40 wildlife organizations across the country (including New Hampshire Wildlife Coalition) asked the United States House of Representatives Natural Resource Committee to keep up the good work to infuse state wildlife agencies with much-needed funding—but to require states to address long-held shortcomings in the structure of these state agencies.
Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA) would provide $1.4b annually to states, territories, and tribes for the management of wildlife species. New Hampshire may receive as much as $12 million of that amount. While we have differences with New Hampshire Fish and Game’s management approaches, we support the funding.
We want to protect wildlife. We want this funding to be useful for that purpose. We see room for improvement in three distinct areas.
First, we need to address that not all states have legal authority to protect species of greatest conservation need. Only a few states have granted wildlife managers authority to protect the full range of vertebrate and invertebrate species within their borders. New Hampshire is one of them. However, in most states, authority does not extend to invertebrates, like turtles, amphibians, etc. and in some, does not even cover all vertebrates.)
We recommend that language be added to RAWA that requires all states to amend their statutes to grant management authority over all species as a condition of receiving funding.
Second, government wildlife efforts privilege the perspectives of hunters (in the letter, we classify them as “consumptive users.”). For example, wildlife commissions can require a hunting, trapping or fishing license, as New Hampshire’s does. Another way this shows up is state agencies tend to have more hunters on staff than non-hunters — and of course the historical reliance on hunting, trapping and fishing license revenue reinforces this.
We recommend that RAWA include language requiring states to adopt structural changes to commission, staffing and other changes to achieve equal representation by non-hunters.
Third and last, accountability for this $1.4b is too light. RAWA only requires a work plan, budget and a report every three years. As veterans of many decision-making processes, we know this is insufficient.
We recommend that RAWA require state wildlife agencies to post these documents on their websites. In addition, states should be required to hold public meetings for review of and public comment on these plans.
Southwest Environmental Center
WildEarth Guardians
Predator Defense
Wyoming Wildlife Advocates
Nevada Wildlife Alliance
Western Wildlife Conservancy
The Rewilding Institute
Friends of the Bitterroot
Project Coyote
Endangered Habitats League
Endangered Small Animal Conservation Fund
Red Wolf Coalition
Wolf Conservation Center
Western Nebraska Resources Council
Trap Free Montana Public Lands
National Wolfwatcher Coalition
Madrean Archipelago Wildlife Center
International Marine Mammal Project of Earth Island Institute
Wyoming Untrapped
Great Old Broads for Wilderness
Plan B to Save Wolves
Environmental Protection Information Center
Klamath Forest Alliance
Resource Renewal Institute
Friends of the Wisconsin Wolf & Wildlife
Great Lakes Wildlife Alliance
Advocates for Snake Preservation
Eastern Coyote/Coywolf Research
Northwest Center for Alternatives to Pesticides
Protect Our Wildlife Vermont
Mountain Lion Foundation
New Hampshire Wildlife Coalition
Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition
Friends of Blackwater
Turner Endangered Species Fund
Footloose Montana
Designs for A Better World: Habitat Restoration
Center for World Indigenous Studies
Animal Protection New Mexico
Attorneys for Animals
