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

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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.

Feathery Fun: Celebrating National Bird Day and the Importance of the National Wildlife Refuge System

Feathery Fun: Celebrating National Bird Day and the Importance of the National Wildlife Refuge System

Happy National Bird Day! Today is a time to celebrate and appreciate our feathered friends and all the joy they bring to our lives. But it's also a time to reflect on the importance of protecting and preserving the habitats that these birds call home.

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Refuge Friends: The Heart of the National Wildlife Refuge System

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Refuge Friends: The Heart of the National Wildlife Refuge System

But the National Wildlife Refuge System is more than just a collection of protected lands. It is also a community of dedicated individuals and organizations who are committed to supporting the mission of the Refuge System. These groups, known as "Refuge Friends," play a crucial role in the success of the National Wildlife Refuge System.

Celebrate International Mountain Day With a Visit to a National Wildlife Refuge!

Celebrate International Mountain Day With a Visit to a National Wildlife Refuge!

It's International Mountain Day, and we are celebrating the amazing beauty and diversity of mountains worldwide! Did you know that many national wildlife refuges are located in mountain environments? These protected areas are great places to go hiking, bird watching, or enjoy the great outdoors.

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November 2022 Legislative Update

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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.

Donal "Don" O’Brien III & His Legacy For National Wildlife Refuges

Donal "Don" O’Brien III & His Legacy For National Wildlife Refuges

Recently Donal “Don” O’Brien, III died peacefully, surrounded by his family, on November 24, 2022, after a courageous 10-year battle with a progressive neurological illness. As a former board member, Don was always one of the National Wildlife Refuge Association’s greatest supporters and was instrumental in making the Refuge Association a far more effective and powerful organization. We owe so much to Don for what he accomplished for the National Wildlife Refuge System and our work for it. You can read more and send condolences through his online obituary here or leave a comment below.

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

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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.

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Court Rehearing Granted For Izembek National Wildlife Refuge

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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.