Photo Credit: RimLight Media
As a robust part of the $862-billion outdoor recreation economy in the U.S., hunters and anglers drive spending in local communities and fund conservation through our excise taxes and license purchases. That’s why lawmakers must prioritize investments in conservation, just as they would for other major economic sectors.
are the backbone of our hunting and fishing opportunities. But over the last four decades, funding for conservation as a percentage of the federal budget has been cut in half. This is the money that pays for habitat maintenance and improvement on Forest Service land, National Wildlife Refuges, Bureau of Land Management acres, and private lands enrolled in Natural Resource Conservation Service programs. Quality habitat translates to better hunting and fishing experiences, and if this trend line continues to drop, we will lose both.
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.
The Farm Bill incentivizes landowners to create habitat and walk-in access for sportsmen and women. The resulting boost to hunting and fishing opportunities will help 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, which would boost hunting and fishing opportunities and create conservation jobs.
Like other small but critically important forage fish, menhaden play a central role in the marine food web. This is why sportsmen and sportswomen are calling for federal fisheries managers to change their approach to managing forage fish like menhaden.
The Colorado River is essential to an entire region’s way of life—fortunately, decision-makers can support conservation of water resources in the Basin for future generations.
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.
Tell lawmakers how to improve more habitat, enhance hunting and fishing access, and support more landowners in creating fish and wildlife benefits in the 2023 Farm Bill.
TAKE ACTIONTell Congress to show conservation the money. Take action above—it only takes a few clicks to send your lawmaker a message. Sign up for TRCP email alerts to be the first to know about upcoming budget talks and funding battles—and what you can do to help. Then, get outside and take advantage of the conservation success we've already achieved. Take plenty of photos and share them with us @theTRCP.
Help the TRCP to keep public lands well-managed and accessible.
