Tennessee Wildlife Federation
  • Latest News
  • Issues
    • Policy Action Center
    • Invasive Carp in Tennessee’s Waters
    • Chronic Wasting Disease
    • Recovering America’s Wildlife Act
    • Share Our Rivers
    • Solve Litter
  • Programs
    • Conservation Policy
    • Hunters for the Hungry
    • Scholastic Clay Target Program
    • Habitat Conservation
    • Hunting and Fishing Academy
  • About Us
    • Overview
    • History
    • Board & Staff
    • Conservation Achievement Awards
    • Contact
    • Media Resources
  • Ways to Give
    • One-time Donation
    • Monthly Giving
    • Gifts in Loving Memory
    • Legacy Giving
    • Corporate Council
    • Non Cash Gifts
    • Crypto
    • More Ways to Help
  • Donate
  • Menu Menu

The Conservation Funding Crisis

February 14, 2020/in Anglers, Conservation Policy, Deer, Fish, Hunters, Lands, News, Nongame Wildlife, Turkey, Waterfowl, Waters, Wildlife Watchers /by Kate Hill
Turkey Tennessee

Tennessee needs to prioritize funding conservation work and programs or risk losing the progress we’ve made for our wildlife, water, and wild places. Photo credit: John Ray

The next time you venture out in Tennessee’s great outdoors, take a minute to pause and look around you. What we have today didn’t get here by accident.

In the early 1900s, Tennessee had only 20,000 deer left. Elk hadn’t been seen in Tennessee for more than a century. Turkey existed only in a pocket or two of the state—the estimated nationwide population was a shockingly small 30,000.

That was a turning point. A movement started and ever since, Tennessee Wildlife Federation has been working methodically to bring our wildlife populations back from the brink.

Sportsmen came together to create licensed hunting and fishing. Harvest limits were based on science and the license fees—as well as a special tax on hunting equipment—paid for wildlife management in the state.

It worked but it took time, as everything with nature does. Much of the wildlife we commonly see today was anything but common just a generation ago.

But this success is at risk.

Tennesseans are beginning to forget what it was like not that long ago. At the same time, the model that funds wildlife conservation is failing. It relies on hunters and anglers to pay for virtually all fish and wildlife management—through special taxes on equipment sales and license purchases—but their numbers are declining significantly. 

Because fewer understand that our waters, wildlife, and wild places are teetering on the edge, we have to continue to champion successful conservation. The Federation is the voice of sportsmen and conservationists like you while fighting for more funding to maintain what we have.

That could be from federal bills such as the Land and Water Conservation Fund, Recovering America’s Wildlife Act, and Restore Our Parks Act. Or Tennesseans may once again come together early this century—just like they did early last century—to make sure we’re able to conserve this great state.

We’re not ready to stop advocating for Tennessee’s unique biodiversity and natural heritage. And we know you’re not either.

Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share by Mail
https://tnwf.org/tennesseewf/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/John_ray_sm-e1581702933610.jpg 829 1618 Kate Hill https://tnwf.org/tennesseewf/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/TWF_Logo_horizontal2-e1585681401361.png Kate Hill2020-02-14 11:57:412020-09-22 15:19:56The Conservation Funding Crisis
Filter by Topic
Achievements
Anglers
Asian Carp
Chronic Wasting Disease
Conservation Policy
Deer
Fish
Habitat Conservation
Hunters
Hunters for the Hungry
Hunting and Fishing Academy
Lands
News
Nongame Wildlife
Public Lands Transfer
Recovering America’s Wildlife Act
Share Our Rivers
Tennessee SCTP
Turkey
Waterfowl
Waters
Wildlife Watchers
Tennessee Wildlife Federation logo


300 Orlando Avenue
Nashville, Tennessee 37209
(615) 353-1133

© 2023 Tennessee Wildlife Federation

Donate for Wildlife
Take Action
Volunteer for Wildlife
Create a Wildlife Habitat
Programs
Media Resources
Latest News
Contact
Privacy
Looking Back On A Year of Certifying Wildlife Habitats tennessee wildlife federationJennifer Caudle habitat conservation tennessee 150,000 Trees Planted By Habitat Conservation Program
Scroll to top
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Cookie settingsACCEPT
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT