President Obama signs America's Great Outdoors memorandum Official White House Photo/Samantha Appleton
On Friday, April 16, 2010, President Obama hosted the White House Conference on America's Great Outdoors. The meeting was all about working together to conserve America's precious land resources and to encourage people to get outdoors and reconnect to the land.
During the meeting, he signed a Presidential Memorandum to launch what is being called America's Great Outdoors Initiative.
He spoke extensively about another President, Theodore Roosevelt, and his legacy of conservation. Among his comments, "Now, I am mindful that the first such conference was held over one century ago by one of my favorite Presidents, one of our greatest Presidents -- and certainly our greatest conservation President. Upon taking office, Theodore Roosevelt –- avid birdwatcher, bear hunter –- set out on a tour of the American West that would change his life and the life of a nation forever."
The President laid out four main goals of the program:
- First, we’re going to build on successful conservation efforts being spearheaded outside of Washington -- by local and state governments, by tribes, and by private groups -- so we can write a new chapter in the protection of rivers, wildlife habitats, historic sites, and the great landscapes of our country.
- Secondly, we’re going to help farmers, ranchers, property owners who want to protect their lands for their children and their grandchildren.
- Third, we’ll help families spend more time outdoors, building on what the First Lady has done through the “Let’s Move” initiative to encourage young people to hike and bike and get outside more often.
- And fourth, we want to foster a new generation of community and urban parks so that children across America have the chance to experience places like Millennium Park in my own Chicago.
He also said, "Understand, we’re not talking about a big federal agenda being driven out of Washington. We’re talking about how we can collect best ideas on conservation; how we can pursue good ideas that local communities embrace; and how we can be more responsible stewards of tax dollars to promote conservation."
More stories about presidents, first families and public lands:
Wilderness Warrior--the book, the author at Sagamore Hill and video interviews
National Park Service releases overview of the public lands bill
Photo essay--Old Faithful and Yellowstone welcome the Obamas
Photo essay--picture perfect day for the Obamas at Grand Canyon
The White House recently released this video of the First Family's visit to Yellowstone National Park last year. It also shows highlights of visits to the park by other presidents and first families.
For more info: Join the Conversation about America's Great Outdoors
Comments
I think this is fantastic. The more we can get people outside, to learn to appreciate nature, the easier it will be to get them all to Take Care of Their Share of the Planet.
First, President Obama and the public need to know some facts about who is behind this campaign. Sporstmen are very excited about this project as it will open doors to promote more youth hunting, buy more hunting lands, and get more of the Pittman-Robertson gun tax $ for themselves.
To qualify for (100%) of our gun tax fund ($300+ million annually) state wildlife agencies must sell the most hunting licenses. At any cost they will recruit hunters to their state, and do so by artificially increasing large populations of game animals. The over population of deer is no accident.
Increasing their funds enables them to buy more lands, which if you are not of the 4% that hunt, you will only enjoy in off seasons, if there are any in your state. Many animals can be hunted all year long now.
The antiquated P-R Act implemented by Roosevelt needs repealed! 60% of gun owners now do not hunt. Why do state wildlife agencies get 100% of this tax (and keep lying to you they fund themselves)
(con't)
Because of special interest monopolization of wildlife management, Sportsmen are "selling" our wildlife and allowing exploitation of it. Abusive "sports" are growing, sanctioned by themselves and over-stepping state anti-cruelty statutes. Dog fighting is illegal, but THEY allow live bait dog training, using our wildlife just for the fun of it.
New "snuff" hunting videos portray killers with guns wounding animals and laughing over their suffering. 54% of bow-hunters lose animals they hit with arrows.
It isn't about anti-hunting - it is a scary lack of ethics that now engulf the "heritage" they cry must be upheld. And THEY are fully in charge of this reckless management.
Please tell Obama to REPEAL THE P-R GUN TAX, give some of the $ to crime victims, and STOP STATE WILDLIFE MGMT FROM QUALIFYING BY "GROWING HUNTERS"!
Hunting has caused a 300% trait change in species. It is NOT being done properly because they are in charge, and their salaries depend on it.
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