Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 124.djvu/4723

 124 STAT. 4697 PROCLAMATION 8567—SEPT. 24, 2010 them well—the individuals who hunt and fish—must endeavor to be their consummate guardians. Conservation takes on even greater importance today as our lands, wa- ters, and wildlife face threats from global climate change, loss of habi- tats, and environmental disasters. The abundance of our wilderness is not limitless and needs protection and restoration. To ensure America’s wild spaces remain healthy and accessible for all to enjoy, outdoors- men and women can continue to participate in innovative programs such as the Federal Duck Stamp Program to protect and restore our natural legacy. This includes rebuilding and safeguarding our fragile Gulf ecosystem, where the unique and beautiful bounty of waterfowl, fish, and other game confront exceptional hardships. Following in the footsteps of President Roosevelt and other conserva- tionists, my Administration is dedicated to fostering a national con- versation about 21st-century conservation that embraces a broad coali- tion of Americans, including hunters and anglers. Through my Amer- ica’s Great Outdoors Initiative, we have heard from sportsmen and women across our country about the value of hunting and fishing, the challenges to wildlife conservation, and how the Federal Government can be a better partner for conservation. My Administration established the Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council to enlist the efforts of the sporting community, wildlife conservation organizations, States, and Native American tribes to uphold our Nation’s wildlife her- itage and to meet the conservation challenges of our time. We added over 4 million acres to the Conservation Reserve Program this year to provide important wildlife habitats, and we have taken specific steps to benefit gamebirds in this program. In addition, we are providing millions of dollars to the Voluntary Public Access and Habitat Incen- tive Program, a new effort to encourage hunting, fishing, and other rec- reational activities on privately owned land. Our ability to enjoy our land and wildlife today is a tribute to the char- acter of conservationists who have come before us. On National Hunt- ing and Fishing Day, we celebrate the time-honored traditions of hunt- ing and fishing, as well as the preservation of America’s vast natural resources, as we seek to protect them for centuries to come. NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Con- stitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Sep- tember 25, 2010, as National Hunting and Fishing Day. I call upon all Americans to observe this day with appropriate programs and activi- ties. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty- fourth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-fifth. BARACK OBAMA