[Pollinator] Action Opportunity to Make the Case for Pollinators: Interior, Commerce, Agriculture, EPA, CEQ Announce First Eight 'Cooperative Conservation' Listening Sessions on Cooperative Conservation, August 9-13

[R. Thomas Van Arsdall]

Dear Pollinator Collaborators & Supporters,

The Secretaries of Interior, Commerce and Agriculture, the EPA Administrator
and the Chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality have
announced a series of listening sessions across the country to exchange
ideas on incentives, partnership programs and regulations that can improve
results and promote cooperative conservation and environmental partnerships.
The listening sessions are part of the Administration's ongoing 'Cooperative
Conservation' initiative.

Pollinator Supporters Encouraged to Participate:

This represents an opportunity for pollinator supporters in a position to do
so to attend, speak and help make the case for 'cooperative conservation'
efforts to increased awareness about pollinators and actions to promote
pollinator-friendly practices. 

*         Your involvement can be another step in what we hope is becoming a
steady drumbeat of messages about the importance of pollinator conservation.
Since pollinators can't speak for themselves, the important task of speaking
on their behalf falls upon you and others pollinator supporters.  

*         The goal should be for policymakers to at least hear or see the
word 'pollinator' every time there is a hearing or opportunity for public
comment.

*         This helps the groundwork for ongoing collaborative efforts to
'pollinate' programs and policies in the various federal agencies and to
challenge the agencies to engage in pollinator partnerships, working with
NAPPC and its collaborators.  

*         You will be more effective if you can offer your personal
perspectives and recommendations.

*         It may be helpful for them to hear repeatedly about the NAS
pollinator study as a significant stimulus to pollinator cooperative
conservation efforts.

*         It may be helpful to submit a short written statement recapping
your points for the record.

*         We would encourage you to alert other pollinator supporters to
this opportunity.  Feel free to forward or adapt this communication as
appropriate.

Locations & Dates:

The first eight of at least two dozen sessions to be held around the country
are scheduled at the following locations:

*         Spokane, Washington, 9 a.m., August 9, 2006, Washington State
University Spokane, Phase 1 Room 122, Auditorium

*         Helena, Montana, 1 p.m., August 14, 2006, Public Health and Human
Services Building, Auditorium

*         Roanoke, Virginia, 9 a.m., August 14, 2006, Roanoke College,
Colkep Center, Wortmaan Ballroom

*         Columbus, Ohio, 4 p.m., August 21, 2006, Ohio State University
Agricultural Administration Building Auditorium

*         Redmond, Oregon, 9 a.m., August 22, 2006, Deschutes County
Fairgrounds Expo Center

*         Jefferson City, Missouri, 9 a.m., August 29, 2006, Runge
Conservation Nature Center

*         Enid, Oklahoma, 1 p.m. August 30, 2006,Cherokee Strip Conference
Center, Piner Hall

*         Redding, California, 9 a.m., September 13, 2006, Shasta County
Board of Supervisors Chamber

Additional Background:

The Administration is seeking input on proposed 'cooperative conservation'
legislation
http://cooperativeconservation.gov/pdfs/JointLetteronProposedLegislation.pdf
, as well as the following questions: 

*         How can the federal government enhance wildlife habitat, species
protection, and other conservation outcomes through regulatory and voluntary
conservation programs? 

*         How can the federal government enhance cooperation among federal
agencies and with states, tribes, and local communities in the application
of environmental protection and conservation laws? 

*         How can the federal government work with states, tribes, and other
public- and private-sector partners to improve science used in environmental
protection and conservation? 

*         How can the federal government work cooperatively with businesses
and landowners to protect the environment and promote conservation?

*         How can the federal government better respect the interests of
people with ownership in land, water, and other natural resources?

Interior Secretary Kempthorne is expected to participate in sessions in
Spokane and Redmond.  Announcements will follow for other dates and times
and the Cabinet Secretaries or other Federal officials who will attend. 

Periodic updates on details about the listening sessions will be posted at
http://cooperativeconservation.gov <http://cooperativeconservation.gov/> .
There is no pre-registration.  The sessions are open to any interested
participants, with speakers first-come, first scheduled.

We hope this information is usefully to you and would appreciate your
sharing any actions you take or encourage.

 

Collaboratively Transmitted,

 

R. Thomas (Tom) Van Arsdall, Public Affairs Representative for Coevolution
Institute/NAPPC

   Van Arsdall & Associates

   13605 McLane Place

   Fredericksburg, VA  22407-2344

   (540) 785-0949

   tom at vanarsdall.com