Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Inc.

Marine Fisheries: The long-term health of America’s marine fisheries is threatened by climate change, coastal wetlands loss, excessive forage fish harvest and bycatch mortality, high nutrients in freshwater runoff, and, in the Gulf, lasting impacts from the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster. To protect saltwater fisheries, the TRCP advocates for modernizing fisheries management approaches regionally and at the federal level, supports place-paced restoration projects and funding in Louisiana and the Everglades/South Florida, and leads a campaign to promote ecological management of Atlantic and Gulf menhaden and curb the reduction fishery.

Private Lands: Roughly 50 percent of the contiguous United States is privately-owned cropland, pastureland, and rangeland. To support conservation of these lands the TRCP supports an increased Conservation Title in the 2023 farm bill (the single largest annual federal investment in conservation), strong implementation of working lands conservation programs, and federal funding and action to curb the spread of chronic wasting disease.

Public Lands: There are more competing demands on natural resources than ever before, and the ecological integrity and accessibility of the West’s public lands is truly imperiled. To conserve public lands, the TRCP supports management that balances development with fish and wildlife needs including through the identification and protection of migration corridors and stopover habitats and implementation of sage grouse conservation plans, integrating the backcountry conservation management approach into BLM Resource Management Plan revisions to conserve 1.5 million acres over the next five years, and improving access by modernizing agency data and opening landlocked public lands.

Water Resources: Clean and abundant water is a staple of healthy fish and wildlife resources and recreational opportunity. In the West, the TRCP is part of a broad collaborative to advocate for healthy sustainable flows in the Colorado River basin. In Pennsylvania, our field organizer advocates for strong funding and protective designations to protect its water resources. Nationally we defend the Clean Water Act and support natural infrastructure solutions that restore healthy waterways and habitat.

Conservation Funding: Since 1977, Function 300 (the conservation portion of the federal budget) has been cut significantly relative to the overall budget and is now below 1% from a high of 4% in the 1970s. The TRCP advocates for strong conservation funding through annual appropriations and other broad legislative vehicles (such as those related to climate, infrastructure, and stimulus). We also lead the Conservation Works for America campaign to demonstrate the economic advantages of investing in conservation.

Climate Resilience: Through its newest policy center, the TRCP builds and demonstrates broad support from within the hunting and fishing community for the priorities outlined in our 2020 coalition document Sportsmen and Sportswomen’s Climate Solutions.