Blue Ribbon Panel on Sustaining America's Diverse Fish & Wildlife Resources Launched!

Last month, there was a big announcement in Missouri, the same state where the Bridge to the Future Conference 20 years ago highlighted the need for fish and wildlife diversity funding.

John L. Morris, Founder and CEO of Bass Pro Shops, and Dave Freudenthal, former Governor of Wyoming, announced that they will be co-chairing the Blue Ribbon Panel on Sustaining America's Diverse Fish and Wildlife Resources. The Panel will bring together two dozen leaders from the outdoor recreation, energy, agricultural, automotive, financial, educational and conservation communities to discuss and offer recommendations on how to achieve greater and sustained funding for fish and wildlife conservation.

Under the leadership of the co-chairs- John L. Morris and Dave Freudenthal- the Panel will answer one of the most important questions facing fish and wildlife today...

What is the best and most equitable way to fund fish and wildlife conservation to ensure their sustainability?

Conservation means balancing the sustainability of fish and wildlife with the many needs of humans for clean air and water; land; food and fiber; dependable energy; economic development and recreation," said Morris. "By assembling this Panel of highly regarded leaders and problem solvers, we will find a way forward that safeguards not only vital natural resources, but also our nation's economic prosperity and outdoor heritage." Freudenthal added, "with fish and wildlife species and natural resource-based enterprise at stake, we can't afford an 'us vs. them' mentality. It is time to create certainty for both industry and the conservation community by building a 21st century funding model."

State hunting and fishing license dollars, federal excise taxes on hunting and fishing gear and motorboat fuel taxes have provided the backbone for funding states' fish and wildlife conservation programs over the past century. However, there has always been a significant gap in dedicated funding for conserving the 95 percent of all species that are neither hunted nor fished. Only partially filling that gap is the State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program, the sole federal source of funding to state agencies to prevent new endangered species listings. Since 2010, the program's funding has been cut by more than 35 percent while petitions for federal endangered species listing has skyrocketed by 1,000 percent. Over the next year, the Panelists will work together to produce recommendations on the most sustainable and equitable way to fund the conservation of the full array of fish and wildlife species..

This day has been in the making since the 1990's when the Teaming With Wildlife Coalition called for dedicated funding for state fish and wildlife diversity funding. Your work has brought us to this next stage in the campaign for funding. We will be keeping you regularly informed of the Panel's progress and will need your help to ensure the Panel's recommendations are implemented.

To kick things off, AFWA's Teaming With Wildlife Committee hosted an input session that included six Panelists and over 90 conservationists to begin gathering ideas on funding options. A website to solicit ideas from the public will be launched in the coming weeks.

To find out more about the Blue Ribbon Panel and the need to create a 21st century model of fish and wildlife diversity funding go to http://teaming.com/blueribbonpanel or contact Mary Pfaffko,mpfaffko@fishwildlife.org.

The Blue Ribbon Panelists on Sustaining America's Diverse Fish & Wildlife Resources:

Kevin Butt-General Manager and Chief Environmental Officer, Toyota Motor Engineering and Manufacturing North America, Inc. and Board Member, Wildlife Habitat Council

Jeff Crane-President, Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation; Vice-Chairman, Sporting Conservation Council; Member, Sport Fishing & Boating Partnership Council and the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council; Member, Government Affairs Committee for Safari Club International and the Hunting and Wildlife Conservation Committee for the National Rifle Association

John Doerr-President and CEO, Pure Fishing, Inc. and Board Member, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and the Recreational Boating & Fishing Foundation

Jim Faulstich-Owner, Daybreak Ranch and Vice Chairman, Partners for Conservation

John Fitzpatrick-Director, Cornell Lab of Ornithology; Professor, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University; Co-inventor, eBird

Greg Hill-President and COO, Hess Corporation

Rebecca Humphries-Chief Conservation Officer, National Wild Turkey Federation

Dr. Stephen Kellert-Professor Emeritus of Social Ecology and Senior Research Scholar, Yale University School of Forestry and Environmental Studies; Board Member, Bio-Logical Capital; Founding Partner, Environmental Capital Partners

Jennifer Mull-Chief Executive Officer, Backwoods Equipment, Inc. and Board Chair, Outdoor Industry Association

John W. Newman-Board Chairman, Ducks Unlimited; Member, Bonefish Tarpon Trust and Building Conservation Trust

Margaret O'Gorman-President, Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC) and Board Member, Stewardship Action Council

Glenn Olson-Donal O'Brien Chair in Bird Conservation and Public Policy, National Audubon Society (NAS); Member, North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) Council and the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act Advisory Council

Collin O'Mara-President and CEO, National Wildlife Federation

Connie Parker-CEO and Founder, CSPARKERGROUP; Founding Partner, HR Solutions by GP Partners and the KileyParker Group; Board Member, Bankers Financial Corporation and Chairman of the Audit, Compliance, and Enterprise Risk Management Committees; Board Member, Executive Committee Member, and Secretary, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership; Board Member, Ducks Unlimited; Board Member and Secretary, Wildlife Foundation of Florida; Trustee, Florida House

Charlie Potter-President and CEO, Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation; Founder and Chairman, Great Outdoors, LLC; Host, the Great Outdoors Show, WGN radio, Chicago

Steve Sanetti-President and CEO, National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF); Board Member, Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation; Member, Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council

Lynn Scarlett-Managing Director, Public Policy, The Nature Conservancy; Board Member, National Wildlife Refuge Association; Co-Chair, Landscape Conservation Cooperative Council; Chair, NOAA Science Advisory Board; Co-Chair, National Academy of Sciences Sustainability Roundtable

John Tomke-President, Ducks Unlimited de Mexico; Chair, Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council; Vice President of Global Operations, Dow AgroSciences

Dr. James Walker-Vice Chairman of the Board, Électricité de France Renewable Energy (EDF RE); Vice Chairman, American Wind Wildlife Institute; Board Member, American Wind Energy Association

Dr. Steve Williams-President, Wildlife Management Institute (WMI); Board President, National Conservation Leadership Institute; Board Member, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

Bob Ziehmer-Director, Missouri Department of Conservation