From hiking in Montana’s Glacier National Park to strolling in DC’s Rock Creek Park to sharing a weekend of fishing or bird watching with friends or hunting with family, all of these outings highlight Americans’ fondness for being outdoors.
Many of us consider outdoor recreating to be time-honored traditions, presuming that we will always be able to explore the natural beauty of our lands and parks and enjoy the best of nature. Sadly, that may not always be the case. Researchers have warned that one in three plant and animal species could be gone by 2070 without additional conservation efforts. Habitat loss, invasive species, disease and severe weather events have taken their toll on many birds, fish, amphibians, butterflies and bees. In many locations wildlife are declining.
We must take steps now to protect and conserve species that are facing a threat of extinction. As demand for natural resources increases and the trend of growing urbanization and sprawl encroaches on wildlife habitat, efforts to support declining wildlife populations are needed now more than ever.
Earlier this year, the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA) was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Reps. Jeff Fortenberry (R-Neb.) and Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) and. It enjoys broad bipartisan support, with more than 90 co-sponsors. And last week, Sens. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.S.
The fact that the proposal has broad support from both sides of the aisle, particularly in the current political climate, speaks volumes to its merits.
RAWA would provide a dedicated funding stream for proactive, voluntary conservation efforts to increase the protection of our land, waterways, and vulnerable wildlife populations. Under the proposal, states and tribal wildlife agencies would receive federal resources to establish local wildlife conservation strategies.
Individual states and tribes have developed Wildlife Action Plans that provide a framework for their specific efforts to conserve wildlife and habitats. Initially submitted to Congress in 2005, these plans were made in 2015 and were designed with the participation of local partners, private landowners, scientists, and conservationists, representing the best of collaborative and local solutions. Unfortunately, these conservation efforts are underfunded and require additional support to have a substantive impact.
Proactive and sustained management will improve population trends and help keep wildlife species abundant and sustainable. Annual funding made available under RAWA will pay for local efforts to help protect more than 12,000 species of wildlife and plants.
RAWA would accelerate recovery for more than 1,600 species already listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act. We can and must do more to keep species from being ESA listed in the first place.
RAWA will provide much-needed funding for state and tribal wildlife agencies, essential partners in the successful management of vulnerable wildlife populations. More importantly, the measure would encourage greater collaboration and incentivize industry and private landowners to restore and enhance natural habitat to further habitat restoration without increasing the regulatory burden on private landowners.
The clock is ticking. It’s crucial to recover species at risk of decline early to prevent them from being listed on the Endangered Species Act (ESA). RAWA would provide the resources needed to effectively implement strategic conservation plans and prevent further decline at far greater cost savings than an ESA listing.
Protecting America’s wildlife is also an excellent way to invest in the economy. In addition to providing increased resources for conservation and habitat restoration, RAWA would create jobs and support the outdoor recreation economy, which is responsible for contributing $887 billion every year to the economy.
America needs a dedicated and predictable funding stream for wildlife conservation. The Recovering America’s Wildlife Act is an important step to enhance conservation efforts, protect habitat and reduce declining populations of vulnerable species.
RAWA will help preserve our national heritage through sound public policy that embraces local and collaborative solutions and encourages innovative solutions. Future stewards of our land should have the opportunity to enjoy the wildlife we love today – RAWA can help ensure that happens.
ConservAmerica is committed to supporting this bipartisan legislation and urges other conservation and environmental groups to lend their voices in support. Additional information on RAWA can be found here and here.