In August of 2000, B&C was instrumental in organizing an historical conservation summit that has already proven to have a profound effect on the future of wildlife. This landmark meeting resulted in the foundation of the American Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP)—a coalition of wildlife organizations representing more than 4.5 million hunter-conservationists.
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MISSOULA, Mont. – The nation’s top 50 hunting conservation organizations today released their policy recommendations for the next White House Administration and the next two Congresses. Wildlife for the 21st Century: Volume VI was developed by the groups that participate in the American Wildlife...
Boone and Crockett Club is advancing with our American Wildlife Conservation Partners to promote the Wildlife for the 21st Century, Volume 6 sportsmen’s agenda with the Biden Administration. Today, we were joined by several AWCP partners to brief the Biden-Harris Transition Team on priorities. We...
Focus Climate Policy on Habitat Conservation and Restoration – America’s sportsmen and women are experiencing firsthand the consequences of increasing temperatures, prolonged droughts, record forest fires, more powerful hurricanes, inland flooding, spread of invasive species and wildlife diseases, and algal outbreaks. These cascading problems degrade habitat, threaten fish and wildlife, and reduce hunting and fishing opportunities. As a result, communities and the recreation economy are put at risk.
Increase Active Management of Federal Lands and Reduce Litigation through Collaboration – The U.S. has the most extensive network of federal lands in the world. Sportsmen and women are committed to making this federal land estate work to sustain fish and wildlife populations, provide access for hunting and other recreation, retain ecosystem services for our citizens, and allow careful, science-informed development that helps sustain the country’s economy.
Require Collaboration for Wildlife Conservation, Hunting, andd Recreational Shooting on Federal Lands – The future of our nation’s conservation and hunting heritage depends on dedicated attention to the sportsmen’s community in federal wildlife and resource management institutions. The essential objectives in maintaining this heritage are providing continued access to federal lands, maintaining habitat quality there, and engaging more Americans in these traditional outdoor pastimes.
Support and Assist States in Addressing Chronic Wasting Disease and Wild Sheep Pneumonia – Two wildlife diseases have become priority problems for sportsmen and women. Chronic Wasting Disease is threatening the legacy achievement of restored deer, elk, and moose populations. Pneumonia is preventing restoration of bighorn sheep and threatening other wild sheep. Both diseases threaten not only the wildlife, but the enormous economy driven by hunting.
Achieve Greater Results from an Improved ESA Program – Species conservation is principally governed by state authority. While states have primary authority for management of fish and wildlife, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and federal land management agencies have strong authorities as well. Two main areas of policy can ensure successful long-term species conservation. One is the Endangered Species Act, which is intended to prevent extinction and recover at-risk species. Another is the federal land management authorities that affect the quality of habitat on which wildlife depend.
More than two-thirds of the land area in the United States is privately owned in farms or ranches (915 million acres) and private forests (300 million acres). Regulatory programs protect many habitats and ecosystems, but the core of private land conservation policy in the U.S. drives voluntary, incentive-based programs to improve habitat while also promoting markets for sustainably-managed agricultural products. These programs incentivize habitat conservation on private lands by offering cost-shares and grants to landowners and producers that improve both their bottom line and the quality of wildlife habitat on their land.
Integrate Industry, State, and Federal Wildlife Goals Early in Energy Plannin – The developed energy resources and our natural resources provide economic benefits for the country, and both are needed for future generations. Achieving both, however, will require early consideration of effects on goals for habitat, wildlife, and water in order to balance energy development and wildlife management.
Require Collaboration on Big Game Migration Corridors and Habitats – Big game populations across North America move between summer and winter habitats. The quality of each habitat and the ability to move between them is a fundamental element in the ecology and management of mule deer, pronghorn, elk, bighorn sheep, moose, and others.
Enhance access for hunters and outdoor recreationists – Access to hunting and fishing is a primary concern of sportsmen and women, and federal lands and waters provide places where many people pursue these pastimes. Investing in infrastructure that supports recreational access, acquiring or placing easements on lands that will be open for recreational access, and providing updated and easily-accessible mapping systems to make it clear where federal lands are open for access will all help reduce this barrier to participation.
Secure permanent and dedicated conservation funding from public and private sources – Federal funding for natural resources and the environment, known as Function 300 in the budget, has been cut in half since the 1970s and is now less than one percent of overall federal discretionary spending. In addition, pass-through funds from federal excise taxes paid by hunters, recreational shooters, and anglers no longer meet state fish and wildlife agencies’ growing costs of conserving species in need. Ensuring robust and consistent funding for conservation is the top priority for sportsmen’s organizations.
Conservation Recommendations Finalized for Next White House Administration and Next Two Congresses – Fifty of the nation’s leading hunting conservation organizations recently released their policy recommendations for the next White House administration and the next two Congresses. Wildlife for the 21st Century: Volume VI was developed by the groups that participate in the American Wildlife Conservation Partners to provide specific actions that could be taken to improve wildlife conservation and management.
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"The wildlife and its habitat cannot speak. So we must and we will."
-Theodore Roosevelt
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