Federal legislation to address wildlife management has been introduced and Louisiana Wildlife Federation urges your support for the Recovering America’s Wildlife (RAW) Act.
The crisis facing our nation’s fish and wildlife is daunting. More than one-third of all species in the United States are at risk of becoming threatened or endangered unless we proactively implement on-the-ground conservation measures. It costs the American public hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars each year to recover threatened or endangered species, costs that could be avoided or greatly reduced if we prevent fish and wildlife from needing these “emergency room” measures in the first place.
The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act is built upon the premise that the best way to save America’s wildlife is through collaborative, proactive, voluntary work before species are in trouble. This legislation will help conserve and recover our nation’s fish and wildlife by dedicating $1.3 billion for state-level conservation and $97.5 million to Tribal nations to recover and sustain healthy fish and wildlife populations. The funds will be used to accelerate the recovery of the more than 12,000 species of greatest conservation need across the country by implementing the strategies identified in each state’s congressionally mandated State Wildlife Action Plan. Similarly, tribal nations will expand conservation efforts on their lands, which provide vital habitat for hundreds of fish and wildlife species, including more than 500 species listed as threatened or endangered.
Our nation has a remarkable history of coming together to bring species back from the brink of extinction by funding professional, science-driven fish and wildlife management. Eighty years ago, prized game species like elk, wood ducks, wild turkeys, and trout were at the cusp of being lost forever. Instead, hunters and anglers came together to leverage user fees for game species conservation because they understood that preserving wildlife takes coordinated, consistent investment in collaborative conservation.
It will take a similar vision and effort to address the escalating problems facing our fish and wildlife in the 21st century. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act presents a solution that meets the magnitude of the challenge, and would represent the largest investment in conservation funding in more than a generation. Importantly, it will help ensure that future generations can enjoy the same abundant fish, wildlife, and outdoor recreation opportunities that we have today.