|
News for Immediate Release
BHA Joins Wild Harvest Initiative Initiative is the first program to evaluate wildlife harvests for food security, human health, environment, economy JOHN’S, Newfoundland – Backcountry Hunters & Anglers has launched a new partnership with Conservation Visions in support of the Wild Harvest Initiative®, a research-based program designed to assess and communicate the combined economic, social and conservation benefits of recreational wild animal harvests in the United States and Canada. Shane Mahoney, Conservation Visions’ CEO and originator of the Wild Harvest Initiative®, welcomed BHA as a partner in the groundbreaking effort. “The International Union for the Conservation of Nature has concluded that sustainable use of living resources is an important conservation tool because the social and economic benefits derived from such use provide incentives for people to conserve wildlife,” said Mahoney. “In other words, as humans, we are inclined to conserve what we care about. “This program is designed to bring the benefits of wild harvest home to everyone,” Mahoney stated, “to show that everyone has a reason to care and a reason to conserve wildlife and habitat. We are simply delighted to welcome Backcountry Hunters & Anglers to our Partnership Alliance.” “Backcountry Hunters & Anglers members live and breathe the outdoors,” said BHA president and CEO Land Tawney. “We know that our freedom to hunt and fish depends in no small part on habitat. As sportsmen and women, we need to seek new ways to work on behalf of wild public lands and waters to ensure their continued existence for future generations. The Wild Harvest Initiative® will help us achieve this goal. Our members live the hunting and gathering lifestyle every day, and we’re proud to support it.” Wild Harvest will address questions such as how many pounds of food are procured through hunting and angling, how much of this food is shared with family and friends and how much would it cost to replace this food – not just in dollars and cents, but ecologically? By exploring sustainable use of wildlife in the contexts of food security, human health and fitness, wildlife and habitat conservation, animal health and welfare, ecological and environmental concerns, and economic prosperity, the program will provide evidence of the wider benefits of wildlife and wild animal harvest to the public. Backcountry Hunters & Anglers is the voice |
About Backcountry Hunters & Anglers
The Voice For Our Wild Public Lands, Waters & Wildlife.