For more than two months oil poured into the Gulf of Mexico unabated, coating miles of beaches and wetlands, and thousands of animals are likely to die as a result. While the BP well is now temporarily sealed, the problem is far from solved and the long-term damage will likely persist for years. Brown pelicans roosting at Breton National Wildlife Refuge in Louisiana risk getting covered in oil as they search for food, while endangered Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles have had to swim through thick brown waters to nest on the shores of Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge in Alabama -- ingesting harmful chemicals along the way and endangering the survival of their eggs. The oil has now crept into marshes, contaminated once white beaches, and ravaged animal populations.
The Gulf of Mexico supports ecosystems unlike any others in North America and serves as a home for numerous threatened and endangered species. The oil is imperiling the vitality of these critical habitats and wrecking untold and unknown havoc on the people, wildlife, and environment of the Gulf. The Fish and Wildlife Service has deployed hundreds of personnel to respond to this disaster and numerous other agencies are working tirelessly to clean up the shorelines. Thirty-six of our national refuges are at risk from this catastrophic spill.
Clean up will be a challenge and if the Exxon Valdez disaster in Alaska offers any insights, the released oil will persist in the Gulf for years to come. Even now, over two decades after the 1989 spill, scientists still see its effects in decreased animal populations and the decimation of shoreline habitats such as the mussel beds in and around the Prince William Sound. But unlike Valdez, where rakes and pressure hoses were used for clean up, the Gulf presents workers with the difficult undertaking of cleaning oil out of reedy wetlands. Today we are in jeopardy of losing our vast coastal marshes, should integral plants suffocate from extended contact with oil.
Based on this past experience, the Obama Administration and Congress must acknowledge that clean up will be uneven at best and will not address the loss of wildlife and habitat. It is essential that a targeted effort be launched to conserve areas that provide habitat for animals like sea turtles, marine mammals, shellfish, seabirds and marsh birds in the Gulf and beyond. The answer may be a series of acquisitions and restoration actions that would create a conservation safety net for species directly and indirectly affected by this catastrophe.
Such a response could range from restoring the lower Mississippi River and Delta, which would both restore marshes and greatly improve water quality, to establishing new marine sanctuaries along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. The Gulf is the spawning ground for a variety of commercially and ecologically significant fish such as the Atlantic Bluefin tuna, and it is imperative that a series of marine sanctuaries are created to protect their feeding and breeding grounds. But we must also look beyond the Gulf when protecting our natural resources to strengthen the habitats throughout the range of imperiled species.
BP should be on the hook for the cost of establishing and restoring these areas, and the President is right to hold them accountable. The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission’s approval of $35.7 million for refuge acquisitions and wetlands grants for migratory birds is one step in the right direction. However, more needs to be done to safeguard wildlife in America -- and particularly in the Gulf. BP should underwrite creation of an endowment that will fund operations and maintenance of these vital habitats. They have already created a $20 billion escrow account to compensate the families and workers in the Gulf negatively affected by the spill; they must now take similar action to ensure that the wildlife of this region is fully compensated for the damage and losses it has suffered.
The catastrophe in the Gulf must serve as the catalyst for positive action. We must do more than clean up the Gulf -- we must create a natural safety net for impacted wildlife. This is our chance to not only restore what has been destroyed, but to also provide the species most heavily impacted by the spill with safe haven elsewhere throughout their range, thus ensuring their survival for generations to come. Mr. Obama and Congress need to move quickly to establish a series of restoration and expansion programs that will enable us to preserve the Gulf as well as protect unique habitats and vulnerable wildlife.
In recent weeks, official estimates on how much oil has been leaking from the damaged wellhead and reports of oiled wildlife have both increased substantially. The disaster has far surpassed Exxon Valdez as the largest oil spill in the United States and is now tragically one of the worst environmental disasters in American history. The hundreds of oiled and dead birds, mammals and sea turtles collected in the region represent only a fraction of those impacted by the vast spill.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has deployed over 775 personnel to address ongoing challenges in the region and has identified 36 national wildlife refuges currently at risk of being contaminated by the spreading oil slick.
SC Johnson, Southwest Airlines, Friends and individuals support NWRA public awareness campaign and on-the-ground response.
NWRA and SC Johnson have partnered in response to the BP oil spill disaster in the Gulf.
NWRA has partnered with SC Johnson to respond to the wildlife and habitat impacts of the BP Deepwater oil disaster through a public awareness campaign underscoring the damages to wildlife in the Gulf of Mexico. The grant will help NWRA’s efforts to pursue a stronger “natural safety net” to protect species harmed by the still-unfolding environmental disaster in the Gulf.
“For decades, SC Johnson has been committed to preserving and protecting our environment,” said Kelly M. Semrau, Vice President – Global Public Affairs and Communication at SC Johnson. “We are glad to partner with NWRA in cleaning and protecting our Gulf coast culture now and for future generations.”
SC Johnson funds and travel provided by Southwest Airlines - the official airline of the NWRA - will also underwrite production of a short film to be released in September that highlights damages to refuges and wildlife and the long-term challenges they face as a result of the spill.
Contributions from Friends groups and individuals have also made possible NWRA’s first NWRA oil response grant, made to the Friends of Bon Secour in Alabama. The fund has been made possible through generous individual contributions from across the country, and also refuge Friends groups that want to support their colleagues, recognizing the challenges they face.
Bon Secour NWR, located east of Gulf Shores, Alabama, has experienced heavy oil damage but has been buoyed by an outpouring of volunteer support to protect its fragile dune ecosystems and endangered sea turtles. A $3,000 grant from NWRA to the Friends of Bon Secour has funded the planting of sea oats in critical areas on the refuge. This is the first grant from NWRA's Oil Spill Response Fund, made possible through generous contributions from across the country sent in by individuals, businesses, and refuge Friends groups wanting to support their colleagues. We thank all those whose donations will help Friends' efforts to counter the hazardous repercussions of the gushing oil.
NWRA encourages those interested in helping protect wildlife in the Gulf of Mexico to volunteer on local wildlife refuges throughout the country. With an unprecedented number of Fish and Wildlife Service professionals being deployed to the Gulf, many refuges will be stretched thin and short-staffed in the coming months. Loss of staff during the summer season will hinder important projects to protect habitat. Volunteering locally can help insure quality habitat for the ducks, songbirds, and shorebirds that migrate through the Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere.
Join the conversation on “America’s Great Outdoors”
Friends are joining President Obama’s conversation about what constitutes “America’s Great Outdoors,” an initiative launched in April, when the President signed a memorandum at the White House Conference on America’s Great Outdoors. The goals of the initiative include getting Americans - especially children - to reconnect with nature, bolstering partnerships among the federal government, state governments, and private stakeholders, and using science-based management practices to restore and protect our country’s natural resources for future generations. In connection with the April conference, NWRA released America’s Great Outdoors – Fulfilling Theodore Roosevelt’s Crusade to Protect America’s Wildlife, a document that provides President Obama and Interior Seretary Salazar with a comprehensive series of recommendations for conserving our rich wildlife heritage.
Listening sessions are planned at locations across the country to offer the pubic an opportunity to talk about the special places that embody the American spirit and provide ideas on how to save our heritage. The first public forum was in Montana in June, followed by others in Maryland, South Carolina, Washington, California and Nebraska; sessions for July are scheduled for North Carolina, Colorado and New Mexico.
NWRA President Evan Hirsche and Vice-President of Government Affairs Desiree Sorenson-Groves participated in the April conference, and NWRA strongly encourages refuge Friends, volunteers, and supporters to voice their opinions by attending public listening sessions when possible and commenting online.
How can you participate in the President’s America’s Great Outdoors initiative?
Share your story about the places you love. Let the Administration know how passionate you are about the natural places that you love. Share images and stories about your refuge on the Department of the Interior’s website http://www.doi.gov/americasgreatoutdoors/Feedback.cfm
Join the conversation and submit your ideas. Provide feedback to the Administration by suggesting ideas for public land conservation, including saying “no” to budget cuts for our wildlife refuges and “yes” to fully funding important programs like the Land and Water Conservation Fund and reauthorizing the Volunteer and Community Partnership Act.
Participate in a listening session. Join representatives from the Department of the Interior, the Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) for public listening sessions on land conservation and connecting people to the outdoors.
The following listening sessions are tentative and could be subject to change:
Asheville, North Carolina: July 15, 1-4 pm
Denver & Grand Junction, Colorado: July 16
Albuquerque, New Mexico: July 17
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: July 27
More sessions are being considered in New England, Alaska, New York and elsewhere. Please visit the news tab at http://www.doi.gov/ for the latest information on listening sessions. If a public listening session is not scheduled in your area, consider asking your federal decision-makers to request a session.
An astonishing 20% of all work that occurs on national wildlife refuges is contributed through the dedication of more than 35,000 volunteers each year. Crucial to facilitating this remarkable commitment is the reauthorization of the Volunteer and Community Partnership Act that encourages the use of volunteers and partners to help Fish and Wildlife Service staff with conservation programs and education.
Volunteers are an important asset to our national wildlife refuges, and perform activities that range from surveying fish and wildlife populations, to leading tours and educational activities, helping with laboratory research, and managing cultural resources. Volunteers play an integral role in providing a strong connection between refuges and their local communities.
The National Wildlife Refuge System Volunteer and Community Partnership Act was originally passed in 1998 and is now being considered for reauthorization in a bill introduced by Rep. Frank Kratovil (MD). The bill would authorize $3 million to develop a national strategy for the coordination and utilization of volunteers in consultation with relevant stakeholders. Additionally, it allows refuges to receive donations and other contributions from individuals and partners, and promotes and facilitates partnerships with nonfederal organizations.
The bill, which was most recently reauthorized in 2004, passed in the House of Representatives on July 13, and must pass in the Senate before being signed into law by President Obama.
“Climate change is happening here and now, it is harming the things that you care about, and you can do something about it.” This simple statement is one of several ideas at the core of the Climate Change Communications Forum hosted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communications on June 16 - 17 at George Mason University, and it is particularly relevant for anyone concerned about wildlife and conservation. Often, birders, hunters, photographers and wildlife lovers who support national wildlife refuges are the most attuned to changes on the landscape. Because of their familiarity with wildlife, they are able to directly witness variations in the timing of migration or the loss of wetlands to rising seas.
The forum provided an opportunity for a diverse range of groups to discuss the challenges in communicating climate change and its impacts on wildlife and natural resources. It underpinned the difficulty conservation organizations face in explaining to the public the links between climate change and wildlife. Even with overwhelming scientific consensus on the subject, public opinion on climate change and global warming continues to be mixed.
The draft communication goals proposed by the forum include increasing the number of Americans who: recognize that climate change is happening here and now, realize that it is harming things that they care about, understand that it can be limited, and take action to address impacts of climate change on natural resources.
House Natural Resources Committee Advances Landmark Land Conservation Bill
The House Natural Resources Committee advanced sweeping legislation to overhaul oil and gas leasing and support conservation measures that will greatly benefit wildlife in the wake of the devastating BP oil spill. The "Consolidated Land, Energy, and Aquatic Resources (CLEAR) Act" (H.R. 3535), introduced by Committee Chairman Rahall (WV), includes fully funding the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) at $900 million annually.
The LWCF is an important tool to preserve nature and protect wildlife by providing land acquisition funding for national wildlife refuges, national parks and other treasured public lands. Approximately 1.5 million acres have been added to the National Wildlife Refuge System since Congress established the fund in 1965. Congress has the authority to appropriate up to $900 million of oil and gas leasing receipts to the LWCF each year, yet the fund saw precipitous declines over the past decade. With ongoing challenges like climate change, invasive species, and land development, fully funding the LWCF is a critical step to strategically growing the Refuge System in a way that best protects wildlife in a changing landscape.
Provisions in the CLEAR Act would amend the LWCF Act so that it can be fully funded at $900 million each year without being subjected to the annual appropriations process. With approval from the House Natural Resources Committee, the CLEAR Act will advance to the floor of the House of Representatives, where it will likely be packaged in a larger oil spill response bill.
Spring Regional Friends Conferences Cap a Year of Capacity-Building Events
The last of the Regional Friends Conferences wrapped up in mid May and June. The Southwest Conference was held May 14-16 in South Padre Island, Texas, and the final conference, the Pacific Southwest Conference, was held June 11-13 in Fallon, Nevada. Over the last five months the staff of NWRA have met and connected with Friends throughout the nation – more than 337 Friends from 45 states!
The Southwest (Region 2) Conference took Friends to the Laguna Atascosa NWR and offered opportunities to learn first hand about sea turtle recovery efforts at Sea Turtle Inc, who partners with the FWS to rescue and recover endangered sea turtles. The Conference was held at the new Island Birding and Nature Center on South Padre Island - a gorgeous location overlooking the Laguna Madre with its abundant birds, and sea life - where the Southwest regional staff welcomed everyone and made themselves available to address issues of concern, especially the Gulf oil spill. Participants were also treated to an eye-opening keynote about volunteer trends and numerous concurrent sessions addressing Friends needs.
The Pacific Southwest (Region 8) Conference held in Fallon, Nevada, was motivating and inspirational and introduced newer Friends groups, such as the Friends of the Desert NWR Complex, to the larger Friends community. The Conference included an amazing trip to the Stillwater NWR, where shorebirds frolic in desert wetlands.
If we could harness the energy and enthusiasm in evidence at these Conferences we would have another alternative fuel source! And this energy is intensified by dedicated refuge staff who understand the value of having Friends and the importance of this key partnership. Next year we will gather for a national conference to discuss conservation and the future of the Refuge System, tentatively scheduled for July 2011, and then the Regional Friends Conferences will occur again in 2012!
NWRA extends congratulations to Nancy Marshall, member of the NWRA Board of Directors, and President of the Arthur R. Marshall Foundation, for being named a recipient of the prestigious award for Volunteer Service by the Southeast Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the Regional Director’s Honor Awards Ceremony in May.
Nancy raised more than $500,000 to create state-of-the art exhibits for the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge in Boynton Beach, Florida. The innovative exhibits are expected to double visitation to the refuge in the year ahead compared to the 300,000 visitor count of the previous year.
As President of the Arthur R. Marshall Foundation, Nancy works to restore and preserve the Everglades through science-based outreach programs and hands-on activities.
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Located near Atlantic City and other urban areas in southern New Jersey, The Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge not only hosts an impressive array of wildlife, but is also easily accessible and a perfect location to expose children to their natural surroundings. The Friends of Forsythe NWR have been helping connect children with nature by introducing them to the myriad of birds that can be seen on the refuge and the fascinating natural history of where they live.
Teachers leading after-school enrichment programs at local school districts contacted the refuge with a request for help. Seeing the opportunity, refuge staff reached out to the Friends of Forsythe’s Environmental Education Committee. Co-Chaired by George Morgan and Les Murray, the Friends researched environmental education programs and selected the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Celebrate Urban Birds project.
The urban birds program met every two weeks at each school during the 2009/10 school year. George and Les provided instruction, assisted by a group of refuge volunteers that included expert birders, Volunteer Master Naturalists and Certified Interpretive Guides. Each session focused on three birds, selected using Cornell’s guidelines. Participants studied pictures of the birds, their characteristics, habitats, and food requirements, and colored images of the birds in their natural plumage. The resulting artwork was organized by the Noyes Museum into a display at the Atlantic County Public Library’s branch in Pleasantville.
The students studied avian food and habitat needs and planted seed-bearing flowers, which were ultimately transplanted in gardens on the schools’ grounds. They also made bird feeders out of half-gallon waxed juice containers collected by the instructors’ neighbors, which they then took home along with a starter bag of birdseed.
The culminating activity for each group of newly minted urban birders was to go outside and observe birds in the local environment, putting into practice their lessons on how to use a book’s index to identify individual birds. The participants developed lists and discussed what they’d seen. Parents and teachers were invited to a party at the last session for each class, where each young birder received a certificate and a refuge-provided backpack with a notebook, pencil, and other supplies.
The success of any educational initiative can be measured in many ways. Tests can be administered; follow-up studies may be instituted. Sometimes, however, the most satisfying measure of success is found in anecdotal data collected informally. As the leaders of the Celebrate Urban Birds program had introduced the 15 selected species to the children, they in turn became more aware of the natural surroundings in their urban environment. The budding naturalists began to notice the wildlife that has always been present, but never before observed. This can best be expressed by the excited fourth grader who ran into the room one afternoon excitedly shouting, “Mr. Les, Mr. Les, guess what! I saw a Mourning Dove on my way to school this morning!”
Thank you to Dave Blood, President of the Friends of Forsythe NWR for contributing this article. If you would like to submit an article to NWRA’s Flyer Newsletter about your Friends group, please contact Patrick Woolford at pwoolford@refugeassociation.org.
Bon Secour NWR in Alabama has one of the largest undeveloped parcels of land on the Alabama coast.
Because of this, it was named one of the 10 natural wonders in Alabama. Its dunes provide habitat for the endangered Alabama beach mouse and its unaltered beaches serve as nesting grounds for endangered Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles. This refuge has been particularly hard hit from the encroaching oil and volunteers have been working to minimize the impact to this pristine natural wonder.
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