More Than Nine Decades of Success in Conserving Outdoor America for Future Generations
Gaithersburg, MD – The Izaak Walton League of America is proud of our commitment to conservation, clean air and water, and healthy habitat for fish and wildlife. League members understand that a healthy environment is the foundation for the incredible outdoor recreation opportunities we have in this country, from hunting and fishing to bird watching and canoeing.
A report released today accusing the League of an extreme environmental agenda is laughable. The hunters and anglers who founded the Izaak Walton League more than 90 years ago shared a passion for outdoor recreation and for conserving land, water, and wildlife. They fought to conserve forests and stop unchecked water pollution because the places where they loved to fish or enjoy a quiet day in the woods were at risk of being lost forever. Over the past 90 years, League members have adopted policies that balance conserving natural resources and responsibly enjoying those resources to support America’s economy and our quality of life.
To call the League anti-gun just shows how off base this report is. Of the nearly 250 League chapters across the country, nearly half have ranges for their members to enjoy recreational shooting sports, which are a passion for many of our 44,000 members. On a visit to any of these chapters, it’s easy to find people with guns in their hands and almost impossible to find anyone who is “anti-gun.” League members believe that engaging Americans in outdoor recreation is just as important to good health and happiness as it is to the future of conservation.
We are proud of the support we’ve received from foundations all across the country, including the Joyce, Energy, Packard, and Hewlett foundations. These funders support the League’s conservation mission and our work empowering citizens across the country to conserve, restore, and protect natural resources where they live.
The commitment of the League and our more than 44,000 members to common-sense conservation and sustainable outdoor recreation is as strong today as it has ever been.
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Founded in 1922, the Izaak Walton League of America (www.iwla.org) protects America's outdoors through education, community-based conservation, and promoting outdoor recreation.