Editor’s note: This commentary is by Pete Diminico, of Bristol, who is a founder of New Haven River Watch, a board member of the Addison County Riverwatch Collaborative, cofounder Bristol Conservation Commission and past president of the New Haven River Anglers.
[I]t’s no secret Vermonters put a high value on outdoor recreation. Two out of three Vermonters hunt, fish and watch wildlife, totaling $780 million in trickle-down spending. Over decades the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department has grappled with decreased revenues, in part augmented by the continued decline in license sales. Increased demands on F&W, from demographic shifts and climate change, have put additional strains on its budgets. The proposed 2020 $24.1 million budget is already woefully short, and often-asked changes are not coming to fruition.
H.190 addresses one important issue: Is Fish & Wildlife Department addressing the demographic and cultural attitude change? This bill establishes a six-member legislative working group to find collaborative solutions and options for broadening stakeholder representation. This wildlife governance legislative group also addresses long-term sustainable revenue sources. This legislative approach seems innocuous, but it is not without political bias.
I suggest a different model, a collaborative governance model, a volunteerism approach.
On Aug. 30, 2006, the Fish & Wildlife Department convened the second and last of its wildlife congresses at the Lake Morey Resort. All stakeholders were invited, including farmers, loggers, birders, bikers, hunters and anglers, to mention a few. Attendance was very promising. Opportunities for the 2005 Wildlife Action Plan were discussed. Several key obstacles to the plan implementation were identified, and in the afternoon groups broke into sessions for common ground solutions. Unfortunately, additional wildlife congresses have not convened.
I strongly suggest the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department have another wildlife congress and invite all stakeholders invested in the great outdoors. There is much common ground for all of us — one that comes to mind immediately is the 6 million acres of land we share and enjoy. This is the beginning step for a potential collaborative governance model, altruistic and for the greater benefit of our flora and fauna friends.
Climate change continues to strain the efforts of the current Fish & Wildlife model (including all-volunteer groups). More financial and human resources are needed. As the congress would evolve from breakout groups from an initial meeting, new alliances and communication networks could evolve and grow. Participation from nonconsumptive users and educational outreach (especially students) will be key important issues. Equally important will be for the collaborative governance group to find new additional revenues. Let’s face it, the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department will always be broke!
New revenues may be garnered into a separate collaborative governance fund. F&W and the collaborative governance group can share these funds with the collaborative governance model providing ideas and in-kind services. VF&W can provide their expertise!
Vermont’s population of 630,000 people definitely helps to increase the chances for a successful model. This novel idea will be a stepped and a lengthy process. Over time, perhaps in say 10 years, we Vermonters can have model to be proud of!!
In closing, my flora and fauna friends are asking you for your help. If you truly want to help them and like the essentials of this model, contact Louis Porter, commissioner of the Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department, (louis.porter@vermont.gov) and urge him to organize another wildlife congress, and ask another friend to pay it forward. A groundswell of support is the only way to make this happen. Vermont is a special place, let’s show them.
