06-05-2006. Secretary Kempthorne joined more than 300 elementary school students to kick off National Fishing and Boating Week by fishing for bass, yellow perch and bluegill in the pond at Constitution Gardens on the National Mall. "Fishing is a wonderful pastime that connects children to the great outdoors and helps build a new generation of conservationists," said Secretary Kempthorne. [FWS photo by LaVonda Walton]

The Department of Interior has achieved significant accomplishments for hunters and anglers under the leadership of avid sportsmen President Bush and Vice President Cheney. The Department is expanding cooperative conservation funding and partnerships, implementing the Healthy Forests Initiative, expanding hunting and fishing access, and promoting best management practices.

Significant Accomplishments for Hunters and Anglers:

• Achieving record amounts of conservation funding - The department has provided $1.3 Billion in grants to States, private landowners, sportsmen, hunting and fishing groups, and conservation groups.

• Expanding the number of cooperative conservation partnerships - by 2005, the Administration will have entered into over 17,000 landowner agreements.
• Improving habitat on millions of acres of public and private lands - As one example by 2005, 1.7 million wetland and upland acres will be restored through the Partners for Fish and Wildlife Program.
• Strengthening the relationship with America's hunters and sportsmen - Signed a memorandum of understanding to improve hunting and fishing access of federal lands.
• Promoting best management practices in managing multi-use public lands - The Administration has set aside Specially Designated Areas to protect wildlife.
• Achieving local environmental successes that are nationally significant - The Administration has funded partnership efforts that are conserving habitat on private lands.

Additional Information:

Preserving Landscapes and Habitat for Wildlife through Cooperative Conservation