Department of Conservation and Natural Resource Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn will join state Fish and Boat Commission, Game Commission, and other environmental agency leaders in discussing climate change impact at a National Wildlife Federation press conference at 2 p.m. December 18, in the Capitol’s Main Rotunda in Harrisburg.
Maintaining America’s traditions of hunting and angling are threatened more by climate change than ever before, the federation is releasing its new report, “Game Changers: Climate Impacts to America’s Hunting, Fishing and Wildlife Heritage.”
The federation report addresses what it says is an alarming threat climate change poses to the nation’s big and small game, its waterways and aquatic species, and the American traditions associated with them.
Other press conference speakers joining Dunn will include John Arway, executive director, Pa. Fish and Boat Commission; Dr. Benjamin Jones, chief, Habitat Planning and Development Division, pa. Game Commission; Dr. Shawn Rummel, field and research manager, Trout Unlimited; and Ed Perry, Pa. outreach coordinator, National Wildlife Federation.
“I commend the federation for hosting this gathering and the other speakers for attending to address this invaluable report that takes a hard look at just how climate change affects the wild species so many of us know, love and find invaluable to our Pennsylvania way of life,” said Dunn. “One only has to look at the Eastern hemlock and how it has been decimated by the wooly adelgid, an invasive insect that thrives and spreads in warmer winters, to see how climate change adversely affects so many wildlife species and the deep-seated traditions that surround our state tree.”
Big and small game alike, are facing threats for survival, the federation says, as temperatures continue to rise globally, while drought and severe weather become more common. In the wake of such vast changes in climate, how will American traditions such as hunting and angling continue? the NWF report asks.
The report says rising global temperatures are causing major stress to a wide range of wildlife across the country.
“Game Changers: Climate Impacts to America’s Hunting, Fishing and Wildlife Heritage,” takes a look at the specific big and small game that are suffering, as well as the habitat and food upon which they rely.
“The American tradition of hunting and angling, and the possibility of its decline, also is addressed, while simultaneously speaking about the major contributions sportsmen and women have done for wildlife conservation and funding,” Perry said.
“The report takes a strong stance for climate action, calling for sportsmen and women to support the newly released Clean Power Plan,” said the NWF spokesman. “Presented by President Obama, the rule would allow the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to limit the amount of carbon pollution from new and existing power plants.
“With these strong actions to limit carbon pollution, wildlife would have a better and more secure future and American traditions like hunting and angling would prosper.”
A copy of the report is available online.
(Reprinted from the Dec. 16 DCNR Resource newsletter. Click Here to sign up for your own copy (bottom of the page).)
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