Sportsmen, Conservationists Rally Behind Efforts To Safeguard Wildlife

More than 340 hunting, fishing and conservation groups from across the country have signed a letter to rally support for helping wildlife survive global warming.

From sport fishing groups to guide services to traditional conservation organizations, groups across the country are thanking President Obama for his commitment to safeguard America’s wildlife and natural resources from the impacts of global warming.

President Obama has already signaled his support for protecting wildlife and natural resources threatened by global warming. As part of an energy plan outlined during his campaign, Obama called for a cap-and-invest program to “provide new funding to state and federal land and wildlife managers to restore habitat, create wildlife migration corridors, and assist fish and wildlife to adapt to the effects of a warming climate.

Outdoor recreation, which is based on our nation's natural environment, contributes a total of $730 billion annually to the economy, supporting 6.5 million jobs (1 of every 20 jobs in the U.S.), and stimulates 8% of all consumer spending, according to The Outdoor Foundation.

Given the grave threats posed by global warming, investing in our natural resources today will provide huge economic benefits for generations.

To view a copy of the letter, visit http://www.targetglobalwarming.org/

Published: February 3, 2009