PrintRoosevelt's Commitment to Conservation Honored with 100th Anniversary Reception
May 15, 2008; Washington, DC
Directors and officers of the Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation joined conservation leaders and government officials at the 100th Anniversary of the 1908 White House Conference on Conservation, hosted by the Department of the Interior on May 15th. Secretary of the Interior, Dirk Kempthorne and Secretary of Agriculture, Ed Schafer, joined by James Connaughton, Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality praised President Roosevelt's vision and looked forward to the upcoming White House Conference on North American Wildlife Policy. TR's great-great grandson, Simon, also attended the reception and addressed the attendees.
Boone & Crockett Club and Sporting Conservation Council Chairman Robert Model as well as Representative Don Young (R-AK), emphasized the influence of hunters and anglers on the conservation model envisioned by President Roosevelt.
Mr. Model, who is also a Director of CSF, spoke about the differences between preservation and conservation of our natural resources and the disagreements over managing them. He called for science-based management that addresses the "greatest good for the greatest number of Americans."
"This century should be about cooperative conservation, not about conflict conservation," said Model. "If we want to solve the problem as Americans, we can; it is a matter of whether we have the will to put aside the focus on the differences and focus on the common ground we share."
Congressman Don Young pointed out, "Hunting has been an integral part of our economy, cultural heritage and way of life for millions of Americans since the founding of this Republic. Instead of spending their money on political campaigns and personal attacks, sportsmen's groups have built and sustained the 93 million acres that comprised our National Wildlife Refuge System. They spend thousands of dollars to conserve wildlife, build and restore wetlands, teach hunter education courses and work to ensure that our wildlife species will be available for future generations."
(Photo, L to R) Robert Model, Secretary Kempthorne and Rep. Don Young enjoy a moment at the 100th Anniversary Reception
Read the AWCP News Release
