National Wildlife Federation's President and CEO Larry Schweiger was recently nominated to the Willdlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council.  His local paper, the PIttsburgh Gazette published a recent interview with him where Larry talks about his new role on the board and what the council means for the future of hunting and fishing:

How do you view the council's role?

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar recently announced the appointments of 18 people to the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council, an advisory group created earlier this year to advise the two federal Departments on recreational hunting and shooting sports activities and associated wildlife and habitat conservation.

A recently placed op-ed in the Great Falls Tribune in Montana "Outdoor operators urge Senate to pass cliamte legislation" highlights a perspective from a group who's economically vital activities include a variety of outdoor sports outside of traditional hunting and fishing.

As the authors put it,

Right now is a critical time in Washington, DC, for a clean energy and climate bill that dedicates funding to safeguard natural resources from climate change.  Your participation, in any way, is extremely helpful in pushing this legilsation across the finish line, and making sure the natural resources provisions are as strong and effective as possible.  In order to make this proccess easier for you, we've provided some sample talking points to assist you in communicating the

The bill introduction by Sens. John Kerry and Joseph Lieberman represents the culmination of dedicated efforts by hunters and anglers to assure that natural resources conservation is adequately considered in congressional action addressing energy and climate change.

Read more at the American Fisheries Society Blog.

 For an audio copy of the virtual town hall - click here.

Washington, DC (May 5, 2010) -- National Wildlife Federation will host virtual town hall by telephone for sportsmen to discuss the tremendous ecological and wildlife impacts of the BP oil spill along the Gulf Coast this evening.  The Gulf Coast is a draw for hunters and anglers nationwide and often called a “Sportsman’s Paradise.”

Larry Schweiger, President and CEO of our sister organization, the National Wildlife Federation, urges you to take action to protect Gulf Coast wildlife.

Please join Bob Marshall, outdoor staff writer for the New Orleans based Times Picayune and conservation editor-at-large for Field and Stream, and NWF's President and CEO, Larry Schweiger on a free phone conservation about the fishing and hunting grounds that are at risk from the gulf oil spill.

Please call in Wednesday, May 5th at 7pm Central Time

(877)229-8493

ACCESS CODE: 15842

News from the Gulf of Mexico is increasingly worrisome. Reports are that the impacts from the oil spill could be massive, and while it's too early to tell, the damage to natural resources could eclipse the worst domestic environmental disaster, the spill from the Exxon-Valdez.