Protect

, , , ,

Few staff, many problems: Inside the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge’s funding crisis

, , , ,
Few staff, many problems: Inside the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge’s funding crisis

On spring mornings, a chorus erupts from the mouth of the Missisquoi River. 

Scores of birds, from Canadian geese to bobolinks, are migrating north, feeding, breeding, and raising their young in the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge. Deer feed on the shores, while muskrats patrol the shallow waters alongside a myriad of fish, with the river itself one of the few spawning sites of Lake sturgeon in Lake Champlain.

However, budget constraints across the National Wildlife Refuge System have put a chokehold on what the skeleton crew managing the local 7,000-acre refuge can do. 

, ,

Protecting Florida's savannas and ranchlands before it's too late

, ,
Protecting Florida's savannas and ranchlands before it's too late

“Partnerships are going to make it possible to accomplish our landscape-level conservation goals,” said Julie Morris, the Florida and Gulf Coast program manager for the National Wildlife Refuge Association. “By working hand-in-hand with our local, state, and federal partners, as well as nonprofits, we can maximize conservation on a lot more land.”  

,

Department of the Interior Withdraws Izembek National Wildlife Refuge Land Exchange Agreement

,
Department of the Interior Withdraws Izembek National Wildlife Refuge Land Exchange Agreement

The Department of the Interior recently announced that Secretary Deb Haaland rescinded a 2019 proposed land exchange in the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge that authorized a road to be constructed through the heart of this pristine Alaskan landscape. The National Wildlife Refuge Association has worked for decades to protect the Izembek NWR from this threat and celebrates this important step towards safeguarding America's most ecologically significant national wildlife refuge. 

,

The Fight For Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Continues

,
The Fight For Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Continues

In the heart of south Georgia lies the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, a sprawling landscape of over 400,000 acres. With its vibrant ecosystem and unique history, the refuge is a treasured national resource. However, the company Twin Pines Minerals has threatened to destroy this vital national wildlife refuge.

, , ,

The National Wildlife Refuge Association Embarks on Campaign to Address Refuge Staffing Crisis

, , ,
The National Wildlife Refuge Association Embarks on Campaign to Address Refuge Staffing Crisis

The National Wildlife Refuge System, the world's largest network of lands and waters dedicated to wildlife conservation, is facing a staffing crisis that threatens its ability to protect biodiversity and provide recreational opportunities. In response to this dire situation, the National Wildlife Refuge Association is focusing its efforts in the 118th Congress to raise awareness of this issue and secure the necessary funds to sufficiently staff the Refuge System. We recently sent a letter to Shannon Estenoz, Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, and Martha Williams, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, outlining the work we will be doing with our partners and supporters to advocate for increased funding for the Refuge System to address these challenges.

, , , , ,

November 2022 Legislative Update

, , , , ,
November 2022 Legislative Update

In November, the National Wildlife Refuge Association continued to advocate for increased appropriations for the National Wildlife Refuge System (Refuge System) in fiscal year (FY) 2023. We led a letter signed by 62 organizations, including 17 Refuge Friends organizations, to appropriators requesting at least the funding levels of $574 million included in the House-passed version of the Department of the Interior Appropriations bill, and we signed a group letter requesting increased funding for environmental agencies that goes well above simply keeping pace with inflation.

,

Filing an Environmental Lawsuit to Save Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge: Community Action Against Twin Pines Strip Mine

,
Filing an Environmental Lawsuit to Save Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge: Community Action Against Twin Pines Strip Mine

The Okefenokee Swamp is one of the wild, pristine, and ecologically intact places in America, home to more than one thousand different species of animals and plants. It is also an economically important area for local residents and holds great cultural and historical significance, with Native American roots dating back thousands of years. This is why the National Wildlife Refuge Association, with partners; the National Parks Conservation Association, Defenders of Wildlife, and the Center for Biological Diversity, are taking legal action to protect the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge from the proposed strip mine from Twin Pines.

,

Court Rehearing Granted For Izembek National Wildlife Refuge

,
Court Rehearing Granted For Izembek National Wildlife Refuge

Izembek National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska recently had a big win in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals when a rehearing was granted for a previous District Court decision that could allow a road to be constructed across the unique national wildlife refuge. The National Wildlife Refuge Association, former President Jimmy Carter, Former Secretary Bruce Babbitt, and other conservation partners petitioned to request a rehearing of that decision by a larger set of 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judges earlier this year.

, , , , ,

Inflation Reduction Act: A Win For Invasive Management, But Act Falls Short For National Wildlife Refuges

, , , , ,
Inflation Reduction Act: A Win For Invasive Management, But Act Falls Short For National Wildlife Refuges

President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, putting our nation on a new path to tackle the climate crisis and build a clean energy economy. This historic $370 billion package is a critical investment in our future and we applaud the diligent efforts in Congress to get this bill over the finish line. We were pleased to see the inclusion of over $121 million to address the threat of invasive species and increase the resiliency and capacity of habitats within the National Wildlife Refuge System and State wildlife management areas.