Email from Washington Working Foresters

[jackelope]

Jackelope --

We're writing with a special alert to those who may have a special interest in keeping humans involved in the management of fish and wildlife populations in our state, such as with hunting, fishing or wildlife watching.

A Draft Conservation Policy will be considered by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission at their upcoming June 22-24 meeting. The policy would discard the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s (DFW) mission of conservation and adopt a narrow focus on preservation, allowing bureaucracy and over-precautionary ideals to override science.

Most worrisome, the draft policy ignores completely active management of populations and habitats and the vital role of land managers and natural resource users in fish, wildlife, and ecosystem conservation. If adopted, it would create conflict between people, hunters, anglers, and wildlife watchers – conservation should unite rather than divide us.

The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission needs to hear your voice. Before June 22, please email the Commission today. Urge them to say NO to the Draft Conservation Policy.

Make your voice heard! Say NO to Fish and Wildlife's Draft Conversation Policy!
The potential harm of a drastic shift away from collaborative conservation to precautionary preservation cannot be understated.

The Draft Conservation Policy would discard the goal of conservation, which recognizes the need for sustainable management and use of natural resources.
Collaborative conservation efforts and partnerships – efforts that are already making a difference – are jeopardized by the Draft Conservation Policy.
The Draft Conservation Policy will create conflict and division by excluding stakeholders – seems to exclude landowner voluntary conservation actions and creates conflict between people, hunters, anglers, and wildlife watchers.
You can learn more about the flaws in the Draft Conversation Policy and the potential harm it would do by clicking here where you can also send your message of opposition to this flawed and misguided policy.

Thank you for your effort on this important matter.

Sincerely,

Washington's Working Foresters

[GASoline71]

You just got that today?  Hope they've been advocating against the policy long before now!

Gary

[jackelope]

Yes. Today.

[Alan K]

I've had several emails from them on the issue, today being another reminder. Hopefully folks spoke up!

[Buckjunkie]

How could we…No one knew about it.

Why the heck didn’t WDFW warn hunters and anglers about it?

[Alan K]

Howl for Wildlife has gotten the word out too.

There has been conversation on here:   https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,279617.0.html

Working Forests aren't the only ones trying to spread the word.

NW Sportsman Mag has had some stories:

https://nwsportsmanmag.com/thorburn-others-comment-on-wdfw-comm-draft-conservation-policy/?mc_cid=8180f11390

https://nwsportsmanmag.com/nwifc-chair-weighs-in-on-wa-fwcs-draft-conservation-policy/

It's no surprise WDFW wouldn't reach out directly to hunters and anglers for input... At least I didn't receive anything from them...

[Special T]

How could we…No one knew about it.

Why the heck didn’t WDFW warn hunters and anglers about it?

 Non official discussion about this stared taking place 2 years ago by Comissioners. It wasn't a direct point for an agenda but they kept making comments that pointed this direction. When asked how does this apply or coincide with policy they would make comment like, "perhaps we need to visit, discuss, change that policy". This is the fruition of those remarks. This proposed change is illegal since it is a legislative policy. That doesn't mean they won't try and cram it down our throats. The only good thing in this continued overreach is that it should be another piece of evidence for the lawsuit.

I think many WDFW employees wouldn't want to say too much and make enemies so the could climb the ladder and or move to a different state.

[actionshooter]

This is 100% related to the Commision appointees that are being put in place... my understanding is that talks are going on in Seattle right now (june 22-24th), which was strategically set for more vocal support.

https://www.votervoice.net/WFPA/Campaigns/106235/Respond

[TriggerMike]

Is this years season in jeapordy at all?