Interior and Agriculture Ministries Announce Federal Council Members to Support Hunting and Conservation Efforts

Date: Friday, September 23, 2022
Contact: Interior_Press@ios.doi.gov

WASHINGTON – In advance of National Game and Fish Day on September 24, the US Departments of the Interior and Agriculture today announced 18 members of the Game and Wildlife Conservation Council.

“Hunters, anglers and outdoor enthusiasts have some of the deepest connections to wildlife and form the foundation of habitat conservation efforts,” said Home Secretary Deb Haaland. “I look forward to working with the Council as we advance efforts to expand access to the great outdoors, fight climate change, and protect wildlife and the health of the natural systems that provide our food, our water and other resources. This type of commitment is at the heart of the america the beautiful initiative and the broader conservation strategy of the Biden-Harris administration.

“This athletic group will provide the USDA and DOI with vital information on how we can strengthen wildlife conservation, expand access to recreation, and promote rural economic development,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “They are an essential partner in preserving America’s wildlife and hunting heritage and in advancing our work to protect our nation’s precious lands and waters. The Biden-Harris administration is committed to conserving, connecting, and restoring America’s lands, waters, and wildlife, and I look forward to working with council members to help achieve these goals.

The Federal Advisory Council, established in February 2022 and managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is a federal advisory committee of subject matter experts that will provide recommendations to the federal government regarding policies that benefit the conservation of wildlife and wildlife. housing; expand fair hunting, safe recreational shooting sports and wildlife recreation opportunities; and policies that benefit national and local economies.

The newly created Council builds on the Wildlife Hunting and Heritage Conservation Council, first established in 2010. Members will meet at least twice a year, and members will serve for up to a three-year term.

The Council will help advance the administration america the beautiful initiative, which aims to conserve, connect and restore our nation’s lands, waters and wildlife through collaborative, inclusive and locally-led conservation efforts. These efforts will be bolstered by President Biden’s bipartisan Infrastructure Act, the largest investment in the resilience of physical and natural systems in American history, including billions of dollars to accelerate federal and local land conservation efforts. , water and wildlife across the country.

The members of the council are:

• Colin Beck (Confederate Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians) representing tribal resource management organizations.
• Ryan Busse (unaffiliated) representing the interests of shooting sports.
• Jeffrey Crane (Congress Athlete Foundation) representing wildlife and habitat conservation/management agencies.
• Michael Crowder (National Association of Conservation Districts) representing agricultural interests.
• John Devney (Delta Waterfowl) representing waterfowl hunting organizations.
• George Dunklin Jr. (Five Oaks Duck Lodge) representing tourism, outfitting and/or guiding businesses related to hunting and/or wildlife conservation.
• Bethany Erb (Pheasants Forever / Quail Forever) representing landbird hunting organizations.
• Daniel Forster (Professional Archery Association) representing the interests of archery.
• Cole Mannix (Mannix Ranch) representing livestock interests.
• Collin O’Mara (National Wildlife Federation) representing wildlife and habitat conservation/management agencies.
• Lucas Martinez (League of United Latin American Citizens) representing recreational interests associated with wildlife.
• Lydia Parker (Color Hunters) representing recreational interests associated with wildlife.
• Joel Pedersen (Mule Deer Foundation) representing big game hunting organizations.
• Land Tawney (backcountry hunters and fishers) representing wildlife and habitat conservation/management agencies.
• Keith Tidball (Cornell University) representing veterans service organizations.
• Lauren Ward (Conflict-Free Conservation) representing wildlife and habitat conservation/management agencies.
• Gerald (Tony) Wasley (Nevada Wildlife Department) representing state fish and wildlife management agencies.
• Joel Webster (Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership) representing wildlife and habitat conservation/management agencies.

The alternate members of the Board are:

• Edward Arnett (The Wildlife Society) representing Wildlife and Habitat Conservation/Management Agencies and Alternate for Collin O’Mara.
• Brad Brooks (The Wilderness Society) representing Wildlife and Habitat Conservation/Management Organizations and Land Tawney Alternate.
• Kathleen Falk (unaffiliated) representing wildlife and habitat conservation/management organizations and alternate for Lauren Ward.
• Mark Hennelly (California Waterfowl) representing Waterfowl Hunting Organizations and acting for John Devney.
• Blake Henning (Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation) representing big game hunting organizations and alternate for Joel Pedersen.
• Wayne Hubbard (American Urban Exterior) representing wildlife-related recreational interests and acting for Lydia Parker.
• Marshall Johnson (National Audubon Society) representing recreational interests associated with wildlife and acting for Lucas Martinez.
• Simon Roosevelt (Conservation Roundtable) representing wildlife and habitat conservation/management organizations Jeffrey Crane.
• Roberta Salazar-Henry (New Mexico Fish and Wildlife Commission) representing the State’s Fish and Wildlife Management Agencies and acting for Gerald (Tony) Wasley.
• Andrew Schmidt (Pheasants Forever / Quail Forever) representing upland bird hunting organizations and acting for Bethany Erb.
• Theodore Sedgwick (unaffiliated) representing wildlife and habitat conservation/management organizations and alternate for Joel Webster.
• Michael Van Fossan (First Lite Performance Hunting Clothing) representative of tourism, outfitting and/or guide businesses related to hunting and/or wildlife conservation and alternate for George Dunklin.

For more information on the Council, visit the Game and Wildlife Conservation Council webpage.

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