WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) participated in a roundtable discussion with leaders from the conservation and sportsmen’s communities in the Capitol on Wednesday focused on habitat protection, access to public lands and water, wildlife conservation, land management, and the Bipartisan Sportsmen’s Act of 2014, a package of measures that seeks to boost conservation efforts and expand outdoor recreation opportunities. Kate Hackett, executive director of Delaware Wild Lands, was among the participants and briefed senators on the organization’s successful work leveraging public and private funds to preserve key wildlife habitat in Delaware.
“Conservation and recreation go hand in hand, and Delaware’s passionate community of hunters, fisherman, and outdoor enthusiasts have long been a driving force for conservation in our state,” Senator Coons said. “Congress must continue working with sportsmen and conservationists to preserve our nation’s precious natural resources for future generations, and today’s meeting was a valuable opportunity to collaborate directly with these leaders. Delaware Wild Lands has been a critical partner in state and local efforts to conserve and sustainably manage important wildlife habitat areas in Delaware. I’m grateful to Kate for joining today’s discussion, and look forward to working with her to protect Delaware’s great outdoors.”
“Development of programs that support environmental and economic goals, and initiatives that foster compatible use of land and water resources are absolutely essential to preserving the intrinsic and functional values of this country’s most important wetlands, farms, forests, and salt marshes,” said Delaware Wild Lands Executive Director Kate Hackett. “These resources provide clean water and clean air, respite and recreation, thriving habitat and abundant wildlife, and undiminished natural beauty for all. For more than 50 years, with the help of outdoor enthusiasts, charitable individuals and entities, and partner organizations and agencies, Delaware Wild Lands has made keystone investments in conserving Delaware’s most important natural resources. We must continue to work more diligently and more creatively, finding common ground for the use and conservation of natural resources so that we can successfully pool multiple funding sources and achieve tangible conservation results.”
Since 1961, Delaware Wild Lands has played a pivotal role in the acquisition and regulatory protection of 30,000 acres of land, including Delaware’s coastal areas and Great Cypress Swamp. The organization owns and actively manages 20,000 acres of land, which it has dedicated to enhancing biodiversity and supporting traditional land uses. Delaware Wild Lands has also conveyed 10,000 acres of land to the State of Delaware for public recreation and education.