Friends of the Savannah Coastal Wildlife Refuges, Inc.
EMERGENCY ACTION REQUEST
July 20, 2011
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Rick Shields
Friends of the Savannah Coastal Wildlife Refuges, Inc.
Severe Cuts to Refuge System Proposed

We must act now! 

 
We all know that there is a budget crisis in the United States, and that a legislative battle is going on in an attempt to reduce Federal spending and our enormous deficit.  While we all expected that the Refuge system would face cuts, we did not expect that Congress would propose such destructive reductions in funding to the system.

We have an opportunity to influence the future of the National Wildlife Refuge System by contacting our legislators and asking them to oppose this bill.

PLEASE, urge your Representative to Vote NO on H.R. 2584, the Interior Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2012.

 

If enacted, this draconian proposal would:

 

CLOSE:  140 National Wildlife Refuges (More than 25%of the 553 refuges currently in the system) 

ELIMINATE: over 300 Refuge Staff Positions

ELIMINATE: Visitor Services at 100 refuges

ELIMINATE:any new land acquisitions or conservation easements under LWCF

PREVENT: the listing of any new species under the Endangered Species Act

ELIMINATE: 40 law enforcement positions (at a time when only 213 officers patrol 150 million acres when 845 are needed)

 

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Deadline for Action is July 25, 2011

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The US House of Representatives could consider the Interior Appropriations bill as early as this weekend, July 23-24, 2011.  Under the current proposal, H.R. 2584 would drastically cut programs that protect our American wildlife heritage.  If enacted, the House proposal would result in the closure of 140 National Wildlife Refuges ( more than 25% of all refuges).  Would one of ours in the Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex be on the chopping block?  More than 300 refuge staff positions would be eliminated and support for Friends groups and volunteers would be severely impacted as there simply will not be the staff needed to oversee volunteers.

 

The proposal seeks to gut some of our nation's most important wildlife conservation laws and programs, including:

  • The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) - slashed by 80% to the lowest level in its 45-year history with only $11 million for the Refuge System; barely enough to finish projects started this fiscal year;
  • The Endangered Species Act - the FWS would be prevented from listing any new species under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and the American people would be prohibited to challenge delisting decisions in court;
  • The North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) - which funds wetland restoration on refuges, would be reduced to only $20 million, a $17 million cut;
  • The State Wildlife Grants Program - which helps states keep species from becoming endangered would be reduced to just $22 million, a $40 million cut;
  • Refuge System Law Enforcement - slashed by $6 million (17%), resulting in the loss of 40 officers, leaving only 173 to patrol 150 million acres when they need 845;
  • The Neo-Tropical Migratory Bird Conservation Fund would be eliminated entirely;
  • The FWS' Construction budget - which includes both Refuges and Fisheries and funds large scale restoration projects - would be reduced to just under $12 million;
  • The National Wildlife Refuge Volunteer program - that coordinates the activities of local volunteers, nonprofit organizations, state or local agencies- would be reduced to $1.7 million, a 15% cut.

Members of Congress must hear from their constituents that the extreme budget cuts proposed to conservation programs are a bad deal for wildlife and for taxpayers. Federal programs like our National Wildlife Refuge System help boost local economies with jobs, tourism, fishing and hunting opportunities - while protecting fish, migrating birds, and endangered species for generations to come.  

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Here is how you can contact your US Representative:  Click HERE to go to the House of Representatives "Write Your Representative" page.  All you need is your State and Zip Code.

HERE is a sample letter which you can customize and e-mail to your US representative.

Rick Shields
President
Friends of the Savannah Coastal Wildlife Refuges, Inc.