Outdoors: Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program recognizes ...

? ? ? LITTLE ROCK ? The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, as well as other partners are beginning a yearlong celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program. The program is the most significant and successful partnership approach to fish and wildlife conservation in history.
? ? ? The ?WSFR 75 ? It?s Your Nature? celebration brings together federal and state fish and wildlife agencies; the hunting, shooting, angling, and boating industries; and conservation groups to mark a milestone of partnership success that has led to 75 years of quality hunting, fishing, shooting, boating and wildlife-related recreation. The occasion also marks the beginning of a new era in wildlife conservation, during which the partners will establish new goals for fostering and maintaining partnerships to continue conservation and outdoor recreation into the next 75 years and beyond.
? ? ? ?The Service is proud to join our partners in recognizing more than seven decades of wildlife conservation and quality outdoor recreational opportunities,? said USFWS Director Dan Ashe. ?With our nation?s support and our partnership?s renewed commitment, WSFR will help more Americans enjoy wildlife and our great outdoors for many years to come.?
? ? ? The WSFR program is the fundraising foundation for several fish and wildlife conservation programs. The first was created on Sept. 2, 1937 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, which raises funds through a dedicated excise tax on sporting guns and ammunition. In 1950, the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act was enacted and added to the WSFR program. Through this law, funds are provided for fish conservation and boating and fishing recreational programs in each state through an excise tax placed on certain fishing and boating equipment and fuels.
? ? ? The support WSFR funds provide to fish and wildlife restoration and management has been a great success.
? ? ? ?The partnerships between outdoor industry along with federal and state agencies results in more opportunities for outdoor enthusiasts to enjoy Arkansas?s fish and wildlife resources,? said AGFC Director Loren Hitchcock.
? ? ? These funds, administered by the USFWS, are combined with hunting license dollars in each state to fund important state wildlife conservation and hunting programs.
? ? ? ?The 75th anniversary of the WSFR program is a tremendous opportunity to celebrate the conservation victories that have been made possible because of this innovative funding approach,? said Jonathan Gassett, Ph.D., AFWA president. ?WSFR has made the difference for the survival and abundance of some species, and because of it, many fish and wildlife populations are at historically high levels today.?
? ? ? Industry and agency partnerships have helped the success of the WSFR program to become what it is today.
? ? ? The WSFR 75th anniversary will include participation in various fish and wildlife conservation events and conferences throughout the year, to culminate with National Hunting and Fishing Day in September 2012.
? ? ? For more information about the WSFR program and its 75th Anniversary in 2012, visit:
? ? ? ?http://wsfrprograms.fws.gov/
? ? ? ?www.wsfr75.com
? ? ? ?Facebook: ?http://www.facebook.com/WSFR75
? ? ? ?Twitter: www.twitter.com/wsfr75

Source: http://salineriveroutdoors.blogspot.com/2012/02/wildlife-and-sport-fish-restoration.html

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