Recently, I had the opportunity to join the TRCP at their annual media summit. I’ve been an avid follower and supporter of the organization for the past 7 years or so and would argue that the TRCP and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers are two of the most influential conservation groups around. Or at least two of my favorites.
While they are far from the only ones fighting to protect our ecosystems and outdoor way of life, I think these groups really have a consistent and holistic approach to making positive gains. They are not partisan or polarizing and they focus on specific issues. The TRCP represents the issues, skirts the drama and puts in the man hours to pass positive legislation and find solutions to difficult problems.
The focus of this particular media summit revolved around two major issues:
- Chronic Wasting Disease
- Public Land Access and Landlocked Parcels
Successive panels of biologists, state wildlife agency leaders and experts presented data and shared some eye opening facts relating to both topics. I am working on several articles around each issue and will share those as they are published.
The summit was extremely productive and it was especially interesting to witness the brand side of conservation. It’s easy to assume conservation topics serve as a branding opportunity and many of these organizations throw some cash at it and stamp their names on the media attachments. This couldn’t be further from the truth.
I was lucky to see firsthand that brands like Yeti, Costa, Nemo, Carhartt, Mystery Ranch, Sitka and a few others are active participants and stakeholders in the development of actionable solutions for our most serious conservation issues.
Their passion for wildlife and fisheries conservation along with their love for the sports surrounding those issues and outdoors in general is phenomenal and many of these brands are taking a hard stance on issues that are potentially polarizing for their own customer base.
Ultimately, bringing multiple stakeholders together under one roof is extremely productive.
If you want more info on Chronic Wasting Disease and how to mitigate your own impact, visit the CWD Alliance website.
For more information on the 9.52 million acres of public land that has no access, read Landlocked Public Lands from OnX Maps and Unlocking Public Lands from the TRCP website. You can use a form on the TRCP link to contact your lawmakers directly.
A good chunk of this land is essentially being used by private landowners like it belongs to them exclusively yet the tax payers are liable. In some cases landlocked issues are incidental but in others they are deliberate and the public deserves access to the lands they own and support.
The work being done by the GIS team at OnX Maps is really cool and helps by adding a visual element to the equation that was previously not possible. If you are wondering about the hype behind this app, it’s legit and is worth the download.
I’m using mine for fishing, hunting and to find campsites from the van. It’s nice knowing when I need to pull over that I can find a public parcel where camping is legal and park for the night. I sleep better knowing a landowner or sheriff is less likely to bang on the window at 3 am. Might be the best 30-dollars I’ve ever spent.
