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Climate Change: Can We Rise to the Challenge?
Last week, the US Fish and Wildlife Service released its draft climate change strategy. Entitled Rising to the Challenge, the plan outlines the challenges the Fish and Wildlife Service faces in the current era of accelerating climate change and provides a framework for tackling these unprecedented issues.
The tone of the strategic plan is urgent. As the lead steward of our nation’s wildlife with responsibility for managing the 150 million acres of lands and waters in the National Wildlife Refuge System, the Service and its employees are keenly aware of the changes already occurring to our landscapes. From starving polar bears to moose die-offs, the impacts of climate change on our wildlife are undeniable. The FWS plan suggests, and NWRA research confirms, that the ramifications are widespread, affecting native plants, birds, animals and insects throughout our wildlife refuges.
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Climate change threatens to greatly alter the habitats found at our coastal refuges, such as Aransas NWR, by eroding shorelines as sea levels rise and severe weather events become more freqeuent.
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The draft strategic plan to help wildlife adapt to climate change is a bold step for an agency that as recently as a year ago was generally restricted from even mentioning climate change or the devastating effects it will have on our native wildlife. Proposed strategies range from increased monitoring efforts to build the long-term population datasets that wildlife managers demand and the localized climate change models they need, to the promotion of larger ecosystem conservation models dependant on public and private partnerships such as Landscape Conservation Cooperatives where federal and state agencies combine their information and efforts to achieve large scale conservation goals. Unfortunately, these proposals -- and indeed the continued success of our national conservation efforts -- will be nearly impossible to achieve without dedicated funding, particularly in light of the already cash-strapped condition of the Refuge System.
Yet no matter how hard the Administration and the Refuge System work to address climate change, any progress will be short lived unless Congress takes bold action to curb the greenhouse gasses exacerbating global warming. The House has already passed significant pollution reduction legislation that would put a “cap” on greenhouse gases and “trade” the ability to pollute in a free market system. And Senators Barbara Boxer (CA) and John Kerry (MA) introduced similar legislation in the Senate this week. NWRA and nearly 110 supporting Refuge Friends organizations have already voiced support to the Senate in favor of climate change legislation and urged lawmakers to include provisions that would provide dedicated funding to help wildlife adapt to a changing climate.
While the ongoing debates surrounding health care and the economy continue to bruise and batter lawmakers, there is simply no time to waste in tackling the ever-intensifying impacts of climate change. Congress must act now to reduce greenhouse gas pollutants such as carbon dioxide and methane gas and provide dedicated funding to wildlife adaptation programs. Otherwise the FWS draft strategic plan will serve as nothing but an outline of grand intentions.
To view and comment on FWS's strategic plan, click here.
Onward and upward!
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NWRA Saddened by the Loss of Long-Time Board Member Cal Lensink
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Cal Lensink, who spent much of his life devoted to wildlife conservation, is seen here volunteering at Yukon Delta NWR in Alaska. ©Craig Ely
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The staff and board of directors of the National Wildlife Refuge Association are saddened by the loss of long-time board member Calvin Lensink. Dr. Lensink served several terms on the NWRA board, was a volunteer regional representative, and was among the first members of the Association.
The accomplishments of Dr. Lensink in the fields of wildlife management, research, and conservation cannot be overstated. His knowledge and expertise in identifying biologically important land in Alaska resulted in the protection of 76 million acres of the National Wildlife Refuge System. As a result of these landmark achievements, he received in 1990 the Distinguished Service Award from the Secretary of the Interior, the highest honorary recognition awarded within the Department of the Interior.
Cal began his 30-year career with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS)as a temporary biological technician in Juneau, where he studied marine mammals, waterfowl and big games mammals. His interest in wildlife was inspired by his youth spent outdoors in the Dakotas and Minnesota, where he lived with his family. He earned a Masters degree in wildlife management at the University of Alaska, and a Doctorate of Philosophy at Purdue University.
Other accomplishments while with the FWS included his work with muskox on Nunavik Island, which is now part of the Yukon Delta NWR, and helped paved the way for the successful reintroduction of muskox in Siberia. He served as the manager of the Clarence Rhode NWR, also now part of Yukon Delta, and implemented many important surveys and student research projects during his tenure.
Dr. Lensink’s involvement with the NWRA spanned nearly 30 years. He became a Refuge Association regional representative for Alaska in 1988, shortly after retiring from the service, and continued on to serve four terms on the NWRA Board of Directors. Among his accomplishments as an NWRA Director was the creation of an endowment fund. Donations to the NWRA endowment in Cal’s memory are welcomed. To make a contribution, please click here.
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NWRA/Friends Back House Land and Water Conservation Bill
The NWRA and Friends groups from across the nation have voiced support for H.R.3534, the Consolidated Land, Energy, and Aquatic Resources Act (CLEAR Act), newly-introduced legislation that would permanently and fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), one of the primary ways refuge lands are acquired.
The CLEAR Act was brought to the House Natural Resources Committee by Chairman Nick Rahall (WV), and is an overarching energy bill that would overhaul energy development on public lands. Within this broad package are provisions that would permanently and fully fund the LWCF.
The LWCF was established by Congress in 1965 to provide funding for the acquisition of public lands- both federal and state - and is one of the primary funding tools used to expand the National Wildlife Refuge System (See Flyer President’s letter). The source of funding for the LWCF is predominantly from offshore oil and gas receipts. While it is authorized to receive $900 million annually, this level of funding has only been achieved once. The legislation proposed in the CLEAR Act would guarantee $900 million annually.
Congressional hearings for the legislation occurred the week of September 14th. Lyle Hodgskiss, a Montana rancher, testified on behalf of the Rocky Mountain Front Advisory Committee, in support of the LWCF provisions. In his testimony, Mr. Hodgskiss discussed the important role the LWCF has played in purchasing the conservation easements in the Rocky Mountain Front Conservation Area, which is managed under the NWRS. The NWRA and many Friends join in support of H.R. 3534, proposed legislation that would fully fund the LWCF and help the Refuge System acquire and protect wildlife habitat.
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Friends/NWRA Rally Around Climate Change Wildlife Adaptation Funding
The NWRA and nearly 110 refuge Friends Groups across the country in early September urged the Senate to pass comprehensive climate change legislation that would reduce greenhouse gasses and dedicate a portion of the future revenue collected to aid wildlife in adapting to climate change.
In a letter signed by more than 600 national, regional and local conservation and outdoors groups the Senate was asked to dedicate five percent of revenue collected from a cap-and-trade or carbon tax program towards wildlife adaptation and conservation.
Comprehensive climate change legislation is critically important both to reduce the levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gas pollution, as well as begin to mitigate the effects of climate change that have already begun to occur. Ensuring that healthy ecosystems can continue to exist is important not just to the protection of our native wildlife, but also for the “ecosystem services” they provide to local communities- such as clean water, clean air, and natural buffers from severe weather events.
The Obama administration has also struck an urgent tone related to helping wildlife adapt to climate change through the use of conservation and public lands. Secretary Salazar issued a Secretarial Order on September 14th outlining coordinated efforts to address the impacts of climate change through Regional Climate Change Response Centers and Landscape Conservation Cooperatives.
Read the Press Release Here.
Read the Letter Here.
Take Action!.
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The Senate Approves Small Funding Increase for Refuges
The Senate approved a $26 million increase in funding for the National Wildlife Refuge System for next year by passing their FY 2010 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies appropriations bill on September 24th. While the bill exceeds President Obama’s request to Congress, the increase in funding falls short of the House approved $40 million increase.
Due to the differences in the House and Senate versions of the FY 2010 appropriations bills, key decision makers on the House and Senate Appropriations committees will meet in conference to hash out the differences. The NRWA urges Conferees to adopt the $40 million increase to Refuge System funding passed by the House.
With the government’s fiscal year set to end on September 30th, Congress is expected to pass a short Continuing Resolution or “CR”, funding government programs – including the National Wildlife Refuge System – at this year’s levels. The CR will likely be only one month with the anticipation that the chambers can send individual appropriations bills to the President in October. Note: the House has passed all 12 of their annual spending bills, the Senate has passed 6, but none have been conference and sent to the President.
Read the Press Release Here.
Take Action!
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$8 Million in Funding From Federal Duck Stamps Adds Over 4,000 Acres of Wetlands to NWRS
Proceeds from the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp, also known as the Federal Duck Stamp, have resulted in the addition of over 4,000 acres of wetlands to the National Wildlife Refuge System this year.
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The Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp - the “Duck Stamp” - generates funding for land acquisition on wildlife refuges.
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Seven Refuge Units that will receive Duck Stamp Funds include:
- Great Dismal Swamp NWR, North Carolina – 51 acres for wintering waterfowl
San Bernard NWR, Texas – 1,454 acres for mallard, gadwall, and northern pintails
- Silvio O. Conte NFWR, New Hampshire – 80 acres to preserve and protect important migratory waterfowl habitat
- Grand Cote NWR, Louisiana – 265 acres to protect and enhance seasonally and permanently flooded wetlands for wintering waterfowl
- Tualatin River NWR, Oregon – 225 acres to manage for wintering waterfowl and tundra swans
- North Central Valley WMA, California - 388 acres for waterfowl and other migratory birds.
The Duck Stamp program is one of the most successful wetlands conservation tools in the world, and has accounted for the addition of millions of acres of habitat to the Refuge System throughout its history. With an investment of nearly 98 cents to the dollar going directly towards conservation, Duck Stamps offer some of the wildlife conservation best bang for the buck.
Buy Duck Stamps Here and Learn how many acres of YOUR refuge were acquired with Duck Stamp dollars.
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NWRA/Alaska Friends Release Updated Izembek ”Road to Nowhere” Report while Former Interior Secretary Joins Fight Against Proposed Road
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| The "Road to Nowhere" through Izembek NWR would have treacherous driving conditions, high maintenance costs, and devestating effects on the region's wildlife. ©FWS |
Last winter Congress passed the Omnibus Public Lands Management Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-11), and authorized the construction of a multi-million dollar road the ecological heart of Izembek National Wildlife Refuge- a federally designated wilderness area. Under the law, lands would be offered in exchange for the corridor on which the road would be built, however these lands are of significantly lesser conservation value.
For this environmentally devastating and costly road to be constructed, Secretary Salazar must first initiate an environmental review of the project (EIS) and ultimately decide whether or not the proposed road is in the public interest.
Throughout the debate, NWRA's “Road to Nowhere” report has been critical in spotlighting the fiscal waste and environmental harm posed by the road. Armed with new information that further reinforces the need to reject the road, NWRA and the Friends of Alaska Refuges have released an updated report that urges Secretary Salazar to deem the construction boondoggle “not in the public interest.” In addition to disturbing a pristine and globally significant habitat, the road would be costly to American taxpayers and ineffective at providing reliable emergency transportation. The needs of King Cove have already been met when Congress allocated $37.5 million in 1998 to improve medical and transportation infrastructure in the community- and purchase the state-of-the-art hovercraft that has a 100% success record in providing emergency medevacs.
Bolstering the report's re-release, former Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt, and several other former Clinton Administration Interior Department officials, joined the fight against the proposed road by sending a letter urging Secretary Salazar to find the proposed road “not in the public interest.” The letter emphasizes the ecologic importance of the Refuge, stating “no amount of exchange lands can compensate for the irreversible impacts a road would have on these globally significant wildlife habitat values. The sacrifice of habitat for bears, wolves, caribou and hundreds of thousands of migrating waterfowl—all remaining emperor geese, many threatened Steller's eiders, tundra swans and the entire Pacific black brant population—is incalculable.”
Read the Updated Report.
Read the Letter Here.
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NWRA President Nominated to be Duck Stamp Judge
Have you ever wondered who decides what artwork ends up gracing the Duck Stamp? Well, if you submitted a painting to the Federal Duck Stamp Contest this year, or plan on entering in the next two years, your prospective Duck Stamp artwork may be judged by NWRA’s own President, Evan Hirsche!
Each year, wildlife artists submit paintings that depict one of five species of waterfowl chosen by the Fish and Wildlife Service. A panel of five noted art, waterfowl, and stamp experts who have been appointed by the Secretary of the Interior judge the artwork as part of the only art competition of its kind sanctioned by the US Government. Evan has been appointed to be a judge in the 2010 and 2011 competitions, and will serve as an alternate judge at this year’s competition. The competition for the 2010-2011 Duck Stamp will take place October 16-17, 2009 at the Patuxent Research Refuge, in Maryland, where all of the entered artwork is currently on public display.
Originally envisioned by Refuge System pioneer J.N. “Ding” Darling, the Federal Duck Stamp program has been in existence since 1934. The “Duck Stamp," or Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp supports one of the world’s most successful conservation programs, and has provided funding for millions of acres of land acquisition in the National Wildlife Refuge System.
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NWRA Welcomes Patrick Woolford!
NWRA is pleased to welcome Patrick Woolford to the NWRA staff as our new Communications and Program Assistant. Patrick takes the reins from Claire Stoker, who has returned to graduate school, and he has already made great contributions to NWRA's work as an intern since last winter. In his new role, Patrick will manage and update website content, help create policy, communication and development documents, as well as assist staff with other core programs.
Prior to the NWRA, Patrick worked for an online financial news publication in Seattle. A lifelong birder, he grew up in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania and often birded at the nearby Heinz National Wildlife Refuge. He is a 2007 graduate of Middlebury College, with a degree in environmental studies and environmental policy.
Patrick can be reached at 202-292-2422 or pwoolford@refugeassociation.org
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Take our Climate Change Survey!
In an effort to better understand how much the general public and refuge supporters know about climate change, NWRA has launched an on-line survey. Information derived from the anonymous survey will allow us to more effectively communicate with decision-makers and our constituencies on this pressing issue.
Please, take our survey by clicking here. Your participation is greatly appreciated!
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Friends Focus: Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges
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The Friends of Alaska Refuges helping to remove invasive weeds along the remote Dalton Highway. © Friends of Alaska Refuges
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From pulling weeds along the isolated Dalton Highway, to leading bird walks in native Alaskan communities, the Friends of Alaska National Wildlife Refuges have been busy and dedicated advocates for Alaska’s 16 wildlife refuges. Founded in 2005, the Friends of Alaska Refuges educate the public and policy makers about Alaska wildlife refuges, assist refuges in accomplishing their wildlife management missions, and fund refuge projects through grants, memberships and other donations.
Formed in late 2005, the Friends of Alaska NWRs have achieved much in the past few years. In just four years have existence they have grown to 255 members. They have volunteered at remote science camps hosted by the Fish and Wildlife Service, promoted rat and other invasive species eradication and prevention, and hosted booths at festivals such as the Ocean Festival, held this past June in Anchorage.
In addition to many programs in and around Alaska refuges, the Refuge Friends have also traveled to Washington DC to testify on behalf of the National Wildlife Refuge System before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies during the public witness day in 2007 and 2009. The Alaska Friends have also played a critical role in continuing to fight against the proposed land exchange and road through the designated wilderness at Izembek NWR by providing testimony against the project before the House Natural Resources Committee in 2007. The Friends of Alaska also partnered with the NWRA in creating and publishing the “Road to Nowhere” report that outlines the Izembek issue.
Alaska’s 16 National Wildlife Refuges encompass 76.8 million acres- and account for nearly one fifth of the entire landmass of the state of Alaska. The refuges range in size, from the 310,000-acre Izembek NWR, to the nearly 20 million acre Arctic NWR- the largest wildlife refuge in the United States.
To learn more, check out the Friends of Alaska Refuges online at: http://www.alaskarefugefriends.org/
Are you planning - or have you had - an event NWRA should know about?
Email nwra@refugeassociation.org to be highlighted in a future Friends Focus!
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November 15: Do you know an outstanding Refuge Manager, Refuge System Employee, Volunteer or Friends Group? Nominate them for a Refuge System Award- the deadline is November 15th!
Visit our National Wildlife Refuge System Awards Page!
Two refuges- Bombay Hook NWR in Delaware and Block Island NWR in Rhode Island, will be featured on the new “America the Beautiful” quarters! Similar to the current “State” quarters, five new designs featuring America’s public lands will be featured on the reverse side of the quarter dollar beginning in 2010 through 2021. Visit the U.S. Mint website for more information.
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