Highlights
Why it Matters: Sportsmen and women are the primary funders of conservation in the United States through the “user pays – public benefits” American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF), but increased natural resource management needs, inflation, and various license exemptions and discounts stress state fish and wildlife agency budgets. Protecting and potentially supplementing these funding sources is important for managing fish and wildlife resources and supporting our country’s outdoor sporting traditions.
CSF regularly works with NASC legislators and a range of conservation partners to protect conservation funding at the state level. The July 26 webinar addressed ways to ensure that state agencies can continue to generate critical conservation dollars through license sales, as well as potential complimentary funding sources such as a dedicated sales tax on outdoor gear, to supplement ASCF dollars.
The webinar began with NASC Executive Council President Representative Brian White (SC) providing opening remarks and laying the foundation for the conservation funding discussion. Panelists and their specific topics discussed included:
The webinar was well attended with state legislators, state fish and wildlife agency staff, and partners from conservation organizations attending from numerous states. Panelists fielded insightful questions from webinar participants and relayed their experiences working on conservation funding issues in their respective states.
The next installment in the Virtual Summer Educational Series, “Science, Emotion, and Politics: The Perennial Debate on Lead Ammunition and Fishing Tackle,” will be held on August 11. For more information, please contact Joe Mullin at jmullin@congressionalsportsmen.org.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
