PRESIDENT MEETS WITH CONSERVATION LEADERS AT WHITE HOUSE

Washington, DC: Wildlife Mississippi's Executive Director, James L. Cummins, and other leaders from the conservation community met with President George W. Bush on Friday of last week.

The meeting, which took place in both the Oval Office and the Roosevelt Room, was the first in at least a decade and one of the few in the history of The White House where conservation organizations were invited to discuss issues of importance to conservation, hunting and fishing with the President.

During the hour long meeting, President Bush thanked the conservation community for their support of the Healthy Forest Restoration Act, the conservation provisions of the Farm Bill and other pieces of conservation legislation that were supported by the Bush Administration.

The conservation groups expressed appreciation to President Bush for the work of his Administration, most notably Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton and Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman, for their open communication and their support for common sense conservation programs such as Partners For Fish and Wildlife, the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, the Grasslands Reserve Program, the Wetlands Reserve Program and the Healthy Forests Reserve Program.

President Bush stated his commitment to maintaining a policy of "no net loss" of wetlands, which his father put in place. He expressed concern for the decline in bobwhite quail populations and the need to improve them. The President discussed the importance of hunting and fishing in America's society and stated that it was disappointing that the political correctness of today endangers the future of outdoor traditions. He also recognized the economic impact hunting, fishing and bird watching plays throughout America and especially in rural communities. President Bush stated that the spirit of the outdoors is a major part of his Administration and he believed that his was one of the most outdoors-oriented Administrations ever.

"This is the third time this year I have met with President Bush and I am continually amazed of his personal knowledge of and interest in the land, wildlife and conservation." We are blessed to have a President that is not only a private landowner but one that is personally interested in wildlife conservation," stated James L. Cummins, Executive Director of Wildlife Mississippi.

Known as "Wildlife Mississippi," the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation is a non-profit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi. Their web site is www.wildlifemiss.org.