Report requested by enviro groups
The proviso that launched the Ruckelshaus report came at the request of 50 environmental organizations.
The request was sent to the chairs of the Washington Senate Ways & Means Committee and House of Representatives Appropriations Committee on letterhead from Washington Wildlife First. That organization was formed in 2021 to “transform wildlife management to reflect the values of people of the state, respect the intrinsic worth of wildlife, and prioritize the preservation of healthy ecosystems.”
In its April 2023 request to lawmakers, the groups said they believe that “agency change is needed to meet the existential threats posed by habitat loss and degradation, climate change, and the global biodiversity crisis. We fear that even with the increased funding included in your current proposed budgets, the Department’s ability to meet these challenges will be hindered by fundamental structural flaws, and reform may be necessary to meet the goals represented by your proposed budgets.”
