On August 2, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announced the withdrawal of the regulation prohibiting the use of genetically modified (GMO) seeds on National Wildlife Refuges.
The National Wildlife Refuge System often enters into cooperative agriculture agreements with farmers and rangers in order to help achieve wildlife management objectives on National Wildlife Refuge lands. Cooperative agriculture is a management option used on a case by case basis on refuges where FWS cannot meet its resource management objectives through regular maintenance, or mimicking of natural ecosystem processes.
In July 2014, the National Wildlife Refuge System announced they would phase out the usage of certain agricultural practices, including the use of GMO crops. The August 2 announcement will not mandate that GMOs be incorporated into National Wildlife Refuges, but rather will provide flexibility to refuge managers to use GMOs where appropriate.
The Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation applauds Principal Deputy Director Greg Sheehan for providing flexibility to National Wildlife Refuges who are in cooperative agriculture agreements with farmers and ranchers to help improve fish and wildlife habitat.
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?
