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In the Arena: Alex Harvey
TRCP’s “In the Arena” series highlights the individual voices of hunters and anglers who, as Theodore Roosevelt so famously said, strive valiantly in the worthy cause of conservation.
Alex Harvey
Hometown: Terry, Mississippi
Occupation: Consulting Forester/Wildlife Biologist
Conservation credentials: Alex Harvey, founder of Legacy Land Management, is a registered professional forester in Mississippi and Alabama with a degree in forestry from Mississippi State University, as well as a land management consultant, hunter, and angler.
Harvey is carrying on the outdoor traditions passed on to him from generations of his family, ranging from herbalism and foraging to rabbit, duck, and deer hunting, and cattle ranching. Alex also helps private landowners, many of them Black, make the most of their properties for wildlife, timber, and ecological resilience.
Here is his story.
Hunting has always been a family and community pastime. It was passed down to me from my dad, his dad, etc. I’m from a very large extended family and community that hunts and has hunted for generations. I have family heirlooms that are evidence that I’m at least a fifth-generation outdoorsman. In my family, it is customary that guns are passed down after someone passes. I was lucky enough to become the successor of most of the family’s shotguns, a rifle, and some special handguns. There’s a story that I tell on the NWF podcast about my grandmother being handed a .32 caliber pistol by my great-grandmother (her new mother-in-law) and told to go chase down a rabbit and shoot it for dinner.
I had the opportunity to hunt with Randy Newberg of Leupold’s Hunt Talk Radio/Fresh Tracks and Hal Herring of the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers Podcast & Blast in January 2023. They both came down to Mississippi, and I was able to introduce them to members of the hunting club where my dad hunted in the Mississippi Hill Country and the Delta.
My dad became a member of all African American hunting club there in the early eighties. My brother and I grew up hunting there along with other families. I was able to introduce Randy and Hal to a couple of legends in their own right. That was indeed very special.
Hunting has always been about connection for me. Hunting with loved ones, dear friends. In many ways, I prefer to hunt the lands where I grew up because it helps me feel connected to friends and family that have passed on. So, the Mississippi Hill Country and the Delta, quail hunting in south Mississippi and Alabama, and Louisiana duck hunting are all places I always want to hunt. I’m also open to make new connections and find new favorite places.
“The issue of conservation intersects with economics, thus those communities that have less are sometimes challenged by things that many might not recognize as a barrier. But my work is centered around how to address those challenges and find ways to simply put conservation into practice.”
I chose a career in conservation because I grew up in the outdoors. At the same time, it has helped me to become a better outdoorsman. As a forester, I write silvicultural prescriptions that determine the composition/structure and quality of forests to meet the various needs that society has. By going to Forestry School, I became educated about the life history of a forest based on local and regional factors. This has helped me to better understand what healthy wildlife habitat and healthy wildlife populations look like.
Forest health is a persistent challenge. Having healthy, vigorous, diverse forests that are home to healthy wildlife populations remains a challenge. As it pertains to the landowner clients that I represent, which are largely minority’s or what the US Department of Agriculture identifies as underserved and socially disadvantaged landowners, issues such as lack of clear title/heirs to property create a very difficult hurdle for enrolling in important landowner assistance programs that can help families establish forests and begin the process of creating long-term wealth investments. The issue of conservation intersects with economics, thus those communities that have less are sometimes challenged by things that many might not recognize as a barrier. But my work is centered around how to address those challenges and find ways to simply put conservation into practice.
The aim of conservation is literally to have a healthy and productive planet for current and future generations to live on and benefit from. From the wood fiber that we need to build our homes, to the pastimes that we enjoy in the outdoors, to the food we eat, and the air we breathe, all of these things are vital for our needs as a society. The extra added reality that communities that practice conservation tend to be more stable economically builds an extra level of importance where it pertains to issues of equity and social justice.
Photo credits: Alex Harvey
Learn more about TRCP’s work in the Mississippi River Delta below.
The U.S. House of Representatives Introduces the North American Grasslands Conservation Act
Bill supports the protection of America’s grasslands and shrub-steppe ecosystems
Washington, D.C. – Today, the North American Grasslands Conservation Act was introduced in the House of Representatives by U.S. Representatives Nancy Mace (R – S.C.), Sharice Davids (D – Kan), Brian Fitzpatrick (R – Penn) and Mike Thompson (D – Calif). Once passed, the legislation will be one of the most significant steps for grassland conservation efforts in the 21st century.
“Hunters are among the first to see the effects of habitat loss and degradation, and for decades we’ve seen populations of bobwhite quail, prairie chickens, pronghorn and other grassland wildlife suffer,” said Aaron Field, TRCP’s director of private lands conservation. “It’s long past time to replicate on grasslands the proven model of voluntary, incentive-based conservation that has boosted waterfowl populations for nearly 35 years. The North American Grasslands Conservation Act puts us on that path. We applaud the leadership of Representatives Mace, Davids, Fitzpatrick, and Thompson and look forward to working with decision-makers on both sides of the aisle to advance this smart, proven conservation solution.”
More than 70 percent of America’s tallgrass, mixed grass, and shortgrass prairies have vanished, followed by the precipitous decline of grassland bird populations – more than 30 percent since 1966. Additionally, grazing lands that have sustained generations of ranchers are dwindling and species from bobwhite quail and pheasants to monarch butterflies and elk are struggling to navigate landscapes they used to call home.
The Grasslands Act would kickstart the voluntary protection and restoration of grasslands and sagebrush-steppe ecosystems – and the livelihoods and wildlife dependent upon them. Functionally, the legislation is modeled after the successful North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) and would create a landowner-driven, voluntary, incentive-based program to conserve America’s critically imperiled grasslands. There’s urgency to maintain these grassland biomes for agriculture, wildlife habitat, carbon sequestration and for future generations while supporting ranchers, farmers, Tribal Nations, sportsmen and women and rural communities.
The concept of a Grasslands Act was first introduced in the U.S. Senate during the 117th Congress, led by Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo). This new U.S. House version has some key changes aligning it more closely with NAWCA, improving tribal provisions, and making it more bipartisan.
“The United States has over 125 million acres of grasslands that are threatened, and right here in South Carolina, we see firsthand how important conservation is to the health and beauty of our natural ecosystems,” Mace said. “Our office has made a promise to preserve this beauty, not just for today, but for future generations.”
“In Kansas, we have grassland prairies that are well known throughout the Great Plains for their beautiful landscapes and scenic hiking trails, but grasslands once covered millions of acres across North America, stretching from coast to coast,” Davids said. “Grasslands are vital to ranchers and producers, Tribes, and folks who love spending time outdoors. They’re critical habitat for countless species of birds, important pollinators, and treasured animals like the bison. And, they’re crucial to fighting the effects of climate change, bolstering our food security, and combatting extreme weather. I’m excited for this opportunity to highlight the protection of our grasslands and bipartisan solutions that build off of successful public-private partnerships.”
“Grasslands are vital to the livelihoods of our nation’s ranchers and the health of our native wildlife – yet they remain endangered. It’s great to join my colleagues to introduce the bipartisan North American Grasslands Act to invest in voluntary, incentive-based programs to help farmers, ranchers, Tribal Nations, sportsmen and women, and state and local governments preserve, rehabilitate, and responsibly manage our grasslands for generations to come,” Thompson said.
“Grasslands are among the most endangered ecosystems in the word, with over 70 percent of America’s tallgrass, mixed grass, and shortgrass prairies now gone,” Fitzpatrick said. “Our grasslands are vital for the survival of farmers and rural communities across Pennsylvania and our nation, which is why I am championing this critical piece of bipartisan, bicameral legislation. By establishing a landowner-drive, incentive-based program and investing restoration programs, the North American Grasslands Conservation Act will protect essential habitats that support our American farmers, ranchers, and Tribal Nation s and revitalize these crucial ecosystems, ensuring they continue to sustain wildlife and rural communities for generations to come.”
More than 45 organizations are collaborating in support of the Grasslands Act. A full roster of those groups can be found at www.ActforGrasslands.org. Additionally, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology has partnered with the coalition to develop the www.MapForGrasslands.org website, which provides a powerful tool to visualize the loss of grasslands habitat.
The TRCP is your resource for all things conservation. In our weekly Roosevelt Report, you’ll receive the latest news on emerging habitat threats, legislation and proposals on the move, public land access solutions we’re spearheading, and opportunities for hunters and anglers to take action. Sign up now.
TRCP Announces New Conservation Staff in Montana and Wyoming
Energy policy advisor and Montana field manager bolster organization’s expertise and capacity on key conservation issues
Today, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership announced the addition of two Western-based individuals who are filling vital roles to help the organization achieve its mission to guarantee all Americans quality places to hunt and fish.
McKay Fleck joined TRCP as the energy policy advisor in September. Having spent the majority of her career with the Bureau of Land Management, Fleck is versed in natural resource management, federal leasing policy, and critical incident management. After her time in the Army, Fleck earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wyoming in Agriculture Communications, where she became fascinated with the challenge of making technical information more accessible for the public. As energy policy advisor, Fleck will be directly involved in the engagement and implementation of TRCP’s energy campaigns, which include influencing oil and gas leasing reforms and steering the development of renewable energy sources to maintain functional fish and wildlife habitat. Fleck is based in Buffalo, Wyoming.
“The TRCP has a track record of advocating for development of our energy resources in a responsible manner that is compatible with fish and wildlife conservation,” said Fleck. “I’m excited to work for an organization that values our diverse supply of energy resources while maintaining our natural heritage.”
Ryan Chapin joined the TRCP team as the Montana field manager also in September. Chapin has worked in conservation in Montana and the Rocky Mountain West for nearly two decades, most recently with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation as their lands operations manager. Chapin has established strong partnerships and has played a key role in many conservation and public access projects and initiatives throughout his career. In the Montana field manager position, Chapin will work to strengthen TRCP’s partnerships in the Treasure State to advance the organization’s conservation priorities, including conserving key big game migration corridors and winter range on public lands. Chapin is based in Missoula, Montana.
“I’m thrilled to join the TRCP team and help strengthen policies, advocate for wildlife habitat conservation, and improve hunter access and experiences on public lands in Montana,” said Chapin.
Learn more about TRCP’s leadership HERE.
The TRCP is your resource for all things conservation. In our weekly Roosevelt Report, you’ll receive the latest news on emerging habitat threats, legislation and proposals on the move, public land access solutions we’re spearheading, and opportunities for hunters and anglers to take action. Sign up now.
Anglers Cheer Reintroduction of Forage Fish Conservation Act
This legislation, introduced in the U.S. House, aims to ensure that species at the foundation of the marine food chain are plentiful enough to sustain sportfish populations
As all anglers know, where you find the bait, you find the fish. Forage fish like herring, sardines, and shad are an essential part of marine ecosystems, serving as a nutrient-rich superfood for larger fish, marine mammals, and seabirds. These bait fish support the diets of humpback whales, ospreys, striped bass, Alaska pollock, and bluefin tuna, to name a few. Forage fish are key to America’s fishing economy, supporting it directly when sold as raw material or bait, and indirectly as prey for other marine species.
Recognizing forage fish’ importance to coastal ecosystems and economies, the TRCP has been engaged in the push for better forage fish management; including supporting the bipartisan introduction of the Forage Fish Conservation Act in the House and Senate in 2021. But the act had remained in limbo since.
Last week, the bipartisan Forage Fish Conservation Act was reintroduced in the House by Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Brian Mast (R-FL). This legislation seeks to fill existing gaps in forage fish management by building on the achievements of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, which has been vital in combating overfishing and preserving fish stocks for anglers over the past five decades.
This legislation would improve federal fishery management by requiring managers to evaluate the importance of forage fish to the ecosystem and the diet needs of predators.
The bill aims to amend the Magnuson-Stevens Act to account for the ecological role of forage fish, moving beyond traditional single-species management to include considerations of ecosystem impacts. This legislation would improve our federal fishery management framework by requiring managers to weigh the impacts of forage fisheries expansion on the ecosystem and evaluate the importance of such forage fish to the ecosystem and the diet needs of predator species.
“Safeguarding fish stocks from further decline is critical to protecting marine ecosystems and strengthening coastal economies,” said Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI) in a news release. “This legislation’s science-based conservation framework for forage fish will both help promote sustainable fisheries and preserve marine wildlife for the enjoyment of future generations.”
Shad and river herring in particular once supported some of the largest commercial and recreational fisheries along the Atlantic coast. However, habitat loss due to dam construction and stock depletion from overfishing have caused herring and shad landings to plummet by 96 percent since 1950.
Economic impacts from recreational angling support nearly 700,000 jobs across the United States. Recreational fishing also generates $138 billion in sales impacts, $45.1 billion in income, and $74.9 billion in value-added impacts annually. The sustainability of our recreational angling economy rests on the health of fish populations on the water. Without thriving forage fish populations, the fish we love to catch won’t have enough to eat.
“This is important and bipartisan sustainability legislation that will help protect our coastal health, environment, and economy,” said Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL) in the release.
This act would ensure that consistent, science-based conservation measures are applied by each regional fishery management council, addressing gaps in current management practices that have led to forage fish overharvest in recent decades, which undermines recreational and commercial fishery productivity. This common-sense, good-governance approach ensures managers responsibly consider the impacts of new commercial harvests on critical ecosystem components, aiming to proactively prevent costly resource failures.
To improve the conservation of forage fish and strengthen the marine ecosystem, the legislation addresses key needs, including:
- Requires the Secretary of Commerce to develop a science-based definition for forage fish in federal waters, with advice from the fisheries councils;
- Assesses the impact a new commercial forage fish fishery could have on existing fisheries, fishing communities, and the marine ecosystem prior to the fishery being authorized;
- Accounts for predator needs in existing management plans for forage fish;
- Specifies that managers consider forage fish when establishing research priorities;
- Ensures scientific advice sought by fishery managers includes recommendations for forage fish;
- Conserves and manages river herring and shad in the ocean; and
- Preserves state management of forage fish fisheries that occur within their jurisdiction.
Boosting forage fish populations will enhance sportfish and fishing opportunities. By implementing the Forage Fish Conservation Act, we can improve management strategies and ensure that anglers benefit from thriving coastal ecosystems and economies for generations to come.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
From now until January 1, 2025, every donation you make will be matched by a TRCP Board member up to $500,000 to sustain TRCP’s work that promotes wildlife habitat, our sporting traditions, and hunter & angler access. Together, dollar for dollar, stride for stride, we can all step into the arena of conservation.
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