Planting a Conservation Legacy: Start Leading Today
by Justin Morrissey, NSSF – The Firearm Industry Trade Association
What good is planting a tree if the next person comes along and cuts it down?
It’s a frustrating thought to know your efforts may be for naught after you put in the work. The thought crosses my mind every year as I work to manage, restore and maintain habitat. At the moment, the main threat to my 3,100 hand-planted trees comes from deer, mice and rabbits – as the critters might nip, girdle or rub the trees – however, in the long run, humans are the greatest threat.
The succession of the property – a mix of wetland, meadow and woodlands – is incredible to watch, but to see progress in the management plan takes time; time no one is guaranteed. Who will care for the land beyond my years? That’s a question we should all be reflecting on.
The most well-known conservationists didn’t leave their legacy without instilling passion for nature in others. They left a long-term, lasting impact. Conservationists like Aldo Leopold, Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir, John James Audubon, Charles Darwin and Fred Bear, to name a few, defined modern conservation through their work in the field, the lessons and raw perspectives they shared with the public. They didn’t just bury their heads in the field with blistered hands; they ensured their work would leave a lasting impact.
Don’t Do It for You, Do It for What You Love
A tree planted benefits the tree and all life that lives off of the tree.
Wildlife conservation isn’t about you. It’s about the protection of wild species and animals and recognizing that we need to do this together, and realize the lasting impact of our actions on wild places, wildlife and future generations.
By definition, wildlife conservation is about protecting all animals and plants. Protecting can mean preserving, restoring and sustaining species and the habitat they live in. It’s work that involves studying habitat and wildlife behavior, monitoring plant and animal population health, understanding human effects on wildlife and natural resources, advocating for wildlife, engaging community and ethically hunting or harvesting animals and plants.
Importance of Community and Civic Engagement
Similar to the saying, “Does a falling tree make a noise if no one can hear it?” I’ll ask, “Does anyone notice a tree’s growth unless they know and live near the tree?”
How important is something if no one knows enough about it to care about it? Every conservation effort is meaningful, but the work doesn’t speak for itself – you must advocate for it and help others understand the impact. You either let the work die with you or you ignite the mission and passion in others to carry forward to build upon it.
The most impactful conservationists in history saw the importance of this balance between field work and advocacy, and their work benefited everyone. They used the modes of communication available to them and they built communities, organizations and funding models rooted in sound conservation science and societal support.
I’m not suggesting you need to start your own community or organization to make a difference. Instead, get involved in an existing community or mission-driven organization that stands for something beyond yourself and encourage others to do the same. Use your voice. This is especially important today when younger generations face the unprecedented challenge of defeating the distraction of screen time and when urban areas offer conveniences that result in more indoor or city-centric lifestyles. People become numb and ignorant to the value in nature.
Start Giving Back Today
The Greek proverb, “A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit,” is literally and metaphorically true when it comes to conservation and supporting your community. There’s no better day to start than today and anyone who loves planting trees knows the best day to plant was yesterday.
Today, our society needs conservation leaders who foster ethics, pass on knowledge, expand access and inclusion and promote civic engagement. These leaders can be anyone with enough passion and knowledge to help others. These are those who naturally take on a secondary role as a teacher, mentor, instructor or guide.
A great first step to becoming a leader is to get involved with a conservation program that supports leaders with pre-existing resources. Don’t start from scratch if you don’t have to! These are tools like curriculums, outreach plans, forms and educational resources for leaders to get integrated and grow their influence. Most importantly, these programs provide a way for networking and connection.
A newer program that supports future conservationists is called the +ONE® initiative. Created and managed by NSSF®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, +ONE® specializes in mentor outreach and recruitment specific to hunting and target shooting.
The +ONE® initiative encourages in-the-field participation through hunting and target shooting mentorship because those activities offer some of the best opportunities to immerse oneself in the outdoors and because conservation largely depends on these activities for funding.
The Wildlife Restoration Trust Fund (WRTF), commonly known as the Pittman-Robertson fund, is funded by excise taxes paid by firearm and ammunition manufacturers on their products as well as archery equipment manufacturers. These manufacturers have contributed nearly $18 billion in excise tax contributions to the WRTF since its inception in 1937, which has been a major funding source for wildlife conservation projects. Collectively, purchasers of firearms and ammunition, hunters and the industry are the greatest source of wildlife conservation funding.
In addition to supporting the Pittman-Robertson funding model, many organizations directly support wildlife habitat projects through their own operations and common missions. RGS & AWS is a great example of that and is an official +ONE® partner organization, offering mentored hunting camps and other conservation classes you can get involved with.
There’s no better time to start than today! Become a leader today through +ONE® mentorship opportunities at nssf.org/plusone or through RGS & AWS events.
