The October 2-3 White House Conference on North American Wildlife Policy, held in Reno, Nevada, brought about 500 participants to discuss some of the most important issues confronting wildlife conservation and the continent's hunting heritage.

Prescribed in an August 2007 Presidential Executive Order, the conference focused on issues identified in a series of white papers prepared by the Sporting Conservation Council (SCC), members of organizations affiliated with the American Wildlife Conservation Partners (AWCP), and other individuals. The Executive Order also called for federal land management agencies to expand and enhance hunting opportunities and the management of game species and their habitats through development and implementation of a 10-year action plan.Conference attendees heard from Bush Administration officials and members of the conservation community. Day one consisted of opening remarks by Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, and panel discussions and audience participation throughout the day. It concluded with remarks by Council of Environmental Quality (CEQ) Chairman Jim Connaughton. Day two concluded the conference with speeches by Vice President Dick Cheney, Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer, and a wrap-up discussion panel comprised of conference participants.

Cheney announced a new goal to protect, restore or improve an additional 4 million acres of wetlands; an incentive program for landowners who allow public hunting on their lands as part of the Conservation Reserve Program; support for tax incentives for landowners who donate conservation easements; and new incentives for private landowners to conserve wetlands in bottomland hardwood sites to provide habitat for waterfowl. In addition, the Vice President announced the administration's support for a 10-year authorization of the SCC.

Conference participants were provided with a discussion draft of the 10-year action plan and its goal to implement provisions of the Executive Order and selected recommendations from the white papers. Panel discussions centered on questions and comments related to conservation funding, habitat conservation, perpetuating hunter traditions, access to private and public lands, hunter recruitment and retention, interagency coordination, climate change and wildlife impacts, and energy development and wildlife conservation. Administration officials, with formal input from the SCC and others, will develop the action plan for federal agencies.

This plan, if constructed appropriately, will provide a blueprint for the next administration and Congress to advance wildlife conservation and the sustainability of hunting in the nation. Although the completed plan must pass formal approval through various channels in the administration, such as the Office of Management and Budget, SCC members and AWCP organizations were assured that recommendations or proposals included in the white papers will be recognized, if not formally supported, in the document. The action plan may provide a bridge to the next administration with respect to the policy and budget requests of the traditional conservation community. Similar to previous AWCP publications entitled, "Wildlife for the 21st Century, Volumes I and II", the action plan and white papers will provide important information for the incoming administration's transition teams at the Departments of Agriculture and Interior and CEQ.

Conference participants were encouraged to track the development of the action plan and provide input to the process. For additional information on the White House Conference, white paper topics, and Action Plan development, please visit the website: http://wildlifeconservation.gov/index.html??? (saw)