“A río revuelto, ganancia de pescadores” —when the river is turbulent, fishermen thrive. Leo Miranda-Castro’s opening remarks for the Challenges and Opportunities for Wildlife Governance Special Session at the 90th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference

I’m an optimist, and my approach to governance is simple: if the law doesn’t say you can’t do it, it means you can. That’s how we spark efficiency and innovation, especially nowadays. In my native Puerto Rico, we say, “A río revuelto, ganancia de pescadores”—when the river is turbulent, fishermen thrive. This time of rapid change is our turbulent river, and I’m excited about the opportunities it brings for wildlife conservation governance. 

We all know wildlife can manage itself very well. However, wildlife governance is about managing people and their relationships. Good governance is a system that’s alive, adaptable, and rooted in “We the People”—built on strong, trusting relationships. It’s not a top-down rulebook; it’s a framework where maximum transparency and innovation build trust across the board. 

Partnerships with landowners - just one example of innovative opportunity to explore as an alternative to federal resources.

Joe Millmoe/USFWS

Right now, I see these turbulent times as a chance to reverse declining trends. It’s the people rising to the occasion—landowners, hunters, farmers, ranchers, businesses—demanding results, not just data or talk about data. In our constitutional republic’s governance system, power flows from “We the People” to the states, and then what remains goes to the federal government, tapping the grit of state agencies, landowners, and businesses as a force multiplier. As we adjust and develop our conservation governance during turbulent times, it’s about cutting red tape, maximizing transparency, embracing technology, and including every voice to protect what we love and cherish. 

Things are shifting fast—some call it chaos, but I see a correction, a wake-up call. We have a shot to make wildlife conservation better: more transparent, efficient, and effective. Let’s be real: we’ve been stuck—declining hunter numbers, declining species, shrinking habitats. We have a governance system that’s too slow and top-heavy, cut off from folks on the ground and, for the most part, the public. But this shake-up isn’t a collapse; it’s a rebuild. I love that—it’s messy, alive, and ours to shape. 

I’m optimistic because together—states, landowners, businesses—we can fix what’s broken and make it better. We can cut cultural inertia stalling good ideas and innovation, pulling in perspectives from every corner—not just the usual crowd. Efficiency means results: more fish in our rivers, more wildlife on our lands, healthier ecosystems, a strong economy, thriving communities, and no waste of time or financial resources. Change opens doors—partnering with landowners, letting states lead the way instead of waiting on the federal government. We’ll try new things. If they fail, we learn and move on with another idea—that’s innovation. 

We have a shot to make wildlife conservation better: more transparent, efficient, and effective. 

The trends have been rough, but here’s our chance to flip them. Things are moving fast. It’s our opportunity to reset the model—our shot at success. This is where innovation counts, where we rewrite the playbook. Together, we can change the game—I can’t wait to see where it takes us.