Lawrence Nieroda submitted this photo of his brother Joe after a fishing trip in Kodiak, Alaska.
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Fish as Art
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Conservation Finds Renewed Importance in Dire Economic Straits
“Conservation is a luxury we simply can’t afford.” This is what sportsmen and women were told in 2011 as the House of Representatives passed a budget that eliminated or eviscerated almost every major conservation program, from wetlands conservation and public lands management funding to the Open Fields program that encourages landowners to open their lands to public hunting and fishing.
Finally, anti-conservation members of Congress had their excuse to attack programs that they had never liked, programs they believe thwart the full development of our natural resources. A slew of “riders” unrelated to the budget proved that this was more about ideology than deficit reduction.
But faced with giving up a century of conservation progress, hunters and anglers came together and reached out to the outdoor recreation and historic preservation communities to make the case that conservation is not a luxury; it is fundamental to what makes America great and it provides jobs. The coalition, called America’s Voice for Conservation, Recreation and Preservation, now boasts more than 1,200 groups, including many of our partners.
It released a comprehensive economic study that showed hunting and fishing, other outdoor recreation, and historic preservation support 9.4 million American jobs, result in $1.06 trillion in annual economic impact and generate $107 billion annually in tax revenue. And these are jobs that cannot be exported.
It’s also important to note that conservation did not create the budget deficit and it cannot solve the problem. As a percentage of federal spending, conservation has decreased from about 2.5 percent in the 1970 to about 1.26 percent today.
You could eliminate every conservation program and barely make a dent in the deficit. Moreover, as everyone who has ever worked on a local conservation project knows, every dollar of federal funds is leveraged several times over by state and private funds and volunteer labor.
I am pleased to report that common sense finally ruled the day and the Senate reinstated about $1.8 billion in conservation funds in the final budget agreement. But the House is now poised to repeat history by passing a bill almost identical to its 2011 disaster.
Once again it is time for sportsmen and women of all stripes to speak up for what Theodore Roosevelt called the common man’s birthright.
A Simple Mission
Here at the TRCP, our mission is simple. In order to guarantee all Americans quality places to hunt and fish, we strengthen laws, policies and practices affecting fish and wildlife conservation by leading partnerships that influence decision makers.
A Moose Shed That’s Bigger Than My Head
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The Broad Country We Both Loved…
Roosevelt called often at my office to discuss the broad country we both loved, and we came to know each other extremely well. Though chiefly interested in big game and its hunting, and telling interestingly of events that had occurred on his hunting trips, Roosevelt enjoyed hearing of the birds, the small mammals and the incidents of travel of early expeditions on which I had gone. He was always fond of natural history, having begun, as so many boys have done, with birds; but as he saw more and more of outdoor life his interest in the subject broadened and later it became a passion with him.
– George Grinnell
Excerpt from American Sportsmen and the Origins of Conservation by John F. Reiger.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
CHEERS TO CONSERVATION
Theodore Roosevelt’s experiences hunting and fishing certainly fueled his passion for conservation, but it seems that a passion for coffee may have powered his mornings. In fact, Roosevelt’s son once said that his father’s coffee cup was “more in the nature of a bathtub.” TRCP has partnered with Afuera Coffee Co. to bring together his two loves: a strong morning brew and a dedication to conservation. With your purchase, you’ll not only enjoy waking up to the rich aroma of this bolder roast—you’ll be supporting the important work of preserving hunting and fishing opportunities for all.
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Alaska is by FAR the biggest state in the union, being bigegr than the next three largest states (California, Montana, and Texas) combined. It has more coastline than the continental United States. Needless to say, its world famous reputation comes from the fact that it abounds with thousands of miles of streams, more than 3,000 streams, and its lakes are counted in the tens of thousands. Added to that, saltwater angling opportunities unequaled almost anywhere in the world gives you an angler’s Heaven. Likewise, Alaska is blessed with an abundance of state licensed and U.S. Coast Guard inspected and approved fishing guides using the best of equipment. There are literally hundreds to choose from and picking just one can be a bit challenging. To make your selection considerably easier, I recommend you contact the Alaska State Department of Fish Game who should be able to provide you with a list of licensed guides in the area you wish to visit. They won’t make individual recommendations, but they should be able to provide a list of licensed fishing guides. My selection process would begin in the south-central area of Alaska for the greater selection of lake and river opportunities and the abundance of guides. Try the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce also to see if they have a listing of guide members in the area. There are a number of more than qualified guides listed in the yellow pages of the Wasilla/Palmer phone books as well. Good luck in your selection.