Photo Credit: Lael P. Johnson
Access means nothing without healthy habitat and clean water to support the wildlife and fish we love to pursue. We are fighting for meaningful policy change that benefits these critters, our waters, and the American landscapes that are unique in all the world.
Hunters and anglers have been the primary champions of wildlife habitat and healthy waterways since the days of Theodore Roosevelt. But with more competing demands on our natural resources than ever before, we can’t afford to take for granted what we have: A public lands network that is unparalleled in all the world, the best-managed fish and wildlife populations of any nation, and the ability for all Americans to hunt and fish, regardless of class or economic status. It is a system that benefits everyone, from sportsmen and sportswomen to hikers and bikers to those who simply want to drink clean water or experience wide open spaces.
Recent research and technology have helped to define the exact locations of critical corridors and stopover areas in big game migration. As a result, it is imperative that efforts to conserve these habitats advance on both public and private lands.
The Farm Bill incentivizes landowners to create habitat and walk-in access for sportsmen and women. The resulting boost to hunting and fishing opportunities helps to drive outdoor recreation spending in the rural areas that need it most.
Healthy habitat can help to slow and reverse the effects of climate change, making the push for conservation and restoration more relevant than ever. Sportsmen and sportswomen are essential to securing these solutions.
Because deer hunters contribute heavily to conservation through the purchase of licenses and gear, this disease could have major impacts on funding to improve fish and wildlife habitat.
A series of Supreme Court decisions and administrative actions have muddled the implementation of the Clean Water Act when it comes to the nation’s headwater streams and wetlands. Hunters and anglers have been vocal in pushing back on habitat loss.
This small but critically important forage fish plays a central role in the marine food web. This is why sportsmen and women are calling for federal fisheries managers to leave more menhaden in the water for striped bass and other predators.
Decision-makers have the opportunity to solve America’s infrastructure needs using the power of habitat and natural systems. These approaches are a win-win for our communities, fish and wildlife, and hunting and fishing opportunities.
Nearly 2,000 square miles of prime fish and wildlife habitat have vanished along Louisiana’s coast. But oil spill fines have created an opportunity to restore Louisiana’s coastal wetlands and fish habitat.
This bipartisan legislation would provide new funding for more proactive conservation to avoid potential endangered species listings.
TAKE ACTIONMake sure your lawmakers hear from you about the habitat and clean water issues that matter. Take action below—it only takes a few clicks to send your legislator an email that could make a big difference for fish and wildlife. Then get outside and take advantage of the best-managed fish and wildlife populations in the world. Take plenty of photos and share them with us @theTRCP.
You’re welcome. Shoot us a few bucks.
