PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- Officials from 2 federal agencies held a meeting in Fort Pierre on Wednesday to seek public comment on President Barack Obama's initiative aimed at finding ways to reconnect people to the outdoors.

Acting U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Rowan Gould and U.S. Agriculture Department Undersecretary Jay Jensen took part in the meeting, which gave South Dakotans a chance to suggest ideas for boosting conservation and recreation.

Gould says the success of conservation in the U.S. has always been rooted at the local level.

At a federal conference in April, Obama established the America's Great Outdoors Initiative. Meetings are being held across the nation to get suggestions for encouraging people to engage in more outdoor activities and for conserving land, water and historical and cultural resources.

Copyright 2010 The AP.