Hunters and Anglers Are Key To Biodiversity
BY JEFF CRANE, PRESIDENT OF THE CONGRESSIONAL SPORTSMEN’S FOUNDATION
anglers to get involved in conversations about 30 by 30 the Hunt Fish 30 by 30 coalition’s perspective was formally acknowledged in the Biden Administration’s (administration) recently released report on 30 by 30 framework recommendations. f you were to ask most sporting conservation groups about their In May, the Secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, thoughts on the “Thirty by Thirty Initiative” (30 by 30), you’d and the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality laid out likely get a range of answers ranging from “land grab” to “cauthe Biden Administration’s long-awaited plan for the 30 by 30 tiouasly optimistic.” This global initiative, which seeks to protect Initiative in a report titled, “Conserving and Restoring America 30% of the world’s lands and waters by the year 2030, has received the Beautiful.” As a result of our direct engagement with the adsignificant attention lately. Environmental organizations frame 30 ministration, the report contained many of the priorities previously by 30 as a solution to a biodiversity crisis that is linked to, among outlined by the Hunt Fish 30 by 30 coalition, setting the stage other things, the effects of climate change. In January, President for future efforts to determine specific goals of the Initiative, and Biden issued an Executive Order proposing to pursue the 30 by what opportunities exist to build upon existing conservation pro30 goal in the United States. The goal of conserving biodiversity grams. The report even quoted the Hunt Fish 30 by 30 preamble, is admirable, but with 30 by 30 being little more than a catchy an indication that the interests of sportsmen and women are, so slogan at this point, hunters, anglers and others have raised some far, being recognized and considered in approaches to pursuing important questions, including, “What does this mean for sports30 by 30 goals. men and women, the original conservationists?” Throughout the report, the Administration references the role In addition to supporting conservation efforts through the of the hunting and angling community in the United States’ hisAmerican System of Conservation Funding, sportsmen and women tory of conservation successes, specifically calling for stakeholder have been largely responsible for many of the on-the-ground conengagement, including engagement from the hunting and fishing servation successes that we have seen in the community that is laser focused on advancUnited States for nearly a century. For us, the ing science-based practices and programs that Hunters, anglers, passion for conservation does not end when we maintain and enhance outdoor recreational achang up the bow, rifle, or fishing rod for the cess for all Americans side-by-side with locally and our allies are year. Instead, many sportsmen and women carry developed conservation projects. Engagement standing together this passion into the offseason as they work to from the hunting and angling community is conserve the diverse ecosystems of which we are crucial to any 30 by 30 policy when the goal offering productive a part of. It is through these very pursuits that is to conserve and restore our natural places. solutions so others sportsmen and women, farmers, ranchers, and Additionally, the report highlights the impordon’t have an landowners lead when it comes to stewardship tance of voluntary conservation on our nation’s of our nation’s natural resources. working lands and forests, recognizing that priopportunity to Given this history, it is obvious that sportsvate landowners are essential to maintaining the define the future of men and women should be steering the ship health and proper functioning of wildlife and conservation for us. when it comes to decisions related to 30 by 30 associated local economies. policies or any conservation initiative. That’s Hunters and anglers should also be pleased why the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation to see the distinction made between conserva(CSF) led an effort to establish the “Hunt Fish 30 by 30” Coalition. tion and preservation in the report’s recommendations, a primary This coalition, which includes the Houston Safari Club (HSC), was consideration of the Hunt Fish 30 by 30 coalition. officially launched last fall and has since grown to include dozens of “Notably, the President’s challenge specifically emphasizes the notion hunting and fishing groups. The coalition’s website, huntfish3030. of “conservation” of the nation’s natural resources (rather than the related com, is an educational resource where the public can learn about but different concept of “protection” or “preservation”) recognizing that 30 by 30 and the leading role that sportsmen and women clearly many uses of our lands and waters, including of working lands, can play in supporting biodiversity conservation. The Hunt Fish 30 be consistent with the long-term health and sustainability of natural by 30 website can also be used by policy makers as a resource to systems,” the report states. understand how hunting and fishing organizations view 30 by 30. Using 30 by 30 to advance a preservation agenda would be detWhen environmental groups started using 30 by 30 as a smokerimental to the viability of healthy fish and wildlife populations, screen for anti-sustainable-use policies, the options were pretty outdoor recreational access, and the vitality of rural America. That’s clear; either stand on the sidelines or get into game and put forward why it is critical that America’s hunters and anglers stand firm and a clear set of principles needed to form the basis of any workable remain engaged to ensure that the policy proposals that are sure 30 by 30 policies. As a united front to encourage hunters and to come after the report live up to the distinctions outlined in the
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20 HUNTER'S HORN™ SUMMER 2021
