Document VGdJ3EEkyDwa6aMr440y111v8

To: Gareth Rees[gareth_rees@ios.doi.gov]; "Gulac[ "Gulac]; Catherine"[catherine_gulac@ios.doi.gov] From: "Willens, Todd" <todd_willens@ios.doi.gov> Sent: 2017-09-15T17:21:00-04:00 Importance: Normal Subject: Fwd: Invitation to 10th Annual Partners for Conservation's Annual Private Lands Partners Day Received: 2017-09-15T17:21:38-04:00 ME PLPD Oct 17 Event Proposal to Secretary.docx PLPD-2017-Aqenda-DRAFT-09-08-2017.pdf imageOOI .pg imaqe002.jpq 1 am not available, david is also invited. Todd Wittens Assistant Deputy Secretary Acting Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C Street, NW - MIB Room 6116 Washington, DC 20240 office: 202-208-6291 NOTE: Ei'cry email 1 send nr recrire is subject tn release under the Freedom ofInfomation Act. ----------Forwarded message----------From; Jimmy Bullock <JBullockfaresourcemRt.com> Date: Fri. Sep 15. 2017 at 10:54 AM Subject: Invitation to I Oth Annual Partners for Conservation's Annual Private Lands Partners David Bernhardt (b) (6) David Bernhardt (b) (6) , "Todd Willensfaios.doi.gov' <Todd Willensfaios.doi.gov> Cc: Weber Wendi <Wendi Wcber(u fws.gov> Deputy Secretary Bernhardt, Assistant Deputy Secretary Willens, First, thank you for your time earlier this week to allow NAFO the opportunity to discuss our At-Risk partnership work with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, state wildlife agencies, and other important partners. This partnership has strong roots in private working forests across the United States, and together we are creating a new paradigm about the value of actively managed private forests in conserving at risk species; thereby achieving dual goals of species conservation and keeping working lands working and contributing to local economies. As discussed in our meeting, we do ask that as you develop your conservation strategy for the Department going forward, please keep NAFO and this work top of mind. D0l_00011511_00010251 The purpose of this note is to invite you both to attend the 10th Annual Partners for Conservation's Annual Private Lands Partners Day. Partners for Wildlife is a public/private grassroots partnership comprised of private landowners working with agencies, non-profit organizations, and policymakers to collaborate on conservation projects to sustain our working landscapes for present and future generations. This year's event is hosted by Keeping Maine's Forests (KMF), a coalition of more than 30 organizations representing corporate and private foresters, wildlife and natural resource agencies, sportsmen, outdoor recreationists, Tribes, and conservation organizations. KMF helps landowners ensure a continued wood supply and economy, fish and wildlife habitat, clean water, and hunting and fishing access within a 13-million acre working private forested area of northern Maine - one of the largest intact privately owned working forests in the nation. The meeting is based in Bangor, Maine, on October 3-5. An opening reception will be held on the 3rd, a field trip on the 4th, and an indoor session to highlight Partners' projects and success stories from across the country is scheduled for the 5th. If your schedule and interests permit, we would hope either or both of you could join us for any or all of the event. Your presence would highlight the importance of collaborative conservation to both the Department and this Administration. We would further ask that if you can attend, you would consider giving a few remarks, and we would work to find the best time on the agenda any of the three days for those remarks should you be able to attend. Secretary Zinke has also been invited, and attached is the request that was submitted to his scheduler. As of this date, we have received no indication if Mr. Zinke will be able to attend. I've also attached a draft agenda that will give you a better idea of event timing and speakers. As a private forest landowner, RMS has found the collaborate approach to conservation to be the right path forward, and the Partner's Day event is designed to discuss innovative ways to achieve conservation across working forest, farm and ranch landscapes. Thank you in advance for giving consideration to attending. I believe it would give you an excellent platform for your thoughts on how the Department of Interior and in particular the USFWS will engage with the private sector to achieve this Administration's conservation agenda for private working lands. D0l_00011511_00010252