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Conservation Policy

America’s hunters and anglers lead by example in the fight for conservation

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Global Connections of the Hunt Fish 30×30 Campaign

By Brent A. Rudolph, Ph.D. | RGS & AWS Chief Conservation & Legislative Officer

sunset canoeing
Photo by Brent Rudolph/RGS & AWS

Please consider signing the petition supporting the Hunting and Fishing Community Statement

In a report to the National Climate Task Force released yesterday (“Conserving and Restoring America the Beautiful”), the Secretaries of the Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, and the Chair of the Council on Environmental Quality laid out the plan for our nation’s involvement in the Thirty-by-Thirty Initiative (Thirty-by-Thirty). The initiative is a global effort to establish a goal of placing 30 percent of the planet’s lands and waters under “protected status” by the year 2030.

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Action Alert for Michigan

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Deadline set for Monday, March 8 to ensure Improved Aspen Management on the Manistee National Forest

The Huron-Manistee National Forests (HMNF) have seen a decline in aspen harvest over the past few decades. This has led to an imbalance in the age structure of aspen stands that negatively affects habitat critical for ruffed grouse, American woodcock, and other forest wildlife.

[Read more…] about Action Alert for Michigan

Coalition Supports Conservation on Indiana’s Hoosier National Forest

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Photo By Steve Oehlenschlager

Amicus brief filed in support of Indiana’s Hoosier National Forest habitat project by Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society, coalition of conservation groups

The ruffed grouse was listed as an endangered species in Indiana on December 16, 2020.

January 12, 2021 (New Albany, IN) – The Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society led a coalition of conservation groups that filed an amicus brief in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Indiana, related to the Houston South Vegetation Management and Restoration Project (Houston South Project) within Hoosier National Forest. The U.S. Forest Service faces a lawsuit that aims to shut down the project; RGS & AWS is not a party on the lawsuit, but the brief supports the Houston South Project and its objectives to restore habitat for ruffed grouse and other wildlife. The State of Indiana officially listed the ruffed grouse as a state endangered species on December 16, 2020.

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RGS & AWS Support 30 by 30 Initiative

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30 by 30 Initiative

RGS & AWS along with other hunting, fishing and habitat conservation groups issue support of 30 by 30 initiative.

October 19, 2020 (Washington, D.C.) – Today, the nation’s leading hunting, fishing, and habitat conservation organizations released a statement on the Thirty by Thirty Initiative (30 by 30 Initiative) to establish a goal of placing 30% of the planet’s lands and waters under protected status by the year 2030.

[Read more…] about RGS & AWS Support 30 by 30 Initiative

Brent Rudolph Featured on the Project Upland Podcast – RGS

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“Achieving conservation work from capitol hill to a bird cover near you with Brent Rudolph of the Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society.“

RGS & AWS Director of Conservation Policy was recently featured on an episode of the Project Upland Podcast.

To Listen | Episode #109 | Conservation and Bird Dogs with Brent Rudolph

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Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society Applaud Senators Stabenow, Braun for New Bipartisan Bill to Help Family Forests

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The Rural Forests Markets Act will create revenue for family forests and sustain healthy forests and wildlife habitat

WASHINGTON – This week, U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Conservation, Forestry, and Natural Resources, introduced the bipartisan Rural Forests Markets Act to help small-scale, family foresters access new economic opportunities through climate solutions like carbon markets. 

“Big or small, our forests are an important part of the solution to the climate crisis,” said Ranking Member Stabenow. “For too long, environmental market opportunities have been out of reach for many family foresters due to high upfront costs. Our bipartisan bill is a win-win for forest owners and the environment.” 

[Read more…] about Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society Applaud Senators Stabenow, Braun for New Bipartisan Bill to Help Family Forests

Action Alert | Indiana Ruffed Grouse Need Your Help

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SUBMIT ONLINE COMMENTS HERE – Deadline July 30th

Ruffed grouse in Indiana need our help. With just a little effort, you could take an opportunity this week to speak up on their behalf.

Two Indiana Natural Resource Commission (NRC) public hearings will take place on July 29th and July 30th to address proposed fish and wildlife rule changes. These amendments include adding ruffed grouse to the list of state endangered species. We strongly urge speaking up in support of this listing, and have included some talking points and rationale below, reiterating the reasons for the Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society (RGS & AWS) long-term commitment to this cause.

[Read more…] about Action Alert | Indiana Ruffed Grouse Need Your Help

Influence Forest Management and Conservation Policy in Pennsylvania

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Our staff at Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society (RGS & AWS) would like to inform hunters and conservationists of multiple upcoming opportunities to influence forest and wildlife conservation and management within the state of Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and the Governor’s Advisory Council for Hunting, Fishing and Conservation have reached out to RGS & AWS to engage our members in these opportunities. We encourage you to provide input pertaining to the new Bureau of Forestry Strategic Plan, and consider whether you or other allies for conservation may be in a position to fill upcoming board vacancies. You can find additional details and opportunities to respond below.

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American Wildlife Conservation Partners Share Conservation Policy Recommendations in the Sixth Edition of Wildlife for the 21st Century

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July 15, 2020
For Immediate Release

Coraopolis, Pa. – The nation’s top 50 hunting conservation organizations today released their policy recommendations for the next White House Administration and the next two Congresses. The groups that participate in the American Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP) developed Wildlife for the 21st Century: Volume VI to provide specific actions that could be taken to improve wildlife conservation and management. The 10 recommendations made by the AWCP focus on conservation funding, access and management of federal lands, habitat conservation in a changing climate, integrating wildlife goals into energy planning, private land and species conservation, wildlife disease management, and big game migration corridors. All of the recommendations encourage collaboration and cooperation between federal agencies, state fish and wildlife agencies, and private landowners.

[Read more…] about American Wildlife Conservation Partners Share Conservation Policy Recommendations in the Sixth Edition of Wildlife for the 21st Century

Recovering America’s Wildlife Act Update

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recovering-americas-wildlife-act

Some great news came from Capitol Hill heading into the 2020 Fourth of July holiday weekend. On Wednesday, July 1, the House of Representatives voted to pass an infrastructure bill (H.R. 2) that had been amended to include the Recovering America’s Wildlife Act (RAWA). The Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society (RGS & AWS) has been working towards passage of RAWA legislation for nearly three years as a member of the Alliance for America’s Fish and Wildlife, a broad coalition of organizations and businesses.

[Read more…] about Recovering America’s Wildlife Act Update