A Public Lands Letter by Chad A. Rischar

Hunters and anglers were the original conservationists and environmentalists. Their voice, passion and science-based leadership helped create and maintain the great North American Conservation model and the 640 million acres of public lands that all Americans enjoy and benefit from today. Hunters and anglers are finding their voice again and providing the critical leadership needed to pass on our great outdoor legacy on to future generations. In a time when this voice is needed more than ever,  here is a critical message to our political leaders and media about the importance of public lands and conservation to all Americans:

A Letter to the Editor, Senator:

I seek to share my sentiments today with a grounded knowledge and a passion for public lands.  I implore you to consider not just the inherent values to our nation for recreational values and ecological values but the unique, life-cycle functions that public lands offer to fish, wildlife, and humanity.  These intrinsic values continually exceed the seemingly corporate fundamentals that elected and appointed officials seem to embrace.  I’m flustered and genuinely concerned with the leadership decisions made on behalf of our nation.

America’s palate of natural wonders and resources is a living history and represents an essential foundation from what separates the United States from the balance of countries that only wish to enjoy the natural wonders as we do. Most countries can’t even conceptualize the millions of acres that are available for outdoor recreation, education, and exploration.  Not only do these lands demonstrate our modern and past history, they archive a treasure chest of this nation’s past historical and scientific record.

I stand before you today in an effort to vocalize my first amendment rights and to express my thoughts regarding OUR public lands.  I reside in Florida, but have traveled throughout most of the continental U.S. for both business and recreation.  I grew up in South Georgia fishing freshwater waterways and ponds.  I moved to Central Florida halfway through high school and now claim Florida as my home.  I’m a father of three children and vow to protect their access to public lands.  In fact, I see ample room for an increased presence of public land ownership and stewardship across the board.

In a former career, I was intimately engaged in public land acquisitions and stewardship.  This professional exposure elicited a passion and awareness to public lands.  I’ve recreated, hunted, and fished throughout the southeast and a handful of western states.  I’m struggling with the past and present views in D.C. regarding the apparent diminished values that our public lands provide to your constituents.  I struggle with the apparent destructive position statements and overall views that our elected leaders seem to dismiss the inherent value of our public lands and monuments.

I’ll attempt to transition into my personal and professional values in a humble attempt to attain my acumen as an educated citizen.  My formal education is environmental science and soil and water science.  My specific intent throughout my college endeavors was to be grounded in natural resources and the inherent appreciation of the outdoors.  Fortunately, I have been engaged with natural resources and a scientist for my much of my career.  Through my professional pursuits, I’m an engaged citizen who tracks how our representatives vote and manage from afar how our natural resources and public lands are viewed by elected and appointed officials.

My resounding sentiment is OUR lands and access should not be diminished, rather we should consider increasing public lands when opportune.  Public lands should be a considered a foundation of our nation and postured as a pillar of our fundamental right as Americans.  Please consider my opinions and voice during the decision making process.

Respectfully yours,

Chad A. Rischar

Chad Allen Rischar is a Southeast Chapter Board member of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and resides in Northeast Florida. He’s a generalist hunter, angler, and outdoorsman. As a scientist, natural resource manager and conservation advocate, he appreciates the inherent value of the out-of-doors and is seeking to improve the well, not just the pump. Chad can be contacted at Florida.BHA@gmail.com