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration–Fisheries to end current and prevent future overfishing by adopting a precautionary approach that relies on scientific stock assessments to set annual catch limits. In a relatively short time, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration–Fisheries has recovered 41 previously overfished stocks using this approach to fisheries management. Despite the successful rebuilding of many overfished stocks, both commercial and recreational fishers are frustrated by what they perceive to be an inflexible management regime that limits harvest to these more abundant stocks. The involvement of AFS in the reauthorization debate will focus on ensuring that proposals for changes in the law are informed by good science, sound management strategies, and well-supported policies. AFS will evaluate existing provisions of the law and the proposals for flexibility to ensure that conservation gains are not reversed. Where possible, AFS will propose scientifically based solutions for federal fisheries managers with flexibility to harvest sustainably and without undermining conservation gains. Elections do indeed have consequences. There has never been a more important time to get involved in ensuring that aquatic resources and their habitat are conserved and protected.
AFS Proud to Support Dedicated Funding to Recover America’s Fish and Wildlife
America’s fish and wildlife are in crisis. Hundreds of species are facing risk of becoming threatened or endangered. States have determined that there are 12,000 species that are rare, declining, or vulnerable and in need of conservation, but current funding does not match the size of the problem. AFS, the National Wildlife Federation, The Wildlife Society, and others, are working together to help avert this crisis by asking Congress to dedicate $1.3 billion annually for state fish and wildlife agencies to undertake proactive conservation efforts through the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act. State fish and wildlife agencies are tasked with managing our fish and wildlife, and they have shown great success in restoring species that were once on the brink of extinction. Species that are hunted or fished have dedicated funding for their conservation through license fees and excise taxes on hunting and fishing equipment. However, the thousands of species that aren’t hunted or fished do not have a similar dedicated funding stream and they are falling through the cracks. In many cases, no action is taken until a species is officially listed under the federal Endangered Species Act. Once a species reaches that point, it is much harder and more expensive to recover a species and there are regulatory hurdles that make doing business more challenging. State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAPs) assess the health of fish and wildlife within each state and outline the conservation actions necessary to sustain them. Collectively, these SWAPs form a nationwide strategy to prevent fish and wildlife from becoming listed under the Endangered Species Act. While the State and Tribal Wildlife Grant program has been appropriated $50-100 million dollars each year to fund SWAPs, the program is funded at only a fraction of what states need to conserve these at-risk species. Annual appropriations cover only 4.65% of the necessary conservation needs. As a result, states are forced to focus only on just a very few species, with many more at risk and heading towards becoming endangered. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act will direct funds to each state to safeguard fish, wildlife, and their habitats as laid out in their existing, congressionally mandated SWAPs. These plans provide accountability and oversight because states can only use these funds on work that is identified within the Action Plans. These plans must be updated every 10 years with the latest science, require public input, and are approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Conservation efforts could include reintroduction of imperiled species, conserving and restoring important habitat, fighting invasive species and disease, and more. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act implements the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Panel on Sustaining America’s Diverse Fish and Wildlife Resources. This non-partisan panel of 26 visionary leaders, representing outdoor recreation retailers and manufacturers, the energy industry, sportsmen’s groups, and other conservation organizations, was convened by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies to develop recommendations on providing secure funding for all of our nation’s fish and wildlife. The members agreed that proactive conservation is cost effective and can save wildlife and taxpayer dollars well before listing becomes necessary. The panel reviewed many options and determined that using funding from existing revenues from the use of our non-renewable natural resources was a pragmatic and logical solution that would mutually benefit America’s industries and agencies, as well as our shared fish, wildlife, and economic heritage. Please join us in supporting this important legislative effort by signing this letter. Stay tuned for more ways to get involved!