PDF FILE- LETTER: Senate Bill 860: A Bill to Amend 1994 PA 451 June 18, 2024 Subject: Senate Bill 860: A Bill to Amend 1994 PA 451 Sen. Sue Shink, Chair: Committee on Natural Resources and Agriculture Sen. John Cherry, Majority Vice Chair: Committee on Natural Resources and Agriculture Sen. Kevin Daley, Minority Vice Chair: Committee on Natural Resources and Agriculture Sen. Sam Singh, Committee on Natural Resources and Agriculture Sen. Dayna Polehanki, Committee on Natural Resources and Agriculture Sen. Roger Victory, Committee on Natural Resources and Agriculture Sen. Michele Hoitenga, Committee on Natural Resources and Agriculture Dear Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Agriculture, Established in 1961, the Ruffed...
Action Alert
Action Alert: Virginia
Until Friday May 24th, RGS members can support forest management and habitat improvement on the GW-Jeff National Forest. RGS will submit formal comments, but it’s very helpful for individuals to also submit comments supporting active forest management and prescribed fire to create diverse, quality habitat for grouse and other wildlife. Submit your comments here: https://cara.fs2c.usda.gov/Public/CommentInput?Project=64669 These are some of the points you can make in your comments: Current forest conditions don’t support healthy forests or abundant wildlife populations. The GW-Jeff needs to do forest management projects like this to help move stands toward the desired conditions as outlined in the Forest Plan. The North Zone Prescribed Fire...
Kentucky Action Alert! Oppose Senate Bill 3
Photo by Paul Sollenberger on Unsplash
Senate Bill 3 aims to move the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources from the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet and place it under the direction of the Department of Agriculture. This article is a nice primer on the current situation. Multiple conservation groups have signed on to opposed this. We encourage you to educate yourself on the issue and contact your legislators today. Here is a recent episode of Cal’s Week in Review covering the bill if you prefer podcasts. Thank you!
Oppose Senate Bill 3 Now:
https://csf.salsalabs.org/kentuckyactionalert/index.html?eType=EmailBlastContent&eId=24514577-2736-484c-9720-2246c0172f47
Oppose diversion of wildlife conservation funding in Pennsylvania
During a habitat coordination meeting with the Pennsylvania Game Commission on August 31, the Ruffed Grouse Society & American Woodcock Society learned of action taken in the State Senate that would transfer $150 million from the Pennsylvania Game Fund and divert it to other uses. The Game Fund is a long-standing trust established to fund wildlife, habitat management and hunter access in the Commonwealth. The last-minute amendment was added to HB 1300 with little advance notice. It sets a dangerous precedent for a fund paid into by nearly a million hunters annually through hunting license fees. The Game Commission operates without...
Critical Need in Massachusetts for Public Comment
We just received notice of a virtual meeting this Tuesday, September 12, where your voice is seriously needed. They are hosting a Public Input Session regarding Climate-Oriented Forest Management Guidelines that will affect the direction of the state moving forward. As you know, Massachusetts has some challenges in accepting active forestry as a management practice – and now’s your time to make your voice heard. (REGISTRATION INFO BELOW) LEARN MORE ABOUT THE EVENT As a primer, we provided some talking points whether you’re able to send in advance or speak up at the meeting, sharing your personal experiences. There are 570 Species of Greatest Conservation Need...
Take Action: Support White Pine Removal Project on the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests
RGS & AWS Members, The White Pine Removal Project will help meet the habitat needs for ruffed grouse and a broad suite of forest wildlife by increasing forest age class diversity in the project area and removing uncharacteristic white pine to restore mast-producing tree species (e.g., oak) that are more favorable to grouse and other wildlife. However, the project currently falls short of achieving early successional habitat (ESH) objectives from the Forest Plan within the project area. RGS & AWS supports the project and offers the following suggestions to ensure the project meets its goal of improving forest resilience, increasing species and...
