Conservation Tools

The 2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-Associated Recreation is a partnership effort with the States and national conservation organizations, and has become one of the most important sources of information on fish and wildlife recreation in the United States. It is a useful tool that quantifies the economic impact of wildlife-based recreation.

A National Survey on Communities

This survey shows at least one issue is widely supported by Americans across the political spectrum: the conservation of our nation’s land and water. And, the bipartisan team of pollsters note, from “Tea Party Republicans to liberal Democrats, more than four-in-five American voters say that conserving our country's natural resources—our land, air and water—is patriotic.”

A survey of Wyoming voters regarding conservation demonstrates a strong conservation ethic and support for continuing to fund conservation and maintain protections. Like their fellow Westerners, Wyoming voters overwhelmingly identify as conservationists (71%) – a label that bridges partisan lines, as well as many other factors in the state. Wyoming voters prioritize conservation goals throughout the survey, in regard to energy, regulation, and public lands.

American voters are highly committed to conservation, and three out of four believe that we can protect land and water and have a strong economy at the same time. Even more strikingly, this survey shows that three in five voters support increased public investments in conservation at the state, local, or federal levels – and are willing to pay a small increase in taxes to support them. Together, the data provide ample evidence that American voters have a strong and undiminished desire to conserve the nation’s land, water, and wildlife.

Results from a survey of hunters and anglers include this group of voters believe the federal government should make preserving fish and wildlife habitat and managing public lands for fishing, hunting, and other outdoor recreation a priority. Almost 9 out of 10, (88%) think that prior to the federal government issuing a lease to oil and gas companies to drill on public lands, the various resources and uses of the land should be considered, including fishing and hunting, protection of wildlife habitat and ensuring the protection of clean air and water. Gun rights are important to these anglers and hunters, but conservation is viewed as equally important.

The University of New Hampshire Survey Center, on behalf of The Nature Conservancy and the Trust for Public Land, conducted a survey about attitudes towards conservation funding and conservation issues in New Hampshire. The major findings of this survey include: New Hampshire voters almost unanimously support investing in land conservation efforts. More than three quarters of New Hampshire voters think the State of New Hampshire should spend public funds for land conservation.

print version: Across the political spectrum, voters consistently and strongly voice their support for land conservation and parks. 17pp

Voters across the ideological spectrum see National Parks as a legitimate and important federal responsibility—nearly nine in 10 say it is extremely important (59%) or quite important (29%) for the federal government to protect and support National Parks. And even in these difficult fiscal circumstances, very few voters from either side of the political aisle say the federal government should be cutting back on funding for National Parks. Likewise, this same spirit of bipartisanship is exemplified by the large majority of voters who say that support for National Parks is an issue that can unite people across party lines.

In 2012, the Center for Survey Research at Penn State Harrisburg completed a statewide survey of 608 Pennsylvanians to assess public support for increasing state funds to conserve and protect open space, clean water, natural areas, wildlife habitats, parks, historic sties, forests, and farms. The survey results showed overwhelming public support throughout the state and among all demographic groups for both continuing existing dedicated state funding for conservation as well as increasing state funding for land and water conservation, even if that meant a small increase in taxes.

New Hampshire voters across the political spectrum overwhelmingly support conservation efforts in the state, believe the state should fund such efforts, and want fee revenues intended for the protection of open land and historic sites used only for those purposes.