Highlights:
Why it matters: Inadequate funding to address losses from wildfires, drought, disease, and insect infestation has created a significant backlog of reforestation planting needs. The U.S. Forest Service has identified more than 1.3 million acres that may never recover without replanting or regeneration financial assistance. Without addressing this funding shortfall, our nation’s forests are at risk of losing essential habitat for fish and wildlife populations.
Not only are our forests critically important habitat for fish and wildlife populations, they also provide irreplaceable outdoor recreation opportunities for a host of public land-dependent users, including America’s sportsmen and women. It is estimated the U.S. Forest Service supports approximately 17 million hunting and 34 million fishing days annually.
Quality hunting and fishing experiences are largely dependent on healthy forests. For example, eastern brook trout populations, an extremely popular species for recreational anglers in the Northeastern United States, are highly influenced by surrounding forests. Healthy forests with an abundance of mature trees provide much needed shade to maintain critical cold-water temperatures. Conversely, ruffed grouse and American woodcock populations are dependent on early successional forests and shrub habitats, which provide protection against predators and ample insect food sources. These are just a few of the countless examples of how healthy forests benefit the species most cherished by sportsmen and women. While these habitats are on opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to forest management, they could benefit from the REPLANT Act.
Unfortunately, reforestation funding needs have outpaced the available funding, leading to a backlog of nearly 1.3 million acres that are in desperate need of replanting. By removing the cap on the Reforestation Trust Fund, the REPLANT Act will provide the financial resources needed to restore our nation’s forests. By helping restore our forests, the REPLANT Act will create and support an estimated 49,000 reforestation jobs, establish an additional 1.2 billion trees per decade, and sequester an estimated 75 million metric tons of carbon per decade, with corresponding benefits to wildlife communities everywhere.
In November, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) and partners sent a letter to leaders of both the House and Senate urging the adoption of the legislation prior to the end of the 116th Congress. Unfortunately, the REPLANT Act was not passed in the 116th Congress, however, now that the bill has been reintroduced, CSF is hopeful the 117th Congress will prove more successful.
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?
