Gulf Coastal Plains and Ozarks Landscape Conservation Cooperative: Development and Operations Plan

摘要

The American public has a rich and storied history in its commitment to maintaining wild and scenic landscapes and its tireless endeavor to conserve endemic fish and wildlife resources for future generations. Indeed, one of the grandest achievements of this society has been the recognition that Mans well-being is dependent on Nature and he has a responsibility to properly steward it. Evidence of this philosophy is manifest in public policies and treasured landscapes that provide citizens the near limitless experience of natural wonder and the opportunity to freely share in the excitement offered by consumptive and non-consumptive uses of fish and wildlife resources. Paradoxically, our society is placing increasing pressures on the very resources it depends on and desires to conserve. The American public faces unprecedented issues of scale, pace, and complexity in sustaining our Nations fish and wildlife resources. Global population is expected to reach 9 billion by 2042. As the number of people increases, resource management challenges such as habitat degradation, conversion, and fragmentation; contamination and pollution; invasive species, disease and threats to water quality and quantity grow as well. All of these threats are compounded by a changing climate that is itself accelerated by demands for energy (including the development of alternative energy sources). Thus, despite the tremendous success our nation has enjoyed in maintaining wild places and sustaining fish and wildlife resources, the conservation challenges of the 21st Century represent a force of change more far-reaching and consequential than any previously encountered.