Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership

High Lonesome Ranch - Colorado September 2011

"There can be no greater issue than that of conservation in this country.

President Theodore Roosevelt

Confession of Faith Speech, Progressive National Convention, Chicago, IL, August 6, 1912

Fighting for Conservation Funding in America

Current Situation
Address the deficit vs. grow jobs and the economy Many important programs will be cut Congress will review programs with respect to their efficiency and value to the economy (i.e. JOBS) Hunters and anglers face several challenges as we move forward and defend conservation funding

Conservation in the Federal Budget

I dont make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts. Will Rogers

Non-Defense Discretionary Spending is only 19% of Federal Budget

FY 2010 - Percent Breakdown

Non-Security Discretionary Spending 19%

Mandatory, Security, and Interest Spending 81%

NOTE: Function 300 contains both mandatory and discretionary funding. In 2010, only 2.6% of all Function 300 spending was mandatory spending. Source for all data is Historical Tables from OMBs FY 12 Budget.

Conservation Spending Just 1.26 % of Federal Budget

FY 2010 Percent of Federal Budget by Category
Net Interest 5.67% Natural Resource Funding 1.26%

Non-Security Discretionary* 17.81% Mandatory Programs* 55.32%

Security Discretionary 19.94%

NOTE:. Source for all data is Historical Tables from OMBs FY 12 Budget.

Federal Funding and Conservation: Why Should We Care?

The taxpayers are sending congressmen and senators on expensive trips abroad. It might be worth it except they keep coming back. Will Rogers

350

U.S. Human Population Growth

1900-2010 FOURFOLD INCREASE

300 250 200 150 100 50 0 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

2011 311 million

SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

300

Rural / Urban Residency

2010 15% RURAL

250 200 150 100 50 0 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

1910 71% RURAL

SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU

Habitat Loss
Each year about 2 million acres of open space are converted to other uses - an amount that equals almost 6,000 acres a day - and most of this conversion happens close to where people live. About 100,000 acres of wetlands every year (DU) 40 million acres of public lands have been leased for oil and gas development in the decade. Climate change coastal wetlands; critical habitats (i.e. coldwater fish)

Access
Loss of access is the #1 reason people stop hunting and fishing No trespassing Multiple Use on federal lands Fishing access MT, UT, CO, PA Marine fisheries

State Fish and Game Funding

State and Tribal Grants LWCF Open Fields/Access State management budget already stretched thin; no room to take up the slack

Public-Private Partnerships
Farm Bill programs (CRP, WRP, GRP, WHIP, Open Fields) State conservation programs Partners for Wildlife; NAWCA; LCCs; NFWF Endangered Species Act Whats the alternative? - Regulations.

Conservation Funding in America Loses Ground

If stupidity got us into this mess, then why cant it get us out? Will Rogers

Loss of Dollars and Purchasing Power

Federal spending on land, water, ocean, and wildlife programs was just 1.26% of the federal budget in 2010. This proportion has actually declined over the last 30 years as funding for conservation programs has grown only 2% in real dollars over this entire period while other federal expenditures have increased dramatically.

Conservation Funding Has Lost Ground Over Time

2.40% 2.20% 2.00% 1.80% 1.60% 1.40% 1.20% 1.00% 0.80% 0.60%
1.26% for FY 2011

Conservation Related Programs as Percent of Overall Budget (FY 1975 - 2011)

2.42 % for FY 1977

Percentage

Years
NOTE: The increase in FY09 and FY10 funding levels is attributable in large part to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Source for historical data and administration proposal is Tables from OMBs FY 12 Budget. Source for house-passed budget resolution, Path to Prosperity Report.

Conservations Share Reduced by Almost Half Since FY 1975

14.00% 12.00% 10.00%

Conservation Program Discretionary Outlays as Percent of Non-Defense Discretionary Spending

11.54% in FY 1975

Percentage

8.00% 6.00% 4.00% 2.00% 0.00%

6.46% in FY 2010

1975 1978 1981 1984 1987 1990 1993 1996 1999 2002 2005 2008 2011 2014

Years

NOTE: The increase in FY09 and FY10 funding levels is attributable in large part to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Source for data related to discretionary outlays comes from Historical Table 8.7 from OMBs FY 12 Budget. Additionally, budget and out-year estimates (FY12-16) are based upon the Presidents budget request.

Grants vs. FTEs

Average proposed reduction on federal grant/partnership programs about 50 %
LWCF: 85 % NAWCA: 50 % WRP: 20 % Open Fields: 100 % WHIP: 41 %

Average core budget / FTE reduction: - about 9 %

Based on funding levels found in HR-1 Spring of 2011

Getting the Message to Capitol Hill

About all I can say for the United States Senate is that is opens with a prayer and closes with an investigation. Will Rogers

And Then Came HR - 1

Spring 2011: the House of Representatives passed HR-1, which dramatically cut or eliminated many conservation programs. A golden opportunity for anti-conservation forces A wake-up call for the conservation community, especially hunters and anglers Secretary Salazars challenge

A Congressional Call to Action

The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership teams up with the Civil War Trust and the Wilderness Society to create a loud voice for conservation. Develops a 3 legged stool coalition made-up of Conservation, Outdoor Recreation and Historic Preservation organizations

Americas Voice for Conservation, Recreation and Preservation

Over 640 groups sign a letter to Congress; Americas Voice for Conservation, Recreation and Preservation is born. Broad support ranging from National Shooting Sports Foundation and the Outdoor Industry Association to the Sierra Club and the AFL-CIO.

Congressional Strategy
Demonstrate that conservation programs help create jobs, leverage federal funds and stimulate local economies. Willingness to look at eliminating programs that do not work and consolidate programs that are redundant Focus on broad conservation funding as opposed to pet programs Mobilize the grassroots and the grasstops

The Economic Contributions of Hunting, Fishing and Conservation to the U.S. Economy

Always drink upstream from the herd Will Rogers

Wildlife-Related Participation
Direct Expenditures
$122 billion
2006 Expenditures
Fishing Watching 9% 34% 38% 19% Hunting Unspecified

Participants
87.5 million

Hunting/Fishing Trips
589 million

Hunting/Fishing Days
737 million

Economic Impact of Hunting and Fishing- 2006

Activity Participants License Revenue Excise Tax Generated Retail Sales Jobs Salaries/Wages State/Local Taxes Federal Taxes Hunting 14.3 million $725 million $280 million $25 billion 593,000 $21 billion $4.2 billion $5 billion Fishing 40 million $550 million $600 million $45 billion 1,036,000 $38 billion $7.3 billion $9 billion Total >34 million $1.3 billion $880 million $70 billion n/a n/a $11.5 billion $14 billion

Source: 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation Hunting in America: An Economic Engine and Conservation Powerhouse Fishing in America: An Economic Engine and Conservation Powerhouse

Conservation Funding As An Economic Engine

The active outdoor recreation economy generates $730 billion economic activity, of which $289 billion annually is direct retail sales. Active outdoor recreation contributes $88 billion in annual state and federal tax revenue. These are largely rural jobs and not exportable

Conservation Funding As An Economic Engine

For every dollar invested in land acquisition and restoration programs (like LWCF and NAWCA) approximately $3.00 is raised from non-federal sources. Hunters and anglers also pay through license sales and excise taxes

Next Steps
The CR, the 2012 budget, and the Supercommittee Americas Voice for Conservation, Recreation and Preservation will continue to grow its ranks and leverage its collective voice up on Capitol Hill Congress needs to hear from the people; politicians need to be held accountable. The media can help.

Never miss a good chance to shut up Will Rogers

Thanks for Your Attention