Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge Takeover — Young Ambassadors

Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge Takeover — Young Ambassadors

Join us as National Wildlife Refuge Association Young Ambassador Alexander Sriharsha as he takes us on tour at the Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, in the Hawaiian archipelago!

Why Congressional Appropriations Are Important To The National Wildlife Refuge System

Why Congressional Appropriations Are Important To The National Wildlife Refuge System

The National Wildlife Refuge System encompasses more than 850 million acres of land and waters across America’s 568 National Wildlife Refuges, including 5 Marine National Monuments. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is responsible for managing these lands and is expected to fulfill its obligation to the Refuge System’s 64 million annual visitors and diverse wildlife on a budget of a mere 61¢ per acre per year, a fraction of what other land agencies receive. For comparison, the National Park Service receives $31 per acre for land management.

Testifying On Behalf Of Keep America’s Refuges Operational Act of 2022

Testifying On Behalf Of Keep America’s Refuges Operational Act of 2022

On March 29th, 2022 the National Wildlife Refuge Association’s, Vice President, Government Affairs, Caroline Brouwer testified in support of Bill H.R. 6734 Keep America’s Refuges Operational Act of 2022 to the House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.

Meet The National Wildlife Refuge Association Board— Rebecca Rubin

Meet The National Wildlife Refuge Association Board— Rebecca Rubin

Rebecca Rubin was a member of our board for seven years and remains a passionate advocate for the environment. She lives in Fredericksburg, VA, and continues to work on environmental causes and projects.

Each month, we highlight a former or current board member and get their thoughts on current events, how they got involved with the National Wildlife Refuge Association, and what they love about nature and wildlife refuges.

An Opportunity For Your Refuge Friends Group! 2022 O'Brien Prize Request For Proposals Announced

An Opportunity For Your Refuge Friends Group!  2022 O'Brien Prize Request For Proposals Announced

The National Wildlife Refuge Association is excited to announce the third installment of the O’Brien Prize, an annual award for our Friends groups. The prize is named after Donal O’Brien III, a past Board Chair and longtime enthusiast of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Don is a generous supporter of the great work we do for national wildlife refuges and is very impressed by the dedication and effectiveness of Refuge Friends groups.

Restoring Klamath Basin And Its National Wildlife Refuges To Wildlife Havens

Restoring Klamath Basin  And Its National Wildlife Refuges To Wildlife Havens

Historically, the Klamath Basin has been a crucial part of the Pacific Flyway for migratory waterfowl, owing to its approximately 185,000 acres of wetlands attracting more than seven million waterfowl each year. The renowned ornithologist Roger Tory Peterson wrote that the Klamath Basin was one of the few places in the country where you could see more than one million birds on a given day. Unfortunately, given climate change and drought, that is no longer the case.

Public Witness Day Testimony for FY23 Appropriations For The National Wildlife Refuge System

Public Witness Day Testimony for FY23 Appropriations For The National Wildlife Refuge System

Written testimony by Caroline Brouwer, Vice President, Government Affairs, National Wildlife Refuge Association, for the House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies

Happy 119th Birthday To The National Wildlife Refuge System

Happy 119th Birthday To The National Wildlife Refuge System

Today we wish a very happy 119th birthday to the National Wildlife Refuge System!

The National Wildlife Refuge System began in 1903 when President Theodore Roosevelt created a “Federal Bird Reservation” at Pelican Island in Florida to save brown pelicans. The protection of this three-acre mangrove island was a pivotal moment for the American conservation movement, laying the groundwork for what would become our system of national wildlife refuges.

Statement on the House Appropriations Committee’s release of FY2022 Omnibus language

Statement on the House Appropriations Committee’s release of FY2022 Omnibus language

The National Wildlife Refuge Association strongly supports increased funding for the National Wildlife Refuge System, the largest system of public lands set aside for wildlife in the world. Covering 95 million acres of land and 750 million acres of ocean, the Refuge System is currently funded at just under 60¢ per acre per year. Year after year, the Refuge System remains underfunded, with little traction in Congress to increase funding for habitat that serves not just wildlife species, but people as well.

Refuge & Hatchery Friends Photo Contest February 2022 Winner— Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge

Refuge & Hatchery Friends Photo Contest February 2022 Winner— Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge

For February the winning photo taken by Dale Bales, is of a bison and a fiery red sunset at Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge, Prairie City, Iowa. Linda Frazier has other photos of the Refuge.

Neal Smith National Wildlife Refuge in Prairie City, Iowa was established in 1990 with the purpose to protect, restore and reconstruct and manage native ecosystems of tallgrass prairie, oak savanna, and sedge meadow.