2023 Annual Report
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Hunters Cheer Bipartisan, Bicameral Introduction of Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act
Act would formalize migration conservation programs that provide financial and technical assistance to states, Tribes, and private landowners
Today, hunters and conservationists celebrated the bipartisan Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act, introduced in the Senate by Senator Padilla (D-Calif.) and in the House of Representatives by Congressmen Zinke (R-Mont.) and Beyer (D-Va.).
“Successful migration conservation requires collaboration between local, state, Tribal and federal governments, private landowners, and the NGO community,” said Becky Humphries, president and CEO of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “This bill would authorize existing federal programs that support locally driven, collaborative conservation projects that restore and conserve the most important areas wildlife need to migrate and move to fulfill their lifecycle needs. TRCP thanks Senator Padilla, Representative Zinke, and Representative Beyer for introducing this critically important, bipartisan legislation.”
Migration corridor conservation has been a priority of elected officials and state, Tribal, and federal agencies for years, and this legislation provides Congress the opportunity to support collaborative partnerships, policies, and funding that advance the research and conservation of big game migration corridors and crucial seasonal habitats.
The Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act would formally authorize existing federal programs initiated by the Department of the Interior during the Trump Administration through Secretarial Order 18-3362, signed by Secretary Zinke, to conserve big game migration corridors. These programs have been supported and expanded by the Biden Administration but remain discretionary. Congressional action to formalize these discretionary programs guarantees that the work will persist regardless of future administration changes. This is important because state and Tribal wildlife agency annual budgets are unable to meet the full demand for resource management. The financial and technical assistance from these federal programs would help to bridge that gap.
The legislation would:
– Establish the Wildlife Movement and Migration Corridor Program at the Department of the Interior, to be administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, to fund projects that improve or conserve habitat quality in movement areas including habitat treatment projects, fence modification, and wildlife crossings.
– Establish a State and Tribal Migration Research Program at the Department of the Interior to provide funds directly to state fish and wildlife agencies and Tribes for research that improves understanding of wildlife movement and migration routes.
– Allow for funds from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife’s Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program to provide technical and financial assistance to private landowners undertaking voluntary conservation projects that support wildlife movement and migration routes on their land.
– Support the U.S. Geological Survey’s Corridor Mapping Team to provide technical assistance to states and Tribes to map priority routes.
“While this Act codifies programs established within the Department of the Interior for big game, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Transportation also have programs that contribute to migration corridor conservation,” said Madeleine West, Center for Public Lands director for the TRCP. “The legislation would direct DOI, USDA, and DOT to coordinate together, and with states and Tribes, to further migration corridor conservation.”
This past spring, West appeared before the Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife where she encouraged lawmakers to make strategic investments in corridor research and conservation. Senator Padilla is Chair of the subcommittee. Support for wildlife corridor conservation has persisted across multiple presidential administrations and within state governments, both Republican and Democrat.
“We thank Senator Padilla and Representatives Zinke and Beyer for leading this legislation and supporting voluntary, cooperative conservation that will build on successful frameworks,” said Chuck Sykes, director of the Alabama Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries and president of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies. “State fish and wildlife agencies have developed conservation plans identifying and integrating wildlife movement and migration routes but need the funding to put these projects on the ground with their partners.”
“The Mule Deer Foundation applauds the introduction of this much needed legislation to ensure that conservation partners can continue to work with federal and state agencies in sustaining big game and other wildlife populations that move from place to place,” said Steve Belinda, Chief Conservation Officer for the Mule Deer Foundation. “This bill allows the partnership approach that is already happening to continue and provides essential funding to ensure future collaboration and management of wildlife and their habitat is successful.”
“The Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act is directly aligned with the mission of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and we thank Senator Padilla and Representatives Zinke and Beyer for introducing this bipartisan and bicameral legislation,” said Kyle Weaver, president and CEO of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. “RMEF has successfully advocated in Washington D.C. to prioritize migratory areas through Interior Secretarial Order 3362, the Wildlife Highway Crossings Pilot Program in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and USDA’s Migratory Big Game Initiative. Generous contributions by RMEF members and partner organizations have allowed us to make these valuable habitat investments critical to conserving and improving elk and wildlife habitat. RMEF’s mapping work has accelerated through partnerships with U.S. Geological Survey researchers at the University of Wyoming and partnerships with state wildlife agencies and the federal land management agencies in the Interior and Agriculture Departments. Passage of Wildlife Movement Through Partnerships Act will send a clear message that Congress prioritizes big game migration and habitat enhancement now and in the future.”
Photo Credit: USFWS
In the Arena: Joshua Torrez
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
Joshua Torrez
Hometown: Denver, CO
Occupation: Founder of Afuera Outdoors
Conservation credentials: Torrez, founder of Afuera Outdoors, an organization dedicated to introducing and enhancing the outdoor experience to Spanish-speaking communities, also sits on the Board of Directors for the Colorado Wildlife Federation.
Since his first memories of fishing the streams outside of Leadville, Colorado, Torrez has been spending time outdoors and sharing his passion with others. Torrez founded Afuera Outdoors after recognizing a knowledge gap, particularly among the next generation of diverse hunters and anglers due to limited access, and has been driven to empower others with the understanding that we can actively conserve our natural spaces by voicing our concerns and uniting our efforts.
Here is his story.
I was introduced to fishing by my father on the streams of Leadville, Colorado, where we bonded over the joys of catching and eating brook trout. To this day, my dad remains my best fishing partner. One of my most memorable outdoor adventures was rafting through Browns Canyon in Salida, Colorado. I was a newer fly fisherman at the time. During the trip, I had the exhilarating experience of catching the largest brown trout of my life using my fly rod. The moment of the catch was particularly thrilling as it happened while navigating through a set of challenging rapids. After some tense moments stabilizing the boat, I successfully reeled in the fish. This experience left a lasting impression on me and even inspired me to speak up during the public comment session for the Arkansas River National Monument.
If I could fish anywhere, I would choose a trip to Chile and Argentina, specifically Patagonia, to fly fish the Limay River, Malleo River, Simpson River, and the Palena River. Not only would I have the opportunity to pursue my passion for fly fishing in some of the world’s most renowned waters, but I would also immerse myself in the rich culture of the region. Additionally, the trip would provide an excellent opportunity to continue my life-long Spanish practice. I have a deep admiration for South America, and I aspire to experience it fully as an angler.
Conservation enhances my outdoor life by ensuring that the natural environments where I fish and hunt remain healthy and accessible. It ensures that future generations, including my own, will have the opportunity to experience the same joys of outdoor activities that I have enjoyed. Conservation efforts also help safeguard and restore habitats, ensuring diverse ecosystems, and thriving populations of fish and game, which ultimately enriches my outdoor experiences.
I initially identified as just an angler who cherished the outdoors. However, my perspective changed when I was approached to join the Board of Directors for the Colorado Wildlife Federation following a speech I delivered at the Arkansas River National Monument meeting. Through this experience, I’ve come to appreciate the influential role that both hunters and anglers play in conservation efforts. Attending National Wildlife Federation meetings further solidified my commitment to conservation, leading me to establish Afuera Outdoors. Recognizing a knowledge gap, particularly among the next generation of diverse hunters due to limited access, I am driven to empower others with the understanding that we can actively conserve our natural spaces by voicing our concerns and uniting our efforts. It has become my mission to advocate for responsible conservation practices.
Conservation should matter to the next generation of hunters and anglers because it ensures the natural environment they rely on for their activities. By educating children in both Spanish and English about the value and joys of fishing, we instill in them a love for the outdoors and a desire to conserve it. Just as I was shown, they need to understand that they can make a difference.
Learn more about Afuera Outdoors and participate in an upcoming event HERE.
Photos Courtesy of Joshua Torrez.
The TRCP is your no-B.S. 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 to Engage in Forest Service Draft Environmental Impact Statement for National Old Growth Amendment
Organization encourages the U.S. Forest Service to support conservation that includes proactive forest management within nation’s old growth forests
Today, the U.S. Forest Service published a Draft Environmental Impact Statement that will amend 122 land management plans across the National Forest System to direct future management of old growth forests. The national amendment aims to establish consistent management direction and develop adaptive management strategies that maintain and enhance old-growth forest conditions.
“Hunters and anglers have long been key stakeholders engaged in shaping management decisions across our nation’s 193-million-acre National Forest System,” said Michael O’Casey, deputy director of Forest Policy and Northwest Programs for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “The sporting community understands the importance of forest diversity, including old forests, and TRCP is encouraged that the agency’s modified proposed action supports active stewardship which will ensure key forest management tools remain available.”
Resilient, functioning forest ecosystems provide clean air, water, viable plant and animal populations, carbon sequestration, and cultural values to society. Old growth stands are integral components of these ecosystems, and the hunting and fishing community also recognizes the importance of supporting young and middle-aged stands to sustain wildlife habitat.
Forests are dynamic, evolving landscapes, requiring adaptive management across varied ages and stages to thrive. The Forest Service’s proposed action on old growth demonstrates that the agency recognizes active restoration is critical to maintaining older forests in many places on the landscape.
“Proactive stewardship activities like controlled burns, mechanical thinning, and stewardship contracting help to maintain and restore forest health by mitigating the risk of severe wildfires, disease outbreaks, and insect infestations, which are the leading threats to forest health today,” continued O’Casey. “Forest stewardship also supports mill infrastructure and forest industry jobs, components that are necessary to increase the pace and scale of needed restoration projects across the country.”
Over the next 90 days, the TRCP will work closely with our partners and engage our members to provide detailed comments that ensure a final policy will benefit the health and resilience of our forests.
Learn more about TRCP’s recent work on our nation’s forests HERE.
Photo Credit: Jack Lander
New Video Highlights Why Investments in Arizona’s Sky Islands Will Benefit Hunters for Generations
TRCP’s new video explains how BIL and IRA investments in Arizona’s Sky Islands will benefit hunters for generations.
With the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act presenting a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the restoration and renewal of our nation’s public lands, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership is sharing a short video, the final video of a three-part series, highlighting the benefits of these critical investments to hunters, anglers, and outdoor recreationalists in Arizona’s Sky Islands landscape.
The hunting and fishing-focused conservation nonprofit has posted the video (embedded below) to their YouTube Channel to ensure that hunters, anglers, and outdoor recreationalists are aware of the significant benefits to fish, wildlife, and habitat.
Arizona’s mountainous Sky Islands, often rising over 6,000 feet above the surrounding Sonoran desert grasslands, boast extraordinarily diverse ecosystems that are seldom found in other parts of the West. This unique landscape harbors a distinctive mix of game species such as pronghorn, mule deer, and numerous species of quail, offering incredible, year-round hunting opportunities across the southern part of the state. Through a $9.59 million investment, complemented by $2.3 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the BLM is working to restore Sonoran grassland habitat, protect crucial migration corridors, and improve hunting opportunities for present and future generations of Americans.
“We are thrilled to highlight how these investments are accelerating the restoration and resilience of this iconic landscape, while improving hunting opportunities for present and future generations,” said Christian Fauser, TRCP’s western water policy associate. “The BLM has needed these resources for a long time, and this is a huge win for public land conservation.”
At the heart of the video is the Las Cienegas National Conservation Area, where dedicated professionals are spearheading efforts to breathe new life into the region’s soaring landscapes. Featuring commentary from BLM’s Gila District staff as well as representatives from the Arizona Antelope Foundation and Arizona Fish and Game, the video emphasizes the critical role these investments play in safeguarding habitat for wildlife and ensuring recreational opportunities for the next generations of hunters and anglers.
Watch the video 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.
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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