Contact: Nick Buggia, Upper Midwestern States Manager Why it Matters: The Endangered Species Act was created to help species who are both at risk of extinction and whose future is uncertain in the United States. Species on the list are provided with protections and funding for conservation efforts to ensure their recovery. Since its inception, 54…
Why it matters: There are currently 15 national marine sanctuaries (NMS) in United States waters that span from the Atlantic Ocean to the western Pacific Ocean, as well as the Great Lakes. The Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary is a proposed sanctuary off the coast of California that seeks to protect important indigenous cultural sites…
Contact: Mark Lance, Southeastern States Coordinator Why It Matters: States without a dedicated conservation funding mechanism leave millions of dollars on the table every year because they cannot provide the funding to qualify for federal conservation programs. For example, funding is available through Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Acts that match state dollars at a 3:1 ratio. States could…
Contact: Ellary TuckerWilliams, Rocky Mountain States Senior Coordinator Why it Matters: Baseless restrictions on magazine capacity creates unnecessary burdens on responsible firearms owners who would then have to purchase additional equipment for their firearms to be legally operational. Such restrictions come at high costs to firearm manufactures and consumers, with little to no evidence indicating…
Contact: Keely Hopkins, Pacific States Assistant Manager Why It Matters: Oregon’s hunters, anglers, and trappers have long played a vital role in funding conservation and wildlife management efforts throughout the state. Under the American System of Conservation Funding (ASCF), a unique “user pays-public benefits” structure, Oregon’s sportsmen and women generate tens of millions of dollars…
Contact: Joe Mullin, Assistant Manager, Northeastern States Why it Matters: State fish and wildlife agency boards and commissions have instrumental roles in setting the frameworks that result in the successful conservation and management of a state’s fish, wildlife, and their habitats. Sportsmen and women (including hunters, anglers, recreational shooters, and trappers) have played a crucial…