This summer, SCI joined top international conservation organizations in announcing support for the U.S. Foundation for International Conservation Act (USFICA). This bill will establish public-private partnerships to solve the planet’s biggest conservation problems by investing in rural communities, expanding buffer zones in habitats, and supporting sustainable use of and local benefits from natural resources. Read more about the bill here.
Recently, SCI spearheaded a letter of support for the “Foundation Bill” to Representative Mike McCaul, the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. The letter reads, in part, “The challenges facing international conservation are similar to those the United States faced 100 years ago. As it was at the establishment of U.S. National Parks and the National Forest System, many international conservation lands exist on paper, and in some places have basic staffing and work underway, but in many cases they are not yet fully functional and under severe pressure.” The foundation will set up long-term funding structures to boost international conservation areas and support local employment, basic human and wildlife needs, and critical anti-poaching efforts.
Our partners who joined in support are the American Woodcock Society, Boone and Crockett Club, California Waterfowl Association, Camp Fire Club of America, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, Delta Waterfowl, Ducks Unlimited, Houston Safari Club, National Deer Association, National Shooting Sports Foundation, North American Grouse Partnership, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Ruffed Grouse Society, Whitetails Unlimited, Wild Sheep Foundation, and Wildlife Mississippi.
Hunters are conservationists to the core, and this diverse group of outdoor organizations represent a deep commitment to conservation here at home and around the world. The bill has widespread bipartisan support and SCI strongly urges Congress to quickly move this bill. We thank Chairman McCaul for his leadership on this issue and thank all of our conservation partners for joining in support of this critical legislation.
