The White Mountain Apache Tribe has created innovative strategies for balancing economic development and resource conservation in southeastern Arizona. The White House recognizes their imagination and initiative and has invited them to foster the advancement of a cooperative conservation vision and present at the White House Conference on Cooperative Conservation on August 29-31 in St. Louis, MO.
The acting director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will formally endorse the Tribes stewardship ethic and present them with a certificate recognizing the Tribes achievement.
Three years ago the Tribe and the Service entered into a very important agreement to cooperate on reintroducing the Mexican gray wolf back into Arizona. The Tribe opened up valuable acres of habitat and welcomed wolf packs on their land. The first release of wolves onto the Fort Apache Indian Reservation occurred on June 23, 2003. This cooperative conservation effort is one of the reasons the White House chose the White Mountain Apache Tribe to help him convene the conference on cooperative conservation.
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WHO:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Acting Director Matt Hogan
Southwest Regional Director Dale Hall
Dallas Massey, Sr. Chairman, White Mountain Apache Tribe
WHAT:
Acting Director Hogan formally recognizes Tribe for its selection to participate in White House Conference on Cooperative Conservation.
WHEN:
Thursday, August 18, 2005 at 10:30 a.m. Media availability immediately following presentation.
WHERE:
Mexican Wolf Exhibit Area,
The Phoenix Zoo, 455 North Galvin Parkway, Phoenix, Arizona 85008. (602) 273-1341. The entrance to the Zoo is off Galvin Parkway in the heart of Papago Park, between McDowell and Van Buren.
