PHOENIX, Arizona – A new report has revealed that climate change is affecting public lands used by Arizona hunters and fishermen, and has encouraged them to join the effort to slow the march of global warming.
He pointed out that while climate change has at times been a divisive issue, working to reverse the effects of drought, wildfires and other natural events are issues that can bring people together.
Michael Cravens, director of advocacy and conservation for the Arizona Wildlife Federation, said global warming is no longer an abstract concept.
“Climate change is a problem across our country, around the world,†Cravens explained. “But here in Arizona, boy, we really have a front row seat, and that is mostly expressed in drought conditions. Here we are looking at 25 years of drought at this point.â€
The National Wildlife Federation’s study, released this week, examined climate-affected hunting and fishing areas in Arizona and across the country and provides examples of how to protect and restore land damaged by wildlife. drought.
Cravens argued that when it comes to climate change, the time for talks is over and hunters and anglers must act now to restore and preserve America’s wildlands and wetlands.
“Get involved in restoration efforts, join the Elk Society, join Ducks Unlimited, join the Arizona Wildlife Federation,†Cravens urged. “Take advantage of volunteer opportunities to get out and do work that restores natural infrastructure. “
Cravens advised members of the federation to educate themselves on climate change and be prepared to educate local, state and national decision makers, as well as your next door neighbor.
“Learn as much as you can,” suggested Cravens. “Try to stay away from partisan politics. Learn about the science, then become an advocate. Become the voice of these things to educate others. “
Cravens said the 100-year-old Arizona Wildlife Federation and its affiliated groups have about 6,800 members statewide.
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HELENA, Mont. – Montana wildlife managers and biologists express frustration with the way the state manages its natural resources.
A group of retirees and former wildlife managers with nearly 1,500 years of experience said Montana’s leadership politicized management in ways that were detrimental to predators, hunters and habitat conservation.
Chris Servheen, former grizzly bear recovery coordinator for the US Fish and Wildlife Service, said state and federal managers want leaders to know they are discouraged by the direction Montana is heading.
“This is not something that is accepted by professional wildlife biologists, and it is not fair, and it will not benefit Montana and Montana wildlife,†Servheen said. “And it’s really disturbing to see this partisan nature of what’s going on now.”
In their published opinion piece, managers and biologists say they believe the leaders of the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission and the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks (MFWP) appointed by Governor Gianforte are focusing on special interests like the privatization and commercialization of elk hunting and are not using science to guide their decisions.
The MFWP has proposed changes to elk and deer hunting that it says will simplify regulations. The governor’s office did not return a request for comment.
Dan Vermillion, a 13-year former Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission commissioner, believes the state has approved controversial methods of hunting predators like wolves outside of the ethics of fair hunting and signals a move away from the bipartite wildlife management.
“The idea that the Montana Fish and Wildlife Commission would approve a regulation that uses the word night and hunt and bait in one sentence tells you how far they have strayed from the original and traditional historical approach to the wildlife management in Montana, â€Vermillion asserted.
Montana wildlife managers and biologists are also concerned that baited snares and leg traps will trap other predators as well. Lawmakers said the changes were needed due to declining elk and deer populations.
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LINCOLN, Mont. – Residents of western Montana proposed a unique approach to landscape management.
The Lincoln Prosperity Group includes environmentalists, loggers, motor vehicle users and other seemingly disparate members. Karyn Good is a resident of Lincoln, a town northwest of Helena.
“We were a group with diverse interests who agreed wholeheartedly on one thing and that was that the status quo was not working.” say well. “And that was, sort of, our starting point.”
The proposal provides for the management of 200,000 acres of crown land surrounding Lincoln through a mixture of conservation, forest restoration and outdoor recreation. Good said she thought the group had come up with a well-rounded plan …
“Development of new mountain biking and mountain biking trails.” say well. “It establishes nearly 70,000 acres that will be managed for restoration, which are logging practices. And it expands the scapegoat wilderness and designates a new wilderness in the Nevada mountain range.”
Lincoln’s prosperity proposal would create the first self-contained wilderness area – at Nevada Mountain – in nearly 40 years.
Good said the proposal set aside land for forest restoration to reduce the growing threat of wildfires. She said it also has economic benefits for the city, largely through leisure dollars.
Zach Angstead is the field director at Great Falls for Wild Montana, which is part of the group. He said the plan brings a holistic approach to protecting the landscape.
“The Lincoln Prosperity Proposal is a proposal that seeks to truly broaden our vision for the management of our national forest lands and to do so for the benefit of the people of Lincoln,†said Angstead.
Russ Ehnes is president of the Great Falls Trail Bike Riders Association, which is also part of the Lincoln Group. He said motor vehicle users have worked for the past two decades to improve trails in the valley.
Ehnes said there had been a lot of give and take when developing the proposal.
“When it all fell into place,†said Ehnes, “it was really a situation where all of us around the table could see that by having this kind of collaborative solution, there was something that made our life better. “
The Lincoln Prosperity Group worked with Montana senators to get a measure introduced in Congress.
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PORTLAND, Oregon – Hundreds of Oregon businesses have demonstrated their support for legislation to protect the state’s rivers.
In an open letter, more than 200 companies thanked Senator Ron Wyden – D-Ore. – and Senator Jeff Merkley – D-Ore. – for the introduction of the River Democracy Act. The measure would protect about 4,700 miles of Oregon’s rivers as wild and scenic.
The rivers were selected through a public nomination process. Chris Daughters, who signed the letter, owns the Caddis Fly Angling Shop in Eugene.
“Although I am in the angling business and love the clean water and high quality habitat for all types of fish,†said Daughters, “of which Oregon is fortunate. to have a lot of it – it’s also very good for drinking water.And that law protects those two things.
Outdoor recreation is a $ 7.2 billion industry in Oregon, according to the Outdoor Industry Association. Currently, only about 2%, or less than 2,200 of the state’s 110,000 river miles, enjoy the highest protections as wild and scenic.
Patrick Kruse is the founder of Ruffwear, which makes outdoor dog gear in Bend. He also signed the letter.
“Having these places where we can go swimming or play in the waves, or kayak,†Kruse said. “I think these are really what brings us back to our surroundings and what really recharges us.”
Over the summer, more than 50 Oregon breweries also expressed support for the River Democracy Act.
A January poll found 87% of probable voters in Oregon support additional protections for wild and scenic rivers, including 75% of Republicans.
Support for this report was provided by The Pew Charitable Trusts.
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