These are the core messages that will help build support for your state’s wildlife action plans and wildlife conservation funding. Make sure you include each of these points when you talk with the media. Over the long term, including these core thoughts will pay-off in terms of greater public support and funding.
1. Each state has developed a pro-active State Wildlife Action Plan to conserve wildlife before they become too rare, and while it is still cost-effective to protect them.
Why say this: This message also focuses on the outcome—which voters broadly support – not the planning, which is the process toward the outcome and less important to voters.
2. The State Wildlife Action Plan outlines specific consensus steps developed by scientists, sportsmen, conservationists AND members of the local public, working together.
Why say this: It demonstrates that everyone’s at the table, including scientific experts and the general public, and the effort has broad support.
3. The plans offer specific, immediate actions to protect all wildlife in the places they live, starting with the animals most in need of help and those for whom we can do the most good.
Why say this: This is an action plan, not just an assessment or inventory. Give examples of concrete actions that you might take in your state. Stress that no single kind of animal or habitat will be prioritized over others, and that none will be left out completely.
4. This effort has emerged through the work of a broad national bipartisan wildlife conservation coalition, called Teaming with Wildlife. Teaming with Wildlife includes more than 3,000 organizations nationwide.
Why say this: This ties the strategy to the successful Teaming with Wildlife campaign and boosts our capability to raise long-term support and funds for implementation.
5. Supporting the State Wildlife Action Plan will conserve wildlife and natural places by protecting clean water and air – making both wildlife and people healthier.
Why say this: The research clearly showed that the single strongest argument for protecting wildlife is explaining how doing so will benefit people as well as animals People want to know what’s in it for them.
6. As our communities grow, the State Wildlife Action Plan can help us fulfill our responsibility to conserve wildlife and the places they live for future generations.
Why say this: Voters believe that over-development is the single greatest threat to both wildlife and their own quality of life, and they see great value in conserving wildlife – and the natural areas where they live – as a legacy for future generations.
Additional Thoughts
- Don’t get trapped into talking about the mechanisms by which the plans will be funded, or how much money is needed; instead, talk about how expensive it would be NOT to act now.
- Talk about the action plans as a way of protecting ALL wildlife and the places they live, rather than just specific species – and definitely rather than just “endangered” species.
- Focus on the issues that we know already matter to voters, even those who don’t know much about wildlife – protecting places where wildlife live and protecting the health of both wildlife and people. By meeting voters “where they are,” and emphasizing the issues they already care deeply about, it will be much easier for us to get their attention and support for the action plans.