Welcome and Kickoff Keynote: Charlie Wooley, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the lead government agency dedicated to the conservation, protection, and enhancement of fish, wildlife and plants, and their habitats. They are the only agency in the federal government whose primary responsibility is the conservation and management of these important natural resources for the American public. The agency is responsible for implementing some of our Nation’s most important environmental laws, such as the Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Pittman-Robertson/Dingell-Johnson wildlife and sportfish restoration laws, Lacey Act and North American Wetlands Conservation Act.
The past several years have seen major bipartisan initiatives from Washington D.C. that have bolstered the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and provided major new resources for their state and local partners. The 2020 Great American Outdoor Act permanently reauthorized the Land and Water Conservation Fund at $900 million annually for the first time since the program’s creation in 1964. The 2020 America’s Conservation Enhancement Act (ACE Act) reauthorizes the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) and codifies the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP), two of the most successful voluntary conservation efforts in the nation. The 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act includes $1 billion in supplemental funding for the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) helping to clean up polluted hot spots and address invasive species in the Great Lakes basin. In short, this is an incredible moment for the Fish and Wildlife Service to shift into high gear.
Charley Wooley, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Midwest Regional Director, will join us on April 7 to provide a keynote sharing how these major legislative and funding victories are poised to fuel on-the-ground conservation and restoration projects impacting waterways, habitat, and fish in Wisconsin. Wooley was honored in 2012 by Secretary Ken Salazar with the Department’s Distinguished Service Award, the Department’s highest award. Two years later he was chosen by his peers for the prestigious Ira Gabrielson Award, recognizing his leadership qualities. Additionally, in May 2017, Wooley was awarded the Conservation Leader Award from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point (UWSP) College of Natural Resources. Wooley is a graduate of the UWSP.