EDGEFIELD, S.C. — George C. Thornton, CEO of the National Wild Turkey Federation, was appointed today to the new Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council, an official advisory group that will help promote and preserve America's hunting heritage for future generations.
"Sportsmen are the original and most hands-on conservationists," Thornton said. "By promoting and preserving America's hunting heritage for future generations, we are helping educate up-and-coming conservationists who will care for our nation's valuable natural resources.
"The charter for the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council is closely linked to the NWTF's mission of conserving wild turkeys and preserving our hunting heritage. I am delighted at the opportunity to work with this group of distinguished sportsmen and conservationists in serving this worthy cause."
Ken Salazar, secretary of the interior, and Tom Vilsack, secretary of agriculture, announced the names of the 18 committee members.
"Conservation would be a shadow of what it is today without the sportsmen who have committed billions of dollars to conserving wildlife and habitat," Salazar said. "It is my honor to recognize the sportsmen and women of this council, who will help shape conservation initiatives that will keep Americans connected to our hunting heritage."
Council members will advise the federal government on policies related to wildlife and habitat conservation endeavors that benefit recreational hunting, benefit wildlife resources and encourage partnerships among the public, the sporting conservation community, the shooting and hunting sports industry, wildlife conservation organizations, the states, Native American tribes and the federal government.
"Hunting and fishing are parts of the very fabric of America," Vilsack said. "No one knows how to improve grasslands, forests, rivers and streams better than sportsmen. Members of this council will play a significant role in improving water and forest health, and creating jobs in rural communities."
Hunters and anglers are a tremendous economic force. The Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation reports that these sportsmen pump $76 billion into America's economy each year. They also create an economic "ripple effect" of $192 billion annually by keeping people employed not only in hunting- and fishing-related jobs, but also in gas stations, retail stores, restaurants and hotels throughout every state in America.
In addition to the economic benefits of hunting and fishing, Vilsack also noted that these activities provide much-needed health benefits to Americans who head outside and lead an active lifestyle.
The NWTF is a nonprofit conservation organization that works daily to further its mission of conserving the wild turkey and preserving our hunting heritage.
Through dynamic partnerships with state, federal and provincial wildlife agencies, the NWTF and its members have helped restore wild turkey populations across the country, spending more than $306 million to conserve 14 million acres of habitat for all types of wildlife.
The Federation works to increase interest in the outdoors by bringing new hunters and conservationists into the fold through outdoor education events and its Women in the Outdoors, Wheelin' Sportsmen, JAKES and Xtreme JAKES outreach programs.
