RRR_Summer 2008_8.pdf - Theodore Roosevelt Conservation ...

Washington Watch
By Tom Franklin, TRCP Senior Vice President
Spotlight: TurnerFoundation
An old Capitol Hill saw
says that controversial
legislation doesn’t pass in a
presidential election year. 2008
is an exception, at least for one
key bill, but others likely will
await action from a new Congress
and president.
One of the more contentious
farm bills in memory limped to
passage under a “Groundhog Day” scenario in which controversy
over funding and a paperwork error caused the legislation to be
passed twice and vetoed twice. When the last veto was finally
overridden, a collective sigh of relief was heard throughout the
D.C. conservation community.
The good news is that the “Food, Conservation and Energy Act
of 2008” extends many successful farm conservation programs,
albeit at somewhat lower funding levels. One huge victory was
the addition of “Open Fields,” a TRCP signature proposal. It
provides $50 million to landowners who offer hunting access
through state programs. The Conservation Reserve Program
(CRP), the most effective private lands conservation program
for wildlife in history, will continue at a reduced level. The
Wetlands Reserve Program, Grasslands Reserve Program and
Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program all were extended for four
more years. Tax incentives for conservation easements will
continue for two more years. A major disappointment was the
weakening of the Sodsaver provision that would protect rare native
prairie by removing federal incentives to plow them.
Now that this year’s farm bill is on the books, the attention of the
TRCP has shifted to implementing the authorized conservation
practices. The TRCP and its partners sprung into action when
CRP came under attack in July. Fortunately, the U.S. Department
of Agriculture decided against allowing land owners to
break their CRP contracts without having to pay their CRP
money back. Had the decision gone the other way, it would have
destroyed the gains to fish and wildlife habitat paid for by U.S.
taxpayer dollars through CRP. While this debacle was averted,
there will be more challenges to come.
4
Looming on the horizon is the pressing need to work with the
new president and Congress on key issues. As we do, there is no
doubt that pressures on our fish and wildlife resources will continue
to intensify as our nation’s leaders strive to meet the needs
and desires of a growing population. Our ongoing challenge at
the TRCP will be to garner the resources necessary to guarantee
that the needs of wildlife, hunters and anglers are included in the
national policy as the new president and Congress engage in the
2009 conservation debate.
T.R.ivia
Theodore Roosevelt lived in the brownstone where he
was born until he was 14 years old. In 1916, the
house was torn down to make room for a commercial
building. After T.R.’s death in 1919, a group of
citizens raised money to purchase the site, tear down
the commercial building and rebuild the Roosevelt
brownstone as a memorial to our 26th president.
NAME: KATIE ECKMAN
LOCATION: ATLANTA, GA
OCCUPATION: EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR,
TURNER FOUNDATION
Could you tell us a bit about the Turner Foundation
The Turner Foundation is a private family foundation started by
Ted Turner in 1990. The foundation is overseen by Mr. Turner
and his five adult children. Our mission is to prevent damage
to the natural systems - air, water and land - on which all life
depends. Among other things, the Turner Foundation is currently
supporting efforts to protect wildlife and wild places, mitigate
climate change and ensure clean air and water.
How did you become involved with the TRCP
The Turner Foundation was involved in early discussions
regarding the need for a coordinated effort to better engage and
activate hunters and anglers in natural resource decision making.
In partnership with the Pew Charitable Trusts, we committed
significant funding up-front to meet this need with a new organization
called the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.
I presented this opportunity to our board, and they were excited to
get involved.
Why are you involved with the TRCP
Many members of the Turner family are committed sportsmen and
-women with an appreciation for conservation. Their “land ethic”
was ingrained at an early age. They recognize the incredible legacy
of environmental protection spearheaded by hunters and anglers
and the significant opportunity to affect change if this constituency’s
passion can be turned into action. Our grant to the TRCP is
the keystone of our support to conservation organizations.
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Do you enjoy outdoor pursuits If so, what in particular
I do. I really love fly fishing. My mom got me interested in the sport
several years ago, and I am thrilled to see more and more women
taking it up. I helped start a group of female fly fishing funder colleagues,
which I have gotten a kick out of. I also enjoy bird hunting.
What do you think are our most pressing conservation
issues today
Climate change. While some continue to debate whether climate
change is real and question the severity of potential impacts, sportsmen
cannot stick their heads in the sand. From changes in migration
patterns and forage availability to increased water temperatures,
sportsmen are likely to see and feel the impacts first from our
duck blinds, our tree stands or our favorite trout stream. We all
need to make a personal commitment to mitigating climate change
– but in addition, I think the voice of sportsmen will be critical as
wildlife and habitat managers wrestle with appropriate adaptation
strategies and the lack of funding for their implementation.
I also feel the disconnect between people and nature is a real threat.
How can we expect people to stand up for the environment if they
have never experienced and developed an appreciation for the
outdoors I just finished reading Richard Louv’s Last Child in the
Woods. As the mother of a two-year-old, Louv’s book hit home
and has made me think more about where our future stewards will
come from if this disconnect continues.
What is your approach to facing conservation challenges
Outlive your opponents.
More realistically, recognizing and valuing the human dimension.
For many, conservation is not a moral imperative. You’ve got to be
a salesman and figure out what is in this for everyone. Make what
you are doing make sense. When the economics are in your favor, use
them.
What hopes do you have for the TRCP
I hope the organization continues outreach to the millions of
“unaffiliated” hunters and anglers in this country. The potential to
engage them is great if we can figure out how to do it. The TRCP’s
partnership with the unions is brilliant. I also hope the TRCP
continues to use many different strategies for having its voice heard
– whether that means filing suit to stop oil and gas drilling in sensitive
habitats, using the press to communicate widely your issues or
working to find consensus within the conservation community and
with our elected officials.