ADOBE STOCK ( LEFT ); COURTESY OF BROWNING ( TOP RIGHT ); COURTESY OF LEW ' S ( BOTTOM RIGHT )
Involvement of the Federal Government in Conservation
The North American Model of Conservation is the most successful conservation model in the world , and it has been copied by many other countries to manage , conserve and recover wildlife . In the United States , we enjoy the many benefits of the foresight , thought and hard work that was put into building and implementing the model . It has been formed largely by learning what not to do , and then creating a system that strives to ensure those negative experiences are not replicated . It started with citizens ’ distaste for the European system of private ownership of wildlife and continued to evolve as we saw the devastating effects of unregulated use of natural resources through the 1900s .
Although individual state agencies are responsible for managing their wildlife populations , federal legislation has created a framework within which to work , as well as funding mechanisms to help the state agencies operate .
1900 : LACEY ACT The Lacey Act was signed by President William McKinley , becoming the first federal law protecting wildlife . The Lacey Act allows for civil and criminal penalties for the trade or sale of wildlife . In 2008 , it was amended to also include plants . This law makes it illegal to import , export , sell or purchase wildlife or plants that violate domestic or international law . In short , it ended the commercial sale of wildlife products , which helped to reduce the market demands for those products . Practically , individuals are not allowed to sell the game and fish that they harvest , although you can give them away . Commercial fishing and the fur trade are exceptions , but both activities are highly regulated . Additionally , commercially raised captive wildlife species can be sold , but these facilities are regulated as livestock producers .
1918 : MIGRATORY BIRD TREATY ACT The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 was signed by President Woodrow Wilson and enacted conservation treaties between the U . S . and other countries , including Canada and Mexico , to ensure the sustainability of migratory bird species . Migratory birds move between multiple countries during the year , and without coordinated efforts between these countries it would be difficult to ensure the sustainability of each species .
1934 : DUCK STAMP ACT The Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act ( also known as the Duck Stamp Act ) was signed into law by President Franklin D . Roosevelt . In the middle of the Great Depression , this was a culminating action of hunter-conservationists who were concerned with the loss of wetlands , both for the role that they play in the ecosystem and specifically because of how vital they were to recover struggling waterfowl populations . Duck stamps can be purchased annually by anyone , but they are required for all waterfowl hunters in the U . S . who are age 16 or older . The money collected from the purchase of these stamps goes directly into the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund , which is used to purchase or lease wetlands and other habitat , including parcels that are now part of the National Wildlife Refuge system . The sale of Duck Stamps has generated more than $ 800 million and protected more than 5.7 million acres of habitat .
1937 : PITTMAN-ROBERTSON ACT President Franklin D . Roosevelt signed the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act into law . It is also known as the Pittman-Robertson Act for the original sponsors of the bill . This law collects an 11 percent federal excise tax ( paid by manufacturers ) on sporting arms , ammunition and archery equipment , as well as a 10 percent tax on handguns . These funds are collected by the federal government . There is a clause in the act that prevents the funds from being spent outside of their intended purpose , which is to supply revenue for the state fish and game departments . The funds are distributed to the states based on the area of the state and the number of licensed hunters in each state . The funds are used by the state game agencies to select and improve wildlife habitat and for wildlife management . A 1970 amendment also allowed for some of the funds to be used for hunter education programs and operation of public shooting ranges . Since 1939 this act has generated more than $ 10 billion dollars .
1950 : DINGELL-JOHNSON ACT President Harry S . Truman signed the Sport Fish Restoration Act into law . It is also known as the Dingell-Johnson Act for the original sponsors of the bill . This law collects excise taxes from sport-fishing equipment , import duties on boats , fishing tackle and a portion of the tax from the sale of boat fuel . Collected and distributed similar to the Pittman-Robertson funds , the revenue is disbursed to states to be used for sport fish restoration , aquatic education , the Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation , the Clean Vessel Act , boating safety and the Coastal Wetlands Planning Protection and Restoration Act . Since 1950 , the act has generated more than $ 8 billion .
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