NWTF pleased with reintroduction of Resilient Federal Forest Act

EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The National Wild Turkey Federation is pleased to see Congressman Bruce Westerman (R-Ark.) and the original co-sponsors reintroduce the Resilient Federal Forest Act, legislation to expedite active forest management to reduce threats from wildfire, insect and disease outbreaks, and create resilient forest habitat for wildlife, recreation and timber harvest.

“The Resilient Federal Forests Act is vital for the active management of our nation’s forests,” NWTF CEO Becky Humphries said. “This legislation will allow us and our partners to perform more on-the-ground work for the benefit of wildlife habitat and the local communities.”

The NWTF has worked with Westerman regarding the conservation organization’s priorities for the bill and is pleased that many of the recommendations are included in the bill’s language. Those priorities include:

• Action/No-Action environmental analysis for collaboratively developed projects
• Categorical Exclusion to expedite the creation of early seral habitat for critical wildlife habitat improvement
• The establishment of a pilot arbitration program as an alternative to litigation

The NWTF looks forward to working with Congressman Westerman, the co-sponsors, and other leaders in Congress to advance this important legislation.

Original co-sponsors include: U.S. Reps. Rob Bishop (R-Utah), Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (R-Penn.), Chris Stewart (R-Utah), Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), Don Young (R-Alaska), Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.), Paul Cook (R-Calif.), John Curtis (R-Utah), Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), Tom McClintock (R-Calif.), Scott Tipton (R-Colo.), Russ Fulcher (R-Ida.), Greg Walden (R-Ore.), Greg Gianforte (R-Mont.), Dan Newhouse (R-Wash.) and Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.).

About the National Wild Turkey Federation

When the National Wild Turkey Federation was founded in 1973, there were about 1.3 million wild turkeys in North America. After decades of work, that number hit a historic high of almost 7 million turkeys. To succeed, the NWTF stood behind science-based conservation and hunters’ rights. The NWTF Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative is a charge that mobilizes science, fundraising and devoted volunteers to raise $1.2 billion to conserve and enhance more than 4 million acres of essential wildlife habitat, recruit at least 1.5 million hunters and open access to 500,000 acres for hunting. For more information, visit NWTF.org