"We must hang together or we will surely hang separately." Those words, spoken by Ben Franklin, were meant to remind America's founding fathers of the importance of unity as they worked together to form a new nation in spite of their deep philosophical differences. As we face the daunting challenges of climate change, rising sea levels, and a global population careening toward nine billion whose demands for water, land, food, energy and resources seems insatiable, the conservation community can ill afford to allow our differences to dilute our efforts. Conservation Controversies - Avoiding a House Divided, one of four special sessions at the 80^th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference, will feature presentations by several current champions of efforts to avoid a house divided.

Those of us dedicated to conserving wildlife and wild places and maintaining options for future generations often focus on the issues that divide us rather than the values that unite us ? state versus federal jurisdiction, artificial distinctions between "game" and "non-game" species, "traditional" and "new" constituents, and "wildlife management" versus "conservation biology." If our community cannot model the behavior of Franklin, Adams, Jefferson, and Washington then surely our efforts will fail.

Fortunately, there are leaders within our community who are showing the way. Dan Forster, Director of the Georgia Wildlife Resources Division and immediate Past-President of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) and Cindy Dohner, Regional Director for the Fish and Wildlife Service, Atlanta will discuss the partnership they have forged to resolve differences and avoid conflicts over state's rights and federalism. Doug Austen, Executive Director of the American Fisheries Society, will address the congruence between historic, harvest-oriented management of fish and game and today's expanding efforts to conserve biodiversity. David Chadwick, Executive Director of the Montana Wildlife Federation and former AFWA staffer, and Michele Beucler, Human Dimensions Specialist with Idaho Department of Fish and Game will describe how broader funding and programs can serve as a bridge rather than a wedge between hunters and non-hunters, benefiting both. Finally, Rebecca Humphries, Executive Vice President of Conservation for the National Wild Turkey Federation will discuss the role of government, non-government and citizen-based partnerships to the community's success.

Conservation Controversies - Avoiding a House Divided is co-chaired by Chris Smith, Western Field Representative with the Wildlife Management Institute and Ron Regan, Executive Director of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. The session will be held after the conference plenary session on March 11, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. to noon at the Hilton Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska.

Learn more about the 80^th North American Wildlife and Natural Resources Conference.