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<p class=MsoNormal><st1:PersonName w:st="on"><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:14.0pt'>BCN</span></font></st1:PersonName><font size=4><span
style='font-size:14.0pt'>net friends:<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt'>I thought this (forwarded from the Bird Conservation Alliance) would be
of interest to many of you. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt'>Donnie Dann<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:14.0pt'>Highland Park</span></font></st1:City><font size=4><span
style='font-size:14.0pt'>, <st1:State w:st="on">IL</st1:State>/<st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Lake</st1:PlaceType> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">County</st1:PlaceType></st1:place><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt'><a href="mailto:donniebird@yahoo.com">donniebird@yahoo.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=4 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
14.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contacts: <br>
June 18, 2007 Nicholas Throckmorton, 202/208-5634<br>
EA 07-61 <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>Preliminary Data Shows Americans Spent $120
billion </span></b><br>
<b><span style='font-weight:bold'>on Wildlife Related Recreation in 2006</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'><br>
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">America</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s
passion for wildlife and the outdoors continues to be a major engine of the
nation’s economy, according to preliminary survey data released today by
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.<br>
<br>
In 2006, more than 87 million Americans, or 38 percent of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region
w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region></st1:place>’ population age
16 and older hunted, fished or observed wildlife. They spent $120 billion that
year pursuing those activities – an amount roughly equal to
Americans’ total spending at all spectator sports, casinos, motion
pictures, golf courses and country clubs, amusement parks and arcades combined.<br>
<br>
“This very important survey shows in real economic and participatory
terms the impact that wildlife has on the nation’s economy, but simply
talking about dollars and cents doesn’t fully capture the importance of
wildlife to our nation. Wildlife related recreation rejuvenates our spirit and
gets us outside pursuing healthy activities,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service Director H. Dale Hall at the Outdoor Writer Association of
America’s annual conference in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Roanoke</st1:City>,
<st1:State w:st="on">Va.</st1:State></st1:place> “Americans should be
proud that the outdoor tradition continues to be such a prevalent part of our
lives.”<br>
<br>
Preliminary data from the 2006 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and
Wildlife-Associated Recreation shows the importance of wildlife-related
recreation to the American people. Of all Americans age 16 or older, <br>
<br>
· 30 million or 13 percent fished and spent $41 billion on their
activities, <br>
· 12.5 million or 5 percent hunted and spent $23 billion, and<br>
· 71 million or 31 percent observed wildlife and spent $45 billion.<br>
<br>
The National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation has
been conducted every 5 years since 1955 and is one of the nation’s most
important wildlife recreation databases. It is considered to be the definitive
source of information concerning participation and expenditures associated with
hunting, fishing and other forms of wildlife recreation nationwide.<br>
<br>
The Survey is conducted at the request of State fish and wildlife agencies and
is funded by grants from the Multistate Conservation Grant Program. A wide
range of individuals and groups depend on the Survey to analyze participation
rates, economic impacts of expenditures, demographic characteristics, and
trends in participation and activities. <br>
<br>
“This expenditure of $120 billion highlights the benefits of these
activities on national and state economies,” said Survey economist Jerry
Leonard. “It is roughly equivalent to one out of every one hundred dollars
of goods and services produced in our economy. And much of this activity occurs
in places which rely significantly on wildlife-related recreation expenditures
for their economic well being.” <br>
<br>
After losing ground in the early 1990s, wildlife-related activities such as
bird watching and photography increased 13 percent over the last decade. In
1996, 62.9 million Americans observed wildlife; 66.1 million did so in 2001,
and 71.1 million in 2006. Wildlife watchers spending increased 19 percent, from
$37.5 billion in 1996, $43.7 billion in 2001 to $44.7 billion last year. <br>
<br>
The preliminary data shows decreases in both angling and hunting participation
from 1996 to 2006. In 1996, 35.2 million anglers fished compared to 34.1
million in 2001 and 30.0 million in 2006, representing a 15 percent decline in
participation of the ten year span. <br>
<br>
“Participation levels in 2006 were likely reduced due to several factors:
higher gas prices, hurricanes, the increasing age of baby boomers, and
continuing urbanization,” said Leonard. <br>
<br>
Anglers spent $40.6 billion last year, which is similar to 2001 but 16 percent
lower than 1996. While overall spending—including trips, fishing
equipment, special equipment, and other related items—was flat from 2001
to 2006, spending on fishing equipment such as rods and reels and
travel-related items such as food and lodging were up. <font color=blue><span
style='color:blue'> </span></font><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>For hunting, there was a 10 percent decline in participation from 1996
to 2006. In 1996, 14.0 million Americans hunted compared to 13.0 million in
2001 and 12.5 million in 2006. Hunters spent $22.7 billion last year, 3 percent
lower than 2001 and 14 percent lower than 1996. Similar to fishing, while
overall spending was down, expenditures on hunting equipment such as rifles and
ammunition were up 3 percent since 2001. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:
12.0pt'>It is important to note that the National Survey is a snapshot for the
specific year in which it is conducted and does not necessarily represent the
total number of anglers, hunters, and wildlife watchers in the U.S. because
they do not consistently participate every year. For example, examination of
survey data shows that over the five year period from 2002 to 2006,
cumulatively over 44.4 million fished and 18.6 million hunted. However, this
information serves as a valuable tool to gauge general trends in the
participation of Americans in wildlife related activities and related
expenditures.<br>
<br>
The report is available at <<a
href="http://library.fws.gov/nat_survey2006.pdf"
title="blocked::http://library.fws.gov/nat_survey2006.pdf">http://library.fws.gov/nat_survey2006.pdf</a>>.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p><font size=3 face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'>The U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for
conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their
habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages
the 97-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses 547
national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special
management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery
resources offices and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency
enforces federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages
migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries,
conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign and
Native American tribal governments with their conservation efforts. It also
oversees the Federal Assistance program, which distributes hundreds of millions
of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and
wildlife agencies. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><font size=3
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt'><br>
FWS<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><font size=2 face=Arial><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:Arial'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:navy'>Alicia <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Fran</st1:PersonName>ces Craig<br>
Director, Bird Conservation <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Alliance</st1:City></st1:place><br>
American Bird Conservancy<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:navy'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:navy'>BCA office in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:State w:st="on">Indiana</st1:State></st1:place><br>
<st1:address w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on"><st1:Street w:st="on">PO Box</st1:Street></st1:address>
90290</st1:address><br>
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Indianapolis</st1:City>, <st1:State
w:st="on">IN</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode w:st="on">46240</st1:PostalCode></st1:place><br>
317-251-2473<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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w:st="on"></st1:City><st1:place w:st="on"></st1:place><font size=3 color=navy
face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on"><font size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span
style='font-size:12.0pt;color:navy'>Washington</span></font></st1:City><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'> <st1:State w:st="on">DC</st1:State></span></font></st1:place><font
color=navy><span style='color:navy'> ABC Office<br>
<st1:Street w:st="on"><st1:address w:st="on">1731 Connecticut Avenue NW</st1:address></st1:Street>
3rd Floor<br>
<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Washington</st1:City> <st1:State
w:st="on">DC</st1:State> <st1:PostalCode w:st="on">20009</st1:PostalCode></st1:place><br>
202-234-7181<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:navy'> <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=2 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
color:navy'>The Bird Conservation Alliance is a network of organizations whose
focus is the conservation, study, and observation of birds. Through the <st1:place
w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Alliance</st1:City></st1:place>, millions of
birdwatchers and concerned citizens are united with conservation professionals,
scientists, and educators for the conservation of wild birds.<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:navy'><o:p> </o:p></span></font></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto'><font
size=3 color=navy face="Times New Roman"><span style='font-size:12.0pt;
color:navy'><a href="http://www.birdconservationalliance.org"
title="BLOCKED::http://www.birdconservationalliance.org http://www.birdconservationalliance.org">http://www.birdconservationalliance.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
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