The NAIA Trust recognizes the value of wildlife and wild lands and supports private and public efforts to conserve our natural wealth through incentives, partnerships, and educational efforts based on sound science, respect for private property and individual rights, and sustainable use of resources.
We believe that species are best protected when the needs of humans and human enterprise are considered in formulating plans to conserve them. This is especially important when populations occur on private property. People need to be able to protect their families and properties regardless of whether the animals causing the problems are abundant or not.
Any law that has the potential to increase animal populations to unwieldy numbers should be subjected to scientific scrutiny, not enacted out of political concern or emotional consideration. These laws, ordinances and regulations should include provisions for the accidental “taking” of animals or alteration of habitat.
We believe that decisions affecting wildlife should be made by wildlife experts, not inexperienced political appointees, politicians eager for re-election, or activists who favor any wildlife management solution except hunting and trapping.
We support multiple uses of state and federal parklands and other natural areas, and believe that game management, reauthorization of the federal Endangered Species Act, and disbursement of Pittman-Robertson and Dingell-Johnson sportsmen’s conservation funds should depend on scientific study, not politics, emotion, or public pressure.
As with all other circumstances in which man and animals interact, the NAIA Trust encourages adoption of reasonable laws and rules to protect animals and disagrees with those that arbitrarily criminalize human behavior.
Suggested Reading
- NAIA: Western forests burn; millions of acres destroyed (Winter 2000)
- NAIA: House committee hears about private conservation
success stories (Winter 2000) - NAIA: Feds, businesses and farmers save habitats and species
- Texas Wildlife Association A nonprofit organization focusing on wildlife on privately owned land.
- Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation: Founded to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat.
- US Sportsmen’s Alliance: The USSA tracks state and federal legislation affecting hunters and hunting.
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service