PETITION FOR THE WASHINGTON STATE FISH AND WILDLIFE COMMISSION TO IMMEDIATELY WITHDRAW THE PROPOSED CONSERVATION POLICY.

Washington State wildlife are resources, as clearly stated in RCW 77.04.012, the department and commission mandate, as well as many other Washington State laws and rules. The commission cannot declare them beneficiaries, contrary to existing law, simply by adopting a policy. Further, the commission cannot remove management, contrary to existing statute, simply by adopting policy.

• Whereas the policy development process has been non-transparent and non-inclusive;
• Whereas Washington law finds wildlife are resources, not beneficiaries;
  
• Whereas the department and commission are directed to preserve, protect, perpetuate, and manage fish and wildlife;
• Whereas sportsmen and their organizations have made and continue to make some of the state's greatest gains for wildlife;
• Whereas the department has an existing conservation policy already in place;
  
• Whereas many terms in the draft document are vague with no relation to wildlife conservation and management;
• Whereas the definition of conservation in the draft has no relation to standard definitions of effective and proven wildlife conservation;
  
• Whereas the policy calls for authorities outside the jurisdiction of the department of fish and wildlife;
  
• Whereas conservation is a science-informed social process so delineating a conservation policy that excludes wildlife stakeholders can only harm conservation; and,
  
• Whereas there is no evidence that the policy development effort consisted of consultation with official entities, such as the National Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and most important, co-manager tribes, that share wildlife conservation responsibilities, nor consulted any conservation partner outdoor/sporting entities.

We, the undersigned, DEMAND the Washington State Fish & Wildlife Commission withdraw the proposed conservation policy and cease further efforts to adopt a conservation policy unless there is a broadly engaged policy development effort.