OutdoorNebraska

On July 1, 1901, the Nebraska Legislature abolished the Nebraska Fish Commission, the state's only wildlife conservation agency since 1879, and created the Nebraska Game and Fish Commission, precursor to the present Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. During the past 100 years, its role as steward of the state's wildlife and recreational lands has grown. Today, it offers Nebraskans many and varied outdoor recreational opportunities statewide. More information is available at OutdoorNebraska.org Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Mission 100 Years of Game and Parks History e mission of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is stewardship of the state's fish, wildlife, park, and outdoor recreation resources in the best long-term interests of the people and those resources. Our mission affirms why our agency exists and serves as the foundation from which our organization is built. e stewardship of resources is the core of our agency's structure and work. Stewardship can be defined as an ethic that embodies cooperative planning for careful and responsible management of resources. Caring for the state's fish, wildlife, parks and outdoor recreation resources has been entrusted to our agency by the Nebraska Legislature. State statute identifies and authorizes a wide range of responsibilities and activities to our agency, from regulatory protection, management of fish and wildlife species and their habitats, management and development of public recreational opportunities, advocacy of ecosystem integrity and resource investigation and education. ese responsibilities extend to aquatic and terrestrial plants and animals and the communities they inhabit, including all state wildlife management areas, state parks, state historical parks, state recreation areas, state recreational trails, other lands and waters owned, leased or operated by the agency as well as private lands. e diversity of responsibilities assigned to the agency reaches far and wide and touches all residents of and visitors to Nebraska. Stewardship efforts focus both on day- to-day management decisions as well as practices and policies that enhance the long-term sustainability of Nebraska's natural and recreational resources. Responsible management and regulation in the best long-term interest of the people and those resources requires looking beyond our area boundaries and understanding and managing complex ecosystems amidst an ever-changing demographic. To ensure continued enjoyment of these resources by current and future residents and visitors, our agency must perpetuate and enhance the resources for their recreational, aesthetic, ecological, educational and scientific uses. Such efforts require policies and programs developed in an efficient and objective manner that manage natural resources to maintain a thriving and diverse environment, provide high quality outdoor recreation opportunities and helps Nebraskans appreciate their role in this effort.

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