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Brent Rudolph

Conservation Policy Update | July 2019

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Maine grouse hunting

A look into the current habitat, wildlife and conservation issues that matter to RGS/AWS members right now.

RECENT VICTORIES

John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act

In February, the Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society celebrated Senate and House approval of the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (S. 47). The president later signed S. 47 into law on March 12, 2019. The bill included permanent reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). LWCF has invested over $16 billion in conservation and outdoor recreation since originally passed in 1964. RGS/AWS staff, along with a coalition of our conservation and forest industry partners, worked to secure a $425 million LWCF appropriation in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018, a 6.25% increase over the previous year. However, LWCF authorization expired despite a 50-year track record of successfully conserving habitat and expanding recreational access.

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RGS Reports 2018 National Grouse & Woodcock Hunt Results

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10/16/18

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October 16, 2018

For Immediate Release

Coraopolis, Pa. – The Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) and American Woodcock Society (AWS) held the 37th Annual National Grouse and Woodcock Hunt (NGWH) on Thursday and Friday October 11 and 12, 2018 in and around Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Throughout the NGWH history, data have been consistently collected from all harvested birds by RGS/AWS wildlife biologists to provide historic perspective on population trends. Results this year showed decreases in both ruffed grouse and American woodcock harvests compared to 2017.

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C’mon President Trump . . . #FixOurForest

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By Brent A. Rudolph, Ph.D., RGS & AWS Director of Conservation Policy

A number of provisions favorable to hunters and healthy forests await the President’s signature later today…

Pen (2560x2560) (1280x1280)

On December 1, we released a National Update, asking our supporters to ask Congress for a budgetary fix to help the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) deal with out of control annual fire suppression costs. On January 12, we followed up right here on the RGS/AWS blog, identifying a number of provisions that could address the “fire borrowing” problem, including passing the Wildfire Disaster Funding Act (WDFA), H.R. 2862 and S. 1842.

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RGS/AWS Hire Two New Wisconsin Forest Wildlife Specialists

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03/05/18

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For Immediate Release

 

Ruffed Grouse Society/American Woodcock Society Hire Two New Wisconsin Forest Wildlife Specialists

Partnership with the USDA – NRCS and WI DNR improves forest wildlife habitat on private lands

Coraopolis, PA – Healthy forests are the centerpiece of the Ruffed Grouse Society/American Woodcock Society (RGS/AWS) mission, and their importance is recognized by multiple other conservation organizations. RGS/AWS has entered into a novel partnership with the U. S. Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WI DNR), collaboratively supporting two new, full-time staff dedicated to forest habitat development on private lands in Wisconsin. This coordination enables sharing of skills and resources to impact forest management and conservation beyond what would be possible by each partner organization alone.

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C’mon Congress . . . #FixOurForest

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By Brent A. Rudolph, Ph.D., RGS & AWS Director of Conservation Policy

Under budgets devastated by wildfire suppression costs, the Forest Service has reduced land management staff by 39% since 1998. Since 2001, vegetation and watershed management program funding has been reduced by 24%, and wildlife and fisheries management program funding by 18%.

The Happy Camp Complex Fire in the Klamath National Forest in California began on Sep. 17, 2014 from lightening and has consumed 125, 788 acres to date and is 68% contained. U.S. Forest Service photo.
The Happy Camp Complex Fire in the Klamath National Forest in California began on Sep. 17, 2014 from lightening and has consumed 125, 788 acres to date and is 68% contained. U.S. Forest Service photo.

On Dec 1, 2017, we asked supporters to ask Congress for a budgetary fix to help the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) deal with out of control annual fire suppression costs, and to enact other management reforms to address backlogged wildlife habitat needs.

The response from our supporters? Great!

The response from Congress? NOT great.

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RGS and AWS Congratulate Tony Tooke on Forest Service Chief Appointment

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09/01/17

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August 30, 2017

For Immediate Release

Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society Congratulate Tony Tooke on Forest Service Chief Appointment

Coraopolis, PA – The Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society (RGS/AWS) congratulate Tony Tooke for his appointment as Chief of the United States Forest Service (Forest Service). On August 21, 2017, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced Tooke’s promotion and lauded his career work for the Forest Service since age 18, most recently serving as the regional forester for the Southern Region. 

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Okay, so it’s public . . . Now what?

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By Brent A. Rudolph, Ph.D., RGS & AWS Director of Conservation Policy

RGS and AWS are among the most passionate organizations defending the overall benefits of public lands, but we are one of the few voices working to raise awareness and prompt action regarding the poor conservation performance on federal properties with respect to providing young forest habitat.

Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument

Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument in Maine

Approximately 1,459,940 comments were received in response to the “Review of Certain National Monuments Established Since 1996” (regulations.gov). You may know this better as “The Bears Ears Brouhaha,” though there’s a chance that only I call it that.

The referenced review is being conducted by Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke in response to an Executive Order issued by President Donald Trump in April. The review will assess designations of 27 national monuments established since 1996. Other than Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument (Katahdin Woods) in Maine (see picture above), all monuments to be reviewed are located in western states or are marine national monuments.

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RGS & AWS – Forests in the Farm Bill Coalition

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07/27/17

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PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 25, 2017) As Congress begins writing the next iteration of the Farm Bill, the Forests in the Farm Bill (FIFB) Coalition, a group of 92 forest organizations, recently released a set of forest-related recommendations that would improve the bill’s ability to support private and family-owned forests and the benefits they provide.

The Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society (RGS/AWS) endorsed these recommendations, as they make it easier for landowners to implement scientifically sound wildlife habitat improvement and promote healthy forests.

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National Monument Review

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07/18/17

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July 18, 2017

For Immediate Release

On National Monuments:

Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society Address Neglect of Wildlife Habitat

Coraopolis, PA – The Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society (RGS/AWS) recently provided public comment urging the Secretary of the Interior to commit to providing young forest habitat when setting expectations for national monument management. The input emphasized the need for even-age forest management to sustain abundant game and non-game wildlife, provide high quality hunting, and benefit local timber and outdoor recreation economies.

“Our comments provide advice for specific steps Secretary Zinke could take and offer our support to help establish the Katahdin Woods and Waters National Monument as a precedent-setting model of sustainable forest and wildlife management,” said RGS/AWS President and CEO John Eichinger.

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