DEC or KGB?
This shocking document, dated 9/5/86, obtained
from files at the NYS Dept. of Conservation (DEC), was recently sent to
C.A.S.H. by an affiliate. Little Mango was our deep mole.
To: Wildlife Managers and Wildlife Section
Heads, Unit Leaders
From: Stuart Free, Chief
Re: “DRAFT PLAN TO COUNTER PRESSURE FORM
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT ANTAGONISTS.”
PROBLEM:
Antagonist individuals and organizations continue
to press for a change in wildlife management from its scientific
approach to one that is emotionally based and supported only by
subjective opinion. They strive to accomplish this through methods
designed to gain widespread adoption or imposition of their respective
philosophies. Their efforts include dissemination of propaganda (via
mass media, mailings, demonstrations, handouts, etc.), constituent
pressure to affect local decision-makers (policy decisions by Local
government entities and local offices of state government agencies, e.g.
state parks), and court challenges to gain legal mandates.
Success of the antagonists undermines the
effectiveness of wildlife resources management. It distorts public
perception and understanding of those resources, including their needs
and uses. It also restricts public enjoyment of wildlife resources
through imposed narrow philosophies involving wildlife uses. Clearly,
there is a need for Bureau actions that ensure continued professional
wildlife management in NYS.
OBJECTIVES AND TASKS:
1. Undertake a pro-active Bureau program that
begins to counter the public relations campaigns of antagonist
organizations starting 3/31/87.
a.
Define components of the program and their temporal
relationships.
b.
Maintain liaison with support organizations.
c.
Organize workshops for Bureau personnel.
d.
Develop publications that describe wildlife management and
wildlife uses, and refute the arguments of antagonist organizations
e.
Communicate among sportsmen the importance of their public image.
f.
Participate in legislative forums, and provide legislators with
written information to ensure their understanding of wildlife management
to counter propaganda.
g.
Encourage the use of wildlife management information and
curriculum materials in schools statewide.
h.
Identify and train individual within the Bureau who will
represent wildlife management interests in media presentations,
specifically TV.
2. Establish a wildlife management antagonist
information base in association with the Bureau’s wildlife library at
Delmar by 3/31/87.
a.
Identify organizations and individuals and develop a profile for
each one.
b.
Organize a computer based bibliog. of publications produced by
antagonist organizations
c.
Prepare a file for each antagonist organization consisting of
their publications
d.
Maintain a record of ordinances and policy decisions by local
government entities in addition to court proceedings, associated with
antagonist efforts to deter wildlife management.
e.
Maintain a record of national and international results of
antagonist efforts to affect wildlife management.
In response to a recent FOIL request to examine
all records pertaining to this Plan, C.A.S.H. received a response from
the current Chief of the Bureau of Wildlife: “The previous Chief of
the Bureau of Wildlife did charge a group to assemble information to
assist in responding to animal rights concerns. However this group
never carried out the task. [Is he saying that orders of the Bureau
Chief are ignored?] “Other than vague recollections of a few staff
we cannot locate anything that relates to your request.”
