You can also read the letter, including the supporting documents: “America the Beautiful: Detailed Recommendations” and “Appendix 1: Criteria and Implementation Strategies for the American Conservation and Stewardship Atlas” by clicking here.
_______________________________________________________
March 7, 2022
Secretary Deb Haaland
Office of the Secretary
Department of the Interior
1849 C Street, N.W.
Washington DC 20240
RE: Federal Register Docket No. 2021-28548
Secretary Haaland,
The undersigned, representing millions of sportsmen and women in the United States, express our optimism for the Administration’s interest in recognizing the continuum of science-based conservation actions already underway across the nation as it develops the American Conservation and Stewardship Atlas. We also appreciate the inclusion of many of the priorities shared by hunters and anglers in the “Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful 2021” report released in May 2021, and we look forward to working with the Administration to advance these priorities as part of the America the Beautiful Initiative. In response to Docket No. DOI–2021–0016, we provide the attached recommendations and encourage the Administration to continue to work closely with stakeholders, including the sporting-conservation community, in support of enhanced conservation delivery in the United States.
Per the request for comment published in the Federal Register, these recommendations focus largely on the development of the forthcoming American Conservation and Stewardship Atlas, specifically calling for the recognition and consideration of existing conservation programs and practices. Whether conducted on public lands and waters or through voluntary partnerships with private landowners, we assert that all existing efforts to promote conservation benefits should be considered. Likewise, our community looks forward to working with the Administration on other aspects of this initiative in support of pragmatic conservation solutions that promote increased access for sportsmen and women, our nation’s original conservationists.
Sincerely:
American Sportfishing Association
Angler Action Foundation
Archery Trade Association
Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation
Arizona Wildlife Federation
Austin Fly Fishers
Backcountry Hunters & Anglers
Bass Anglers Sportsman Society (B.A.S.S.)
The Billfish Foundation
Boat Owners Association of the United States
Bonefish and Tarpon Trust
Boone and Crockett Club
California Waterfowl Association
Center for Sportfishing Policy
Coastal Conservation Association
Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation
ConservAmerica
Council to Advance Hunting and the Shooting Sports
Dallas Safari Club
Fishing Education Foundation – National Fishing in Schools Program Fly Fishers International
Houston Safari Club
International Game Fish Foundation
Izaak Walton League of America
Marine Retailers Association of the Americas
Mule Deer Foundation
National Bobwhite Conservation Initiative
National Deer Association
National Marine Manufacturers Association
National Professional Anglers Association
National Rifle Association
National Wild Turkey Federation
North American Grouse Partnership
Orion: The Hunter’s Institute
Pheasants Forever
Quail Forever
Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Safari Club International
Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters
Sportsmen’s Alliance
Tennessee Wildlife Federation
Wildlife Forever
Wildlife Management Institute
Wild Sheep Foundation
Wildlife Mississippi
