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MO Teaming With Wildlife Coalition Update |
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Please share with members of your organization! | May 2012 |
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Teaming With Wildlife is a coalition of businesses and organizations that support additional dedicated funding for fish, forest and wildlife conservation as well as related education and outdoor recreation.
Spread the word! Encourage other organizations and businesses to join the Teaming With Wildlife Coalition by filling out the form at www.teaming.com/user/register ___________
JOIN CFM! ___________ |
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Governor Nixon and the First Lady Present MoBCI
with a Proclamation Celebrating Migratory Bird Day
Guest of Honor - "Trucker", a Swainson's Hawk
In recognition of Migratory Bird Day, Saturday, May 12th, Governor NIxon and First Lady Georganne Nixon presented a proclamation to the Missouri Bird Conservation Initiative (MoBCI). This committee comprised of more than 60 organizations affiliated with bird conservation and habitat restoration chose Swainson's Hawk to be the migratory-bird-of-the-year. In honor of the event, the World Bird Sanctuary in Valley Park, Missouri sent "Trucker" (a Swainson's Hawk) and his handler Roger Holloway to meet with the Governor and First Lady at the Capitol in Jefferson City.
Conservation Federation of Missouri is excited to be a member of this group and commend partners on the successful accomplishments achieved through state and private funds. Misssouri Department of Conservation Wildlife Diversity Funds and State Wildlife Grants in combination with contributions from private and non-profit organizations have allowed MoBCI to administer a competitive grant program having a dramatic impact on Missouri bird populations. Projects receiving funding through this competitive program are categorized by habitat and invasive species. Total investment in the grant program has resulted in more than $3M of work on the ground since 2004.
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News from the White House Summit
on Environmental Education
At the first-ever White House Summit on Environmental Education, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson announced the formation of an interagency task force on Environmental Education, to be co-led by EPA and the U.S. Departments of Education and Interior.
Many in the environmental education community-including hundreds of members of the national No Child Left Inside Coalition-have previously encouraged the Administration to create such a taskforce, particularly in light of budget cuts to key federal environmental education programs in fiscal year 2013.
In another positive move, Administrator Jackson also committed $5 million in EPA funds for environmental education in next year's budget, to include money for teacher professional development, grants to schools, and funding for the National Environmental Education Foundation.
Few details regarding the newly formed taskforce are immediately available, but sources at the Summit say participation is likely to be at the Deputy Secretary level, indicating the Administration is giving high priority to a coordinated and cohesive plan for increasing environmental education opportunities and expanding the role of the Department of Education in achieving that goal. |
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Western Arctic Campaign
BLM Comment Period Ends June 1
MISSOURIANS URGED TO COMMENT ON BLM PROPOSAL THAT AFFECTS HABITAT FOR STATE'S MIGRATING WILDFOWL
MEADVILLE, MO - May 9, 2012 - For George Seek, it is easy to make the nconnection between wildlife habitat in Alaska’s National Petroleum Reserve and wildfowl that migrate through The Show-Me State. He knows good numbers of the wildlife - mostly waterfowl and shorebirds - that nest in the Reserve show up in Missouri each fall. That makes the Reserve's habitat vital to a resource connected to Missouri's outdoorsmen and women.
The Bureau of Land Management is seeking public comment on several options to allow oil and gas drilling and exploration within the Reserve. The Reserve contains vital habitat for waterfowl, songbirds, shorebirds, caribou and many other species of wildlife. Many of the waterfowl and bird species migrate through Missouri each year.
Seek, a conservationist from Meadville and owner of Missouri Native Seed, knows only too well what can happen when habitat is destroyed and migrating birds have fewer places to nest. "The end result is fewer birds - waterfowl or songbirds - that make the trip South," he said. "Any way you look at it, that's not a positive.
"For waterfowl hunters," he said, "that means fewer birds over their decoys during the hunting seasons. For birders - those who just like watching and feeding birds - it means fewer birds will be visiting their backyard feeders and shorelines of their area lakes and rivers."
Bud Cribley, BLM's Alaska director, said management of the resources in the Reserve must be balanced to meet the nation's needs. "We need the public's input, he said, "to ensure the best management plan is put in place for the Reserve."
Missouri's sportsmen and conservation-minded citizens need to make the connection, Seek said, and they need to take the time to comment on the options for the Reserve proposed by the BLM. "Its easy to do," he said. " The BLM proposals can be found on the National Wildlife Federation's website. The comments can be made digitally on the website, through the mail and by fax," he said. Or, Seek said with a smile, if you really want to, you can hand-deliver your comments to the BLM office in Alaska.
The 60-day comment period ends June 1.
Contacts:
Pat Lavin, National Wildlife Federation, 907-339-9497 ext. 3, lavin@nwf.org
Debra Lee, Conservation Federation of Missouri, 573-634-2322, dlee@confedmo.org |
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FilmFest 4-H | August 6-8, 2012
Youth 11 and Up Can Enter!!!!
Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM) is a new sponsor to an exciting event for kids in 4H and their families. CFM is working with the University of Missouri Extension and the National 4-H Task Force on Communications and Expressive Arts to sponsor the national film festival called "FilmFest 4-H". The 2nd annual event will take place on August 6-8, 2012 in Branson, Missouri.
This national film festival is an event connecting participants to professionals in the film industry. It celebrates the work of young filmmakers ages 11 and up. There are four categories: Narrative, Animation, Documentary and 4-H Promotional. As with any medium, an outdoor flavor can be added to any of the categories and of course CFM would love to see more participants showing their Missouri pride with an outdoor heritage perspective. This is a great opportunity for CFM to work with 4H kids, volunteers and youth with an interest in filmmaking. It includes workshops, showcases and family fun. Keep watching for new updates on CFM support for FilmFest 4_H!!
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MoTWS Savanna / Woodlands Workshop in Kirksville, MO
June 6-7, 2012
Kirksville MDC Office
3500 South Baltimore St.
Kirksville, MO 63501
MoTWS Professional Development Committee is offering a day and a half workshop highlighting the functionality, conservation, and restoration of Missouri's savannas and woodlands. This workshop features presentations by professional about savanna/ woodland species, fire, ecology and restoration. It includes site visits to restored areas on private and public lands Click here for the registration informatio. |
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 | | Matthew Clay CHCS teacher with Debra Lee in Jopin |
NWF & CFM Partner with CHCS Planting Trees for Joplin Tornado Recovery
National Wildlife Federation (NWF), Conservation Federation of Missouri (CFM) and the
Middle and High School students of College Heights Christian School (CHCS) in Joplin came together to help community recovery and tornado victims of the May 22, 2011 EF 5 tornado. Almost a year after the devastating tragedy, there are still areas that appear barren of natural landscapes with trees and native grass. The students worked with their middle school science instructor, Mathew Clay, and other community members on Saturday, April 28th to improve Joplin's foliage. The students were able to experiencing the environment by getting outdoors and planting trees. It was a hands-on approach to habitat restoration. The National Wildlife Federation and Conservation Federation of Missouri supported tree planting efforts through the giving of trees to be planted at this event. Approximately 100 trees were planted at homes of tornado victims.
"The students are excited to spend another day giving back to Joplin," says Mathew Clay, CHCS Science Instructor. "The re-building of our ecosystem in Joplin is at the crucial point right now. By adding trees back into our environment, it will benefit everyone in this community, not only the places with the damage. Our students spend many hours performing community service projects, so this is a great opportunity for them to reach out to assist a family with a need."
"A single tree can clean the air, clean the water, provide food and homes for wildlife," states Eliza Russell, Director of Education for the National Wildlife Federation. "Students working with their teacher organized this event as an opportunity to give back to their community. Not just for today, but for the future generations - even 40-50 years from now-reaping the benefits from the trees that were planted."
For more information about how you and your organization can work with NWF on Trees for the 21st Century visit www.nwf.org/trees
For more information please contact:
Eliza Russell | National Wildlife Federation, Director of Education | russell@nwf.org |
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Upcoming Events
The Wildlife Rescue Center Open House | May 12, 2012 10 am to 3 pm | Penelope Beache, Development Director
Wildlife Rescue Center | 1128 New Ballwin Rd. Ballwin, MO 63021 | Ph: 636.394.1880 Ext: 203
Invasive Plant Workshop | May 16-17, 2012 | Powder Valley Nature Center | 11715 Cragwold Road, Kirkwood, MO
8:45 AM - 4:30 PM Both Days | Contact Tim Banek with questions or comments at tim.banek@mdc.mo.gov or by phone at (573) 522-4115 ext. 3371
Missouri The Wildlife Society (MoTWS) Savanna / Woodland Workshop for professionals | June 6-7, 2012 | Kirksville MDC Office | 3500 S. Baltimore St., Kirksville, MO 63501 | Contact: mittelhauser@ucmo.edu
MPF 3rd Annual Prairie BioBlitz | June 9-10, 2012 | Details and Directions.
Ozark Summit
June 12-14, 2012 | Missouri State University in Springfield | http://ozarks.cr.usgs.gov/ozark_summit_2012.htm
FilmFest 4-H | August 6-8, 2012 | Branson, MO | BE SURE TO CHECK THE WEBSITE FOR ENTRY DEADLINES!
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