Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Encyclopedia
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission (NGPC) is a public agency of the government of the State of Nebraska
in the United States
. The commission is charged with stewardship of the state's fish
, wildlife
, state park
, and outdoor recreation resources. The commission is also charged with issuing of state hunting
licenses, fishing licenses, and boat registrations. It conducts public education programs for hunting and boating safety. The agency is headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska
.
The agency is governed by a board of commissioners, each member of which is appointed by the Governor of Nebraska
to a 6-year term. Among the park facilities controlled by the commission are the state's 85 state-owned parks facilities, divided into four categories:
The agency also manages over 250 state Wildlife Management Areas. The acquisition and maintenance of these areas is funded entirely through hunting and fishing license fees. Primitive camping
is generally allowed in these areas.
Troopers. They can enforce laws anywhere in the state of Nebraska
, including traffic laws.
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The commission is charged with stewardship of the state's fish
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
, wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....
, state park
State park
State parks are parks or other protected areas managed at the federated state level within those nations which use "state" as a political subdivision. State parks are typically established by a state to preserve a location on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or recreational...
, and outdoor recreation resources. The commission is also charged with issuing of state hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
licenses, fishing licenses, and boat registrations. It conducts public education programs for hunting and boating safety. The agency is headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
.
The agency is governed by a board of commissioners, each member of which is appointed by the Governor of Nebraska
Governor of Nebraska
The Governor of Nebraska holds the "supreme executive power" of the State of Nebraska as provided by the fourth article of the Nebraska Constitution. The current Governor is Dave Heineman, a Republican, who assumed office on January 20, 2005 upon the resignation of Mike Johanns . He won a full...
to a 6-year term. Among the park facilities controlled by the commission are the state's 85 state-owned parks facilities, divided into four categories:
- State Parks – Areas of scientificScienceScience is a systematic enterprise that builds and organizes knowledge in the form of testable explanations and predictions about the universe...
, historicHistoryHistory is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
, or scenic value that are of sufficient size to be developed for public use without infringing on the primary value of the area. - State Recreation Areas – Areas primarily of outdoor recreationRecreationRecreation is an activity of leisure, leisure being discretionary time. The "need to do something for recreation" is an essential element of human biology and psychology. Recreational activities are often done for enjoyment, amusement, or pleasure and are considered to be "fun"...
al value. All the state's water-oriented parks fall into this category. - State Historical Parks – Areas primarily of significant historical value.
- State Recreation Trails – Linear corridors of statewide or regional value designed for non-motorized recreational use.
The agency also manages over 250 state Wildlife Management Areas. The acquisition and maintenance of these areas is funded entirely through hunting and fishing license fees. Primitive camping
Camping
Camping is an outdoor recreational activity. The participants leave urban areas, their home region, or civilization and enjoy nature while spending one or several nights outdoors, usually at a campsite. Camping may involve the use of a tent, caravan, motorhome, cabin, a primitive structure, or no...
is generally allowed in these areas.
Law Enforcement
The commission has its own law enforcement division called conservation officers. Officers with Game and Parks have the same power as Nebraska State PatrolNebraska State Patrol
The Nebraska State Patrol is Nebraska's only statewide full-service law enforcement agency. Serving Nebraska since 1937, State Patrol officers perform a wide variety of duties...
Troopers. They can enforce laws anywhere in the state of Nebraska
Nebraska
Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....
, including traffic laws.