North American Model of Wildlife Conservation Lecture

North American Model of Wildlife Conservation

A set of principles guiding wildlife management in the US and Canada, founded ~150 years ago, primarily by hunters and anglers; considered the most successful wildlife conservation system in the world

Shane Mahoney

Wildlife biologist and narrator of "Opportunity for All"; founder of Conservation Visions, known for lecturing on the North American Model

Species extinct in North America due to regulated harvest

Zero

"Seven Sisters"

Nickname for the seven foundational tenets/pillars of the North American Model

Retrospective model

Term describing how the North American Model was pieced together by looking back at historical events, not planned in advance

Doctrine/Public Trust of Wildlife

Principle that wildlife belongs to all citizens, not to landowners or the wealthy; enshrined in North American law

Elimination of Markets for Wildlife

Tenet banning commercial sale of dead wildlife; saved species like bison, egrets, passenger pigeons, and elk from extinction

Allocation of Wildlife by Law

Tenet stating access to wildlife is determined by law, not wealth or social class

Wildlife Should Only Be Killed for a Legitimate Purpose

Tenet restricting hunting to food, fur, self-defense, and property protection

Wildlife as an International Resource

Tenet recognizing that wildlife crosses political boundaries, supported by treaties like the Migratory Bird Treaty

Science as the Proper Tool for Wildlife Policy

Tenet establishing scientific research and trained professionals as the basis for wildlife management

Democracy of Hunting

Tenet ensuring every citizen has equal opportunity to hunt, regardless of wealth or class

1842 Supreme Court decision

Martin v. Waddell; ruled NJ fishermen had access to oysters despite landowner's claim, establishing the public trust doctrine

Lacey Act (1900)

Law forbidding transport of illegally taken wildlife across state/jurisdiction lines

1911 Fur Seal Treaty

Early example of international cooperation on wildlife conservation

Migratory Bird Treaty Act (1916/1918)

International agreement recognizing migratory birds as a shared resource between the US and Canada

Duck Stamp Act (1934)

Established the federal duck stamp, funding wetland habitat conservation

Pittman-Robertson Act (1937)

Placed an excise tax on guns and ammunition; funds distributed for conservation programs

Dingell-Johnson Act (1950)

Placed an excise tax on fishing equipment; funds distributed for conservation programs

Total funds from hunters/anglers via these acts

$7.5 billion since inception

Annual economic impact of hunting/angling

$70 billion spent annually, supporting 1.5 million jobs

William Herbert

British aristocrat who moved to the US in 1831; wrote about "fair chase" and aristocratic hunting traditions

George Bird Grinnell

Founder of the Audubon Society, editor of Forest and Stream; influenced Roosevelt and Pinchot; called for ending commercial wildlife exploitation

Gifford Pinchot

First head of the U.S. Forest Service; developed the concept of "wise use" of natural resources

Theodore Roosevelt

U.S. President who established national forests, wildlife refuges, and parks; strong advocate for equal hunting access

George Perkins Marsh

Author of "Man and Nature" (1864); argued self-interest would lead men to conserve resources wisely

John Muir

Non-hunter and leading wilderness preservation advocate; friend of Roosevelt

"Wise use"

Concept that natural resources should be used sustainably for society's benefit, not locked away or overexploited

Ding Darling

Cartoonist and chief of the Bureau of Biological Survey; designed the first duck stamp; organized the 1934 Waldorf-Astoria meeting

1934 Waldorf-Astoria meeting

Led by Ding Darling; resulted in the Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit Program, National Wildlife Federation, and North American Wildlife Management Institute

Aldo Leopold

Author of "Game Management" (1933) and "A Sand County Almanac"; first professor of game management at University of Wisconsin

"Game Management" (1933)

Aldo Leopold's seminal work that revolutionized wildlife management as a science

Sir Clifford Sifton

Canadian figure who developed wise-use approaches to forestry

Gordon Hewitt

Canadian figure who helped draft the migratory bird protection act

Sir Wilfrid Laurier

Canadian Prime Minister who supported early Canadian conservation initiatives