Duluth, Minn. – August 11, 2008 – Leaders from the nation’s top wildlife conservation, hunting and trapping organizations will be meeting in Duluth, Minnesota, from Monday, August 11th through Wednesday, August 13th at a meeting of the American Wildlife Conservation Partnership (AWCP). The Partnership is chaired by Dave Nomsen, Vice President of Government Affairs for Pheasants Forever (PF) and Quail Forever (QF).
The AWCP is a unique cooperative partnership for engaging the partner organizations in issues ranging from the federal Farm Bill, hunters’ rights, education, and more. Topics for this week’s meeting include the upcoming White House Conference on North American Wildlife Policy; the future of the federal Conservation Reserve Program (CRP); hunter access; wildfire suppression cost and its impact to federal agencies; invasive species; among others.
“The timing of this meeting couldn’t be more appropriate, with a recently passed Farm Bill that needs to be implemented, an uncertain future for CRP, and a new administration looming,” said Nomsen, who is in his final year as chair for the AWCP, “With all these issues and more out there on the landscape, it’s important to bring these organizations together, flush things out and find some common ground.”
The White House Conference on North American Wildlife Policy will take place in Washington, D.C., this September in which many AWCP partners will be participating. The conference was established by an Executive Order from President George W. Bush, calling for federal agencies to facilitate the expansion and enhancement of hunting opportunities and the management of game species and their habitat. This conference will be held on the centennial of the first Conservation Conference, called by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908. “The convergence of AWCP organizations this week is important in highlighting the importance of the upcoming White House Conference,” Nomsen added.
Beautiful Duluth and its surrounding area give the AWCP attendees a reminder of why they’re here. “There’s no finer setting – with the pristine waters of Lake Superior and the surrounding north woods – to hold this meeting,” said David Bue, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever’s Vice President of Development and a longtime resident of the Duluth area. “AWCP partner organizations have led the conservation movement over the past century, and we’re proud they’ve chosen Duluth as their site to look ahead at the challenges for the coming years.”
About AWCP
The American Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP) is a network of more than forty organizations that work together to conserve wildlife and wildlife habitat as well as to preserve the traditions of hunting and trapping. The partnership is a loose affiliation with partner organizations retaining their autonomy and respecting each other’s differences. The partners focus on commonalities in five core areas: Habitat Conservation, Wildlife populations, Hunting and trapping, Scientific management of wildlife and habitat; and Sustaining the North American model of wildlife conservation.
AWCP Partners
Archery Trade Association * Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies * Bear Trust International * Boone and Crockett Club * Bowhunting Preservation Alliance * Buckmasters American Deer Foundation * Camp Fire Club of America * Catch a Dream Foundation * Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation * Conservation Force * Conservation Fund * Dallas Safari Club * Delta Waterfowl Foundation * Ducks Unlimited * Houston Safari Club * International Hunter Education Association * Izaak Walton League of America * Mule Deer Foundation * National Rifle Association * National Shooting Sports Foundation * National Trappers Association * National Wild Turkey Federation * North American Bear Foundation * North American Grouse Partnership * Orion – The Hunter’s Institute * Pheasants Forever * Pope and Young Club * Quail Forever * Quail Unlimited * Quality Deer Management Association * Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation * Ruffed Grouse Society * Safari Club International * Sand County Foundation * Shikar Safari Club * Texas Wildlife Association * The Wild Sheep Foundation * The Wildlife Society * Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership * US Sportsmen’s Alliance * Whitetails Unlimited * Wildlife Forever * Wildlife Habitat Council * Wildlife Management Institute
About Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever
Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever are non-profit conservation organizations dedicated to the protection and enhancement of pheasant, quail, and other wildlife populations in North America through habitat improvement, land management, public awareness, and education. PF/QF has more than 129,000 members in 700 local chapters across the continent.
For additional information please visit www.PheasantsForever.org and www.QuailForever.org
