President Bush Seeks Input From Conservationists

Houston, TX  –  President George W. Bush invited representatives from more than a dozen of the leading conservation groups in the country to his ranch in Crawford, Texas, for a discussion on issues of concern to American sportsmen. Conservation leaders also met with White House staff, including James Connaughton, chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality.

“Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) took part in meaningful discussions with White House staff on a variety of issues of importance to the recreational community and more dialogue is expected,” said Walter Fondren III, chairman of CCA. “This summit was a unique opportunity to discuss several conservation concerns with the Administration from a diverse set of perspectives.”

President Bush led a 90-minute tour of his ranch, during which he discussed a number of management measures he has employed on his own land as well as the conservation agenda of his Administration.

 “This meeting was a great statement on how high-profile the conservation of our coastal marine resources has become,” said David Cummins, CCA national president. “It is good to see that recreational anglers had such strong representation at a meeting like this, with CCA, the American Sportfishing Association and the Bass Anglers Sportsman Society invited to attend.”

Other groups invited by the President included Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Ducks Unlimited, Quail Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, National Wild Turkey Federation, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and a number of other conservation interests.