Conservation Affairs
Political and social policies can impact wildlife at the local, state, regional, and national levels. The Conservation Affairs committee works to voice the collective opinion of the New England Chapter on issues and policies that impact wildlife at all of these levels.
Below, please view selected statements made by the chapter in recent years. If you have an issue that you would like the Chapter to voice their opinion on, please contact the Conservation Affairs Committee Chairwoman, Kim Royer at kim.royar+state.vt.us.
2007
NH Fish & Game Budget - Letter to NH House Finance Committee (pdf: 117 kb)
The NH Fish & Game Budget faces significant budget shortfalls over the next 2 year budget cycle. The Department has requested that $1.6 million in State
General Funds be included in the state budget in each of the next two fiscal years (FY 2008 and 2009) -- a "stopgap" measure to balance the agency's budget without dramatic cuts in staff and services. The Chapter voiced its opinion about keeping the NH's wildlife agency fiscally strong.
2006
Support Funding for Wildlife in Climate Change Legislation - Letter to New England's Congressional Representatives (pdf: 93 kb)
In November 2004, The Wildlife
Society published "Global Climate
Change and Wildlife in North
America," a comprehensive
assessment of global
warming's likely
consequences for
North American
wildlife. The report
concludes that "the
effects of global
climate change and
variability on wildlife
simply cannot be
ignored."
The report stresses
the importance of improving the
resiliency of wildlife to respond to
climate change by improving wildlife
habitat and maintaining healthy,
connected, genetically diverse
populations. A permanent, stable and new funding
source to enhance annual
appropriations is essential to help the
state agencies manage fish and wildlife
as they are affected by global warming,
and help continue the long tradition of
fish and wildlife-associated recreation,
which supports millions of jobs across
the country. The Chapter's letter to New Englands Senators and Congressmen is the result of an invitation from the National Wildlife Foundation to sign on to a letter asking Congress to include funding for wildlife in any climate change legislation that might be passed in the future.
Also view NWF's Climate Change and Wildlife Fact Sheet (pdf: 90 kb)
New Funding Methods Needed for NH Fish and Game's Work - OpEd Submitted to NH Newspapers (pdf: 145 kb)
In an early attempt to bring attention to the financial plight of the NH Fish & Game Department, Chapter President Jim Oehler penned an Op-Ed on the ever increasing number of roles that the Department plays in conserving fish and wildlife resources, providing outdoor recreational opportunities, educating the public about nature and the outdoors and the historic and now failing funding mechansim used to support all of this work.
The Op-Ed was sent to all of NH's major newspapers. It was printed in at least one: the Manchester-Union Leader, which has statewide circulation. Click here to view that article.
2005
Keeping the Farm Bill Strong for Wildlife Conservation - Letter to USDA Secretary Mike Johanns (pdf: 112 kb)
The Farm Bill provides more money for wildlife conservation than any other piece of federal legislation. The Farm Bill is up for reauthorization in 2007. The USDA invited public comments on the 2002 Farm Bill and what constituents would like to see in the 2007 bill.
