TWS member Steve Berendzen, refuge manager at the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge Complex in Alaska, received the 2021 outstanding refuge manager award from the National Wildlife Refuge Association.
Refuge's Natalie Fath wins national honor
In the Spotlight: Striking the Right Chord at the Right Time
For the Friends of the St. Marks Wildlife Refuge located on the Gulf Coast in north Florida, the challenge became, “How do we bridge these obstacles? How can we get out of the ‘idle’ mode and move forward?” The task, coincidentally, meshed well with some musical research I was doing at the time. In a short video, guitarist Mark Knopfler was patiently describing playing a basic guitar chord.
House Bill Proposes Repeal of Oil and Gas Program in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
The National Wildlife Refuge Association strongly supports the language released yesterday by the House of Representatives in their Build Back Better reconciliation bill that repeals the disastrous oil and gas development program on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. This bill also buys back the leases that were improperly sold in January to ensure they will be canceled. The language included in the bill would repeal the creation of the oil and gas program included in the 2017 Tax Act, repeal the addition of an oil and gas program as a “purpose of the refuge”, and buy back the leases sold in the last minute sale before the change of administrations.
Leatherback Turtles Nesting Habitat Restoration in Puerto Rico
Jessica Castro-Prieto and her team recently completed the nesting reporting for the 2021 nesting season which extends from April to July. 1,545 leatherback sea turtle (Dermochelys coriacea) nests were reported, with the municipalities of Dorado, Añasco, Maunabo, Luquillo, and Arecibo accounting for 70 percent of the total nesting activity in the island.
"Sacred Waters: The Okefenokee in Peril" Film Released
Martha Williams Nominated To Be The 23rd Director Of The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
President Joe Biden has nominated Martha Williams to be the 23rd Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The National Wildlife Refuge Association is proud to support Martha Williams, who has been acting as Director since January 20th, and looks forward to supporting her confirmation in the Senate.
Moving Forward: An Urban Wildlife Refuge Program Update
While public programs remain on hold, for the most part, the Urban Program continues to grow and strengthen partnerships with communities and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) Urban Wildlife Conservation Program.
2021 Refuge Awards: Ensuring Safety
The National Wildlife Refuge Association's annual Refuge Awards brings together supporters and lovers of our National Wildlife Refuge System. The event honors the outstanding achievements of Refuge System staff, leaders, volunteers, supporting groups, and advocates. It is a chance to celebrate those who make the National Wildlife Refuge System the greatest network of conservation lands and waters in the world.
In 2021, the National Wildlife Refuge Association is still planning on holding this event in person. But we will be implementing protocols for safety.
Protections Restored To The Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument
President Joe Biden will sign a Proclamation restoring protections to the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, the first marine monument in the Atlantic Ocean. This monument, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the National Wildlife Refuge System, protects unique geological features and habitats for whales, puffins, turtles, and deep-sea corals.