With work on stimulus and appropriations funding bills completed, members of Congress are turning their attention to conservation initiatives as a series of new bills were introduced early this month. These bills, impacting duck stamps, mining law and open space conservation, are the most recent packages brought forward in a Congress that appears to be prioritizing environment and conservation-related legislation.

Renowned conservationist Patrick F. Noonan was honored with the 2009 George Bird Grinnell Memorial Award for Distinguished Service to Natural Resource Conservation. The Wildlife Management Institute (WMI) conferred the award during the 74th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference, held last month in Arlington, Virginia.

Legislation to clarify and restore protection to millions of acres of wetlands was introduced recently in Congress, according to the Wildlife Management Institute. The bill, the Clean Water Restoration Act (CWRA), introduced by Barbara Boxer (CA), Benjamin Cardin (MD) and Russ Feingold (WI), has 23 co-sponsors. The Administration supports congressional action on the measure, but has not taken a specific position on the bill.

After stumbling short of the finish line in mid-March, congressional leaders used procedural tactics to pass the massive public lands protection bill just one week later, reports the Wildlife Management Institute. The Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009, the most sweeping land-protection measure in decades, was signed into law by President Obama on March 30. The new law packages more than 160 separate natural resource related bills.

The Wildlife Management Institute (WMI) announced the launch of a new Website dedicated to sustaining and enhancing North America's hunting heritage. The Website, www.huntingheritage.org, will serve as a clearinghouse for information, programs and contacts related to programs that advance safe and ethical recreational hunting. The Website was premiered at the 74th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference last month in Arlington, Virginia.

Will Shafroth, the recently appointed Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks at the Department of the Interior, addressed a crowd of 900 during the plenary session of the 74th Annual North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference last month in Arlington, Virginia.