The Sportsmen's Voice in Forest Management

Boone and Crockett Club professional member Dan Dessecker will represent the interests of hunters and anglers on a federal advisory committee that helps guide management of 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands.

Dessecker works as director of conservation policy for the Ruffed Grouse Society.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Aug. 12 announced 21 new members of the Planning Rule Federal Advisory Committee (FACA), which was formed to provide input on land management plans for the U.S. Forest Service. Through that process, committee members represent different groups of public-land stakeholders.

"We're pleased to see our professional colleague serving as the voice of sportsmen on this important committee. Through his many years of stellar service, Dan has earned the respect - and gratitude - of sporting and conservation groups nationwide," said Boone and Crockett President Bill Demmer. "From all of us at Boone and Crockett Club, here's another thank-you and pat on the back for Mr. Dessecker."

Boone and Crockett professional members serve the Club as a voluntary expansion of their personal careers, bringing a diversity of expertise and helping the Club identify and solve challenges facing natural resource conservation and management. It is a historical relationship dating back to the days of Theodore Roosevelt.

Dessecker also served on the initial Planning Rule FACA Advisory Committee in 2012. Members presented their first set of recommendations in 2013. Suggestions intended to deepen collaboration in forest planning, as well as focus on adaptive management, monitoring, wilderness, climate change, intergovernmental relations, species protection and water resources.

Vilsack explained, "Members of the Planning Rule Advisory Committee help us strengthen ecological, social, economic and cultural sustainability objectives. The rule will allow the creation of management plans that will protect and restore National Forest System lands in order to sustain communities and protect natural resources."

Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell said, "The recommendations provided by the FACA Committee are critical to the successful implementation of the Planning Rule. We value their commitment to land management planning that promotes healthy, resilient, diverse and productive national forests and grasslands."

"The Ruffed Grouse Society is very pleased to be able to continue to represent the interests of hunters and anglers as we work with the U.S. Forest Service to help guide fish and wildlife conservation on our nation's national forests," said Ruffed Grouse Society President and CEO John Eichinger.

Background and other information for the Planning Rule Advisory Committee can be found at www.fs.usda.gov/main/planningrule/committee.