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Fishing with Photos
Growing up in the Northeast, I have fond memories of summer vacations spent fishing with my family on Long Island and Block Island Sounds. We’d get up early, cast off our lines, then motor across glassy, misty waters to catch menhaden, which we would in turn use to lure stripped bass. On occasion, we’d come across mola (ocean sunfish) or even a blue shark. As an artist, I think my father enjoyed the experience as much for the aesthetic as the pursuit. In the late afternoons, upon returning to shore, we would grab our cameras and take advantage of the evening light, shooting the natural landscapes of coastal Rhode Island and Connecticut.
Such is the genesis of my passion for conservation. While I can’t say that as a child I knew a great deal about the scientific underpinnings of what I was experiencing, the emotional connection that was created inspired me to learn more. This, in turn, led me to wanting to take action and pursue a career in conservation. Like most people who visit and work on behalf of refuges, my inspiration to act on their behalf is largely derived from experiences in nature. It is the aesthetic that draws me in.
Assuming this is true with most people, I would argue that our best opportunity to hook the American public on refuges is through imagery of the wildlife and habitats that refuges conserve, and by emphasizing the opportunities for the public to experience wildlife. In fact, corporate America seems to confirm this notion through the advertising we see on a regular basis: A quick flip through ads in mainstream magazines shows us that nature and wildlife sells. Whether you’re shopping for cars, laundry detergent or clothing, the message is that connecting with nature makes our lives somehow more whole, more meaningful. As refuge advocates, we should take full advantage of this opportunity.
NWRA has started by tapping into some of the top flight photography occurring on refuges around the country. The Refuge System Photo Contest, now in its third year, encourages amateur photographers across the country to share with us compelling and spectacular images that can serve as a valuable resource for deepening our appreciation for the variety of wildlife experiences available to refuge visitors.
This year’s winning images are no exception. Grand prize winner Mack Barham’s haunting photo of egrets taking flight on a foggy morning at Black Bayou Lake NWR in Louisiana invites us to feel the cool, moist morning air and hear the rustle of feathers as the birds lift from their perches. Through youth winner Joshua Gahagen’s tack-sharp close-up of a flying sanderling at Monomoy NWR in Massachusetts we get a spectacularly detailed look at a tiny bird that defies close inspection in flight, even with a great pair of binoculars.
With these and all the other magnificent photos of birds, mammals, insects, amphibians, reptiles, plants and landscapes, we have a visual story that makes it abundantly clear that our national wildlife refuges and the wildlife they protect are far too valuable to sacrifice. This is a story we need to take to the public at every opportunity: through publications, electronic communications and at the local level where refuges effectively serve as the retail outlets for establishing a lasting relationship with the public.
By using the highest quality imagery when we “advertise” national wildlife refuges, and by emphasizing refuges’ visual splendors on site, we can successfully brand the Refuge System as the place to see America’s wildlife. And if we’re successful in making the sale, the result will be greater support for our refuges, and a stronger Refuge System well into the future.
Onward and upward!
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Environmental Laws Waived to Speed Construction of Border Fence
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Ocelots are threatened by the proposed border fence. © FWS, Tom Smylie |
On April 18, 2008, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Defense (DHS) Michael Chertoff issued exemptions of U.S. laws that would hinder completion of the U.S./Mexico border fence mandated by Congress in the Secure Border Fence Act of 2006. The remaining 470 miles of fence construction, including portions passing through several national wildlife refuges, will not need to comply with environmental laws such as the National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act and the Refuge Improvement Act, and can proceed without further consideration of the consequences of disrupting wildlife movement.
Many species will suffer from the restrictions that miles of border fence would pose to their access to fresh water of the Rio Grande River. In addition, the border fence threatens the endangered ocelot population with genetic isolation, since the fewer than 100 remaining in U.S. would be stymied in their efforts to reach populations in Mexico. Similarly, the recent borderland reappearance of the jaguar, thought to be extinct from the U.S. since the mid-20th century, may also be short lived.
The NWRA has continuously advocated for wildlife-friendly alternatives such as cameras, vehicle barriers and remote sensing which would allow wildlife movement and protect Border Patrol agents. Although the DHS agreed to give the Department of the Interior $50 million to mitigate damages caused by the fence, it is unclear when the money would be available and whether the damages can in fact even be mitigated. To read a more detailed account of how the fence will affect refuges and wildlife, click here to read a recent Washington Post story that quotes NWRA President, Evan Hirsche.
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Proposed Land Trade at Alaska’s Yukon Flats NWR would open Wilderness to Oil and Gas Development
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NWRA objects to a proposed land trade that would allow oil field development on lands currently at the core of Yukon Flats NWR, AK. © USFWS |
A proposed land exchange at the Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Alaska would remove 110,000 acres – including designated Wilderness -- from the refuge and open that land, along with another 97,000 acres, to oil and gas development. On March 4, 2008, NWRA submitted comments to the U.S. FWS in opposition to proposal and the resulting transformation of irreplaceable wildlife habitat into commercial oil fields. After receiving almost 100,000 comments, the FWS re-opened the comment period and extended the deadline to May 19, 2008.
Located adjacent to the Arctic NWR in northeastern interior Alaska, the 11-million-acre Yukon Flats NWR includes in-holdings of over 2 million acres owned by native villages and Doyon, Limited, an Alaskan Native Regional Corporation. The land exchange would transfer to Doyen full ownership of 110,000 acres of refuge lands and the subsurface rights for oil and gas development on another 97,000 acres. In exchange, the FWS would receive approximately 150,000 acres of scattered parcels currently owned by Doyon.
The lands given up by the FWS would fragment the refuge, causing damage for the thousands of waterfowl, brown bear, moose and numerous other species that depend upon the internationally significant habitat.
Read NWRA’s comments.
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New Professional and Volunteer Staff Join NWRA!
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Anne Truslow (pictured here with dog Henry) joins NWRA as Vice President of Strategic Programs and Development |
The NWRA is pleased to announce new staffing and volunteer support to advance core programs and expand the organization’s capacity to address pressing Refuge System issues.
Starting later this month, Anne Truslow will join the staff as Vice-President of Strategic Programs and Development. Anne will be charged with the development and implementation of strategic programs and the management of foundation support for these initiatives, including NWRA’s Beyond the Boundaries program.
Anne comes to NWRA from The Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests. As Director of Development for the Forest Society, she was responsible for building diverse sources of support to advance landscape-scale conservation initiatives. Prior to the Forest Society, Ms. Truslow worked at the Trust for Public Land from 1998 to 2004.
“Over ten years working in the land conservation field, I have developed a deep respect and affection for the National Wildlife Refuge System," said Truslow. "I am thrilled to be joining the NWRA staff at a time when the organization’s programs are growing and the need for our work to protect the nation’s wildlife heritage has never been greater.”
Starting May 29, Anne Truslow can be reached at 202-333-9075 or at atruslow@refugeassociation.org.
See press release.
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Terry Villanueva (pictured here in Alaska) joins NWRA as the Regional Representative for Region 5 |
Terry Villanueva has joined NWRA as volunteer Regional Representative for the mid-Atlantic and Northeast. In this capacity, Terry will work help NWRA implement strategic priorities, with an initial emphasis on the Delmarva Beyond the Boundaries project.
Having served for nearly 29 years in land management, Terry brings a wealth of experience to the Association. Until her retirement earlier this year, she served as Refuge Manager at Bombay Hook NWR where she enjoyed supporting a strong wildlife conservation program at one of the most productive coastal marsh refuges on the Atlantic. Prior to her time at Bombay Hook NWR, Terry served as the Division Chief for the Division of Refuges, Southwest Region, in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Deputy Refuge Manager at Great Swamp NWR, New Jersey; Assistant Refuge Manager at Blackwater NWR, Maryland; Assistant Refuge Manager at Dismal Swamp NWR, Virginia; and Wildlife Biologist on the Green Mountain National Forest, Vermont.
"I am pleased to have the opportunity to support the efforts of the National Wildlife Refuge Association," said Villanueva. "This organization has successfully advocated for funding increases for the National Wildlife Refuge System, advanced the efforts of Refuge Friends groups, raised awareness of issues that affect the entire Refuge System, and initiated programs that address specific refuge needs such as the Beyond the Boundaries program."
The NWRA is also fortunate to have Gerald L. Hawkins assume an active role with the NWRA, providing legal expertise on key issues. Currently an attorney at Elias, Matz, Tiernan & Herrick, LLP in Washington, DC, Gerry will also be NWRA's point person for developing strategies to address wind power developments that may pose a threat to refuges. Gerry’s broad legal background, with more than 25 years of experience in banking, corporate and securities law for clients located nationwide, and his personal passion for birding and the outdoors make him a tremendous addition to the NWRA team.
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Wilburforce Grant to Advance Southern Nevada BTB Project
NWRA is pleased to announce a grant from Seattle’s Wilburforce
Foundation of $70,000 over two years to advance the organization’s
Southern Nevada Beyond the Boundaries initiative. The grant will support NWRA’s efforts to further coalesce a diverse group of local and regional organizations around creation and implementation of a conservation vision centered on the four Southern Nevada refuges that comprise the Desert National Wildlife Refuge Complex.
Most recently, the NWRA team partnered with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (FWS) and The Nature Conservancy in developing a Pre-Planning Proposal (PPP) for a Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act (SNPLMA) grant. The grant would fund the development of a conservation vision plan that identifies and prioritizes actions for safeguarding the ecological integrity of the Desert National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The Desert, Moapa Valley, Pahranagat, and Ash Meadows NWRs protect some of the most varied habitat within the Mojave Desert, including warm and cold water springs, emergent wetland, and high elevation closed canopy pinion juniper forests.
With previous grants from Wilburforce, NWRA held workshops and meetings for local Las Vegas area conservationists, forging a coalition and laying the groundwork for community-based action on behalf of Southern Nevada’s unique and fragile ecosystem. This follow-on grant will allow NWRA to continue efforts to foster long term relationships and effective collaboration among members of the coalition and the FWS, with an eye toward implementing the vision plan.
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Youth Photo Contest Results Announced
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(Top)"Wood Duck" won first place in the Junior Youth Category © Bryan Goslin; (Bottom)"Sanderling" won first place in the Senior Youth Category © Joshua Gahagan |
Last month, the NWRA proudly announced the winners of the first annual 2008 Youth Refuge Photo Contest. Bryan Goslin of Vancouver, WA, age 5, won first place in the Junior Youth Category for his image of a resting Wood Duck taken at Columbia NWR, WA; and Joshua Gahagan of Oakham, MA, age 15, won first place in the Senior Youth Category for his image of a Sanderling in flight taken at Monomoy NWR, MA.
Contest entries, accepted between October 15 and December 15, 2007, featured images taken a national wildlife refuge within the past three years by photographers under the age of 18. Photographers between 14 and 17 years old entered the Senior Youth Category, those 13 years old and under entered the Junior Youth Category.
The second through fifth place winners in the Junior Youth Category are Erin McBride of Fairview, WY (Second Place); Rebecca Bartels of Farwell, NE (Third Place); Warren Smith of Starkville, MS (Fourth Place); and Liam Coddington of Huntsville, AL (Fifth Place).
The second through fifth place winners in the Senior Youth Category are Ian Davies of Medford, MA (Second Place); Zachary Peterson of Ipswich, MA (Third Place); Peter DellaVecchia of North Salem, NY (Fourth Place); and Shane McVeigh of Homer, AK (Fifth Place).
First through third place winners in both categories will receive a premier feeder from Wild Bird Centers of America. All Senior Category winners will receive field guides from Houghton Mifflin. All Junior Category winners will receive a giant plush manatee and year’s supply of Wild Puffs Cereal from Barbara’s Bakery.
Congratulations to the winners and special appreciation to all entrants who captured the essence of our national wildlife refuges with these great photos! All winning youth images can be viewed on our Contest Pages.
See press release.
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The Nature of Learning and National Wildlife Refuge Friends Group Grant Programs - Now Accepting Proposals
Applications are now being accepted for two grant programs offered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, in partnership with the National Wildlife Refuge Association and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in recognition of the important role refuge Friends play in building critical community support for the Refuge System. Proposals for the National Wildlife Refuge Friends Grants program, which provides funding to Friends groups for start up, capacity building and specific projects, are due Monday, June 2, 2008. Proposals for The Nature of Learning program, which provides grants for environmental education programs at refuges, are due Monday, June 16, 2008.
The Refuge Friends Group Grants program helps organizations be effective co-stewards of our nation's important natural resources within the National Wildlife Refuge System. This program provides competitive seed grants ($1,500 - $5,000) for creative and innovative projects designed to increase the number and effectiveness of organizations interested in assisting the Refuge System nationwide. Priority consideration is given to proposals focused on reaching new audiences, facilitating opportunities for people to experience refuges and increasing public understanding of wildlife needs.
The Nature of Learning is an environmental education initiative focused on using national wildlife refuges as outdoor classrooms where field experiences and student-led stewardship projects connect classroom lessons to real world issues. Start-up grants of up to $10,000 will be awarded on a competitive basis to support initial expenses associated with new programs. Follow-up grants of up to $5,000 will be awarded on a competitive basis to provide continued support to existing Nature of Learning Programs.
For more information on how to submit a proposal for the National Wildlife Refuge Friends Group Grants program or The Nature of Learning grant program see our Grants page.
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“Road To Nowhere” through Izembek NWR, AK, Hits Roadblock
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The proposed road through Izembek NWR would have treacherous driving conditions and high maintenance costs as opposed to the more efficient hovercraft already in use. ©FWS |
As a result of intense pressure by the NWRA, the Friends of Alaska Refuges and others in the conservation community, the Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee chose on May 7, 2008 not to advance legislation that would allow construction of a $30+ million, U.S. taxpayer-funded road through the heart of the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and its Congressionally-designated Wilderness on the Alaskan Peninsula.
The Izembek NWR has been federally protected since 1960 and was recognized by the Reagan Administration in 1987 as the first site named by the U.S. as a RAMSAR wetland of global importance. Numerous migratory birds depend on the refuge, including the endangered Steller’s Eider, which is listed as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act, and the declining and vulnerable Pacific black brant, emperor goose and dunlin.
The refuge has been the center of a debate for more than 10 years over a proposed road through designated Wilderness at the biological heart of the refuge. Road proponents argue a road is needed for medical evacuations. Yet Congress in 1998 gave King Cove - a community of 800 - $37.5 million to upgrade their clinic and purchase a highly successful, state-of-the-art hovercraft. According to the Mayor of the Aleutians East Borough, a road supporter, the hovercraft is “a lifesaving machine,” and “it is doing what it is supposed to do.” In fact, it has completed at least 27 successful medevacs since entering service.
While the measure is currently stalled in the Senate, it could be considered at a later date. And since the House Natural Resources Committee approved the measure on April 23rd, the next action there could be with the full chamber. Please visit our Izembek webpage for more information or send an instant message to your Senators urging them to oppose this proposal.
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House Subcommittee to Act Soon on Fiscal Year 2009 Appropriations
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16 Friends met with Chairman Norm Dicks and expressed their support for a funding level increase for next year. © Jack Chiles |
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies could announce their suggested funding level for the Refuge System for next year as early as the week of June 2nd. NWRA and Friends nationwide recommended an Operations and Maintenance budget of $514 million for the National Wildlife Refuge System, putting refuges on the path to receive baseline funding of $765 million by Fiscal Year 2013.
Last year, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies adopted the NWRA and CARE requested funding level of $451 million for FY08, but the number was reduced to $434 million in a conference committee with the Senate. This still represented a badly needed $39 million increase from the previous year and has allowed the FWS to put on hold a plan to reduce its workforce by 20% to counter budget shortfalls.
On April 9th, sixteen Friends met with Chairman of the Subcommittee Norm Dicks and expressed their support for a funding level of $514 million for next year. We encourage the Chairman and members of the Subcommittee to continue their outstanding support and provide a substantial increase in Refuge System funding for FY 2009.
The NWRA and Friends nationwide also provided written testimony to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies for Fiscal Year 2009. To download NWRA’s testimony and that of several Friends groups, visit Refuge Funding: What You Can Do.
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Wildlife Refuge Caucus Grows to 142!
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Rep. Patrick Kennedy (RI) |
Rep. Michele Bachmann (MN) |
Rep. Robert J. Wittman (VA) |
This past month, Representative Patrick Kennedy (RI), Representative Michele Bachmann (MN) and Representative Robert J. Wittman (VA) joined the Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus to raise awareness of our Refuge System, support adequate Refuge System budgets, and ensure the sustained growth of the Refuge System for future generations. The caucus, launched in 2006 by Co-chairs Ron Kind and Jim Saxton and Vice Co-chairs Mike Castle and Mike Thompson, now has 142 committed members and is steadily growing.
Thanks to its three newest members, the bi-partisan caucus now represents 42 states and 222 national wildlife refuges. Congressman Wittman's district alone includes Fisherman Island NWR, Plum Tree Island NWR, Wallops Island NWR, Eastern Shore Of Virginia NWR, and Rappahannock River Valley NWR.
Several new Caucus members have joined as a result of visits by Friends members who stopped by their offices last month in connection with the refuge Friends Capitol Hill rally organized by the NWRA.
Please join us in applauding the three newest members of the Congressional Wildlife Refuge Caucus for their decision to lend a collective voice of support for the Refuge System!
Click here to view the full Refuge Caucus membership.
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Friends Focus: Friends of Florida Panther and Whole Foods Partner for Panthers
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Whole Foods Marketing Director, Brenna Salman (Middle) presents Lisa Ostberg, President of Friends of the Florida Panther Refuge (Left), and Jordan, member of the Friends of the Florida Panther Refuge (Right), with a check for $4,006 to benefit the refuge! ©Sean Walsh |
In April the Friends of Florida Panther were delighted to be selected as environmental partners for "5% Days" at their local Naples and Palm Beach Garden Whole Foods Stores. The 270 Whole Foods stores located in the US, Canada, and the United Kingdom are dedicated to helping local community non-profit organizations with grand intentions and small budgets. As would many Friends Groups, the Friends of Florida Panther met both criteria. As a results of their 5% Day, the Friends and the Florida Panther Refuge received a check for $4,006 - 5% of the day's net sales at the Naples and Palm Beach Garden's stores!
In addition, the group was selected as the beneficiary of a wine tasting at the Coral Springs Whole Foods store. The Coral Springs store hosted “Raise a Glass to Raise Money for Endangered Panthers” where $3 for each drink ticket was donated to the Friends.
The Friends of Florida Panther also have a venture on the horizon with the Naples Ritz Carlton, which would not only fundraise, but also increase visitation to the refuge by area tourists. By teaming up with local businesses, the Friends of Florida Panther have made quite a case for their cause in Southern Florida.
To learn more about the Friends of Florida Panther, visit their website at: http://www.floridapanther.org.
To learn more about how your Friends Group can partner with Whole Foods, click here.
To learn more about the Ritz Carlton Program, click here.
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June 2, 2008 - Due date for National Wildlife Refuge Friends Group Grant applications
June 16, 2008 – Due date for Nature of Learning Grant applications
June 27, 2008 – “First Day of Sale” for the Federal Duck Stamp
Guam NWR is the only national wildlife refuge that is 100% on the other side of the international dateline. It's already tomorrow there! The refuge provides habitat for the last remaining populations of the endangered Mariana fruit bat, Mariana crow, and the Serianthes nelsonii tree. The non-native brown tree snake is considered the primary cause for the decline of native Guam bird species on this island with no indigenous snake species.
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