President Obama and members of his Cabinet recently convened the White House Conference on Conservation in order to engage with conservation leaders from all 50 states.  The goal is to strengthen partnerships and advance community-driven conservation and outdoor recreation initiatives that are geared toward building strong local economies and healthy lands, waters and wildlife.

The March 2 conference entitled, “Growing America’s Outdoor Heritage and Economy,” was part of the president’s “America’s Great Outdoors” initiative to establish a community-based, 21^st century agenda for conservation, recreation and reconnecting Americans to the outdoors. The event brought together boaters, hunters, farmers, ranchers, land conservationists, historic preservationists, small business owners and other key stakeholders to meet with Obama administration officials and discuss issues surrounding conservation in urban cities and rural communities.

Prior to the conference, there were a series of conservation announcements on topics ranging from the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) opportunities to creation of a new water trail system, among others. More information is available online at http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ceq/Press_Releases/March_2_2012.