The legislative task force on Funding for Fish, Wildlife and Related Outdoor Recreation and Education will hold its third meeting at the State Capitol on Wednesday, March 30 from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. in Room HR 50. The task force was created by House Bill 2402 which was passed by the 2015 Oregon Legislature. It is charged with developing recommendations to strengthen the State’s ability to conserve natural resources and connect the diversity of Oregonians to nature through outdoor recreation and education opportunities. Task force members will continue their work to identify guiding principles and criteria for potential new methods of funding fish and wildlife management and conservation, and related public recreation and education. It will discuss establishing work groups to address specific aspects of the legislation. The task force will also be briefed on national efforts to provide additional funding for fish and wildlife management and conservation. David Chanda, President of the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, will update task force members on the recommendations by the National Blue Ribbon Panel on Sustaining America’s Diverse Fish and Wildlife Resources. The Blue Ribbon Panel is proposing Congress dedicate a portion of revenues from energy and mineral development on federal lands and waters to state conservation programs. Task Force recommendations are due to the legislature by Sept. 15, 2016, for possible consideration during the 2017 legislative session. Governor Brown appointed 16 task force members to represent the diverse interests in fish and wildlife management and conservation in Oregon. Members include representatives of the outdoor recreation business community; conservation, hunting and fishing interests; outdoor recreation interests other than hunting and fishing; travel and tourism industry; counties government; outdoor education community; sport and commercial fishing industry; and diverse communities that may be underserved or underrepresented by the State’s current programs. Task force members also include four non-voting members of the Oregon Legislature as well as the Chair of the Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission and the ODFW Director. A list of task force members, meeting agendas and materials can be found on the Oregon Legislative Information System. The meeting will be streamed on the legislative website.
