The Wyoming Wildlife Federation applauds Senator Barlow for introducing a joint resolution (SJ0009) that reaffirms Wyoming’s commitment to public lands, multiple use, and locally driven land stewardship that sustains wildlife and the people who depend on healthy landscapes.
Today, February 17, the resolution unanimously passed the Senate Travel, Recreation, Wildlife & Cultural Resources Committee after testimony from many Wyomingites who hunt, fish, shoot, recreate, and make their living on public lands, all speaking to how access to these lands remains central to the Wyoming way of life.
Public lands provide the connected habitat Wyoming’s wildlife needs to thrive, from big game migration corridors to fisheries and upland habitat. They support hunting, fishing, grazing, responsible energy development, and outdoor recreation. When public lands remain accessible and well managed, Wyoming’s wildlife populations stay strong, and the hunting and angling heritage that define our Wyoming way of life are sustained.
“This resolution reflects a practical, Wyoming approach to conserving wildlife while supporting working lands, and multiple use standards” said Jess Johnson, Government Affairs Director for the Wyoming Wildlife Federation. “Healthy wildlife populations depend on the existence of both private and public lands and on management decisions informed by science, supported by adequate funding, and grounded in local knowledge. This resolution reinforces the importance of keeping public lands public and managing them for wildlife, communities, and Wyoming’s generations to come.”
The Wyoming Wildlife Federation supports responsible, locally supported land exchanges and adjustments under existing law when they clearly improve wildlife habitat, public access, or community benefit. WWF also supports adequately funding state and federal agencies so wildlife management, habitat conservation, and land management work are carried out efficiently and with meaningful local public input.
WWF encourages members of both the Wyoming Senate and House to support this resolution (SJ0009) and reaffirm Wyoming’s leadership for sustainable wildlife populations, maintaining responsible public access, and managing public lands thoughtfully for generations to come.