Baca NWR (CO) Makes PEER List: U.S. Top 10 Most Imperiled Refuges

No joke folx…want to survive & mitigate climate change? Then PROTECT
WILDERNESS AND WILDLIFE!! No exceptions…

ASW

—————————- Original Message —————————-
Subject: BACA NWR MAKES PEER LIST OF AMERICA’S TEN MOST IMPERILED WILDLIFE
REFUGES
From:    “winter ross” <winterross@yahoo.com>
Date:    Wed, June 4, 2008 7:36 pm
To:      “Storm Waters” <stormf5@riseup.net>
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Christine Canaly <slvwater@fairpoint.net> wrote: Date: Sun, 25 May 2008
18:03:20 -0600
To: (Recipient list suppressed)
From: Christine Canaly <slvwater@fairpoint.net>
Subject:
Fwd: BACA NWR MAKES PEER LIST OF AMERICA’S
TEN MOST IMPERILED WILDLIFE REFUGES

Hi folks,

The Baca was recognized by PEER as one of the Nation’s top 10 imperiled
wildlife refuges (see story below).  While this reaffirms the important
work we still have ahead of us, the listing will help us get important
national attention.

Watch for an update on the results of our latest FOIA request in the June
Crestone Eagle.

Ceal
_______________________________________________________________________________

FROM: http://www.commondreams.org/news2008/0522-01.htm

FROM: http://www.peer.org/news/news_id.php?row_id=1052

For Immediate Release: May 22, 2008

Contact: Carol Goldberg (202) 265-7337

AMERICA’S TEN MOST IMPERILED WILDLIFE REFUGES — Threatened by Oil
Drilling, Mining, Roads, ORV Use and, Above All – Politics

Washington, DC — National Wildlife Refuges are supposed to shelter
countless migratory waterfowl, native mammals, reptiles and amphibians
but many refuges themselves are under siege, according to a new report by
Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER). Destructive
intrusion onto refuges ranges from industrial activities, such as mining
and drilling, to recreational abuse, such as off-road vehicle traffic,
but the common thread linking all these threats is political pressure to
put the interests of wildlife second.

The National Wildlife Refuge System was commissioned by President
Theodore Roosevelt in 1903 when he designated Florida’s Pelican Island as
America’s first wildlife refuge. Today the system encompasses more than
540 refuges in all 50 states.

Based upon interviews with refuge staff, PEER identified the Ten Most
Imperiled Refuges in the U.S. The threatened refuges span the nation from
Alaska’s Yukon to the Florida Keys:

* Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge (AZ) – border wall and
border control issues;

* National Key Deer Refuge (FL) – sprawling development and auto
traffic;

* National Bison Range (MT) – paralyzing dispute over tribal demands
for refuge control;

* Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge (NC) – road construction;

* Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge (AK) – land exchange for oil &
gas drilling;

* Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge (NY) – limestone quarry;

* Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge (MI) – agricultural pollution;

* Baca National Wildlife Refuge (CO) – oil and gas drilling;

* Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge (AZ) – uncontrolled off-road
vehicle abuse; and

* San Pablo Bay and Marin Islands National Wildlife Refuges (CA) –
water pollution and sprawl.

“Each of these threatened refuges has a different story, but they all
share the peril of politics undermining the mission of wildlife
protection,” remarked Grady Hocutt, a former long-time refuge manager who
directs the PEER refuge program. “We hope that by drawing attention to
the plight of these wildlife sanctuaries they stand a better chance of
surviving the jeopardy they face.”

While the ten refuges profiled by PEER are facing acute threats, there
appears to be widespread and growing concern throughout the National
Wildlife Refuge System. A 2007 PEER survey of all Refuge Managers found
that nearly two out of three (62%) do not feel the refuge system is
meeting its mission and more than two in three (67%) are no longer
“optimistic about the future of the refuge system.”

“While adequate funding is crucial, refuges absolutely cannot function
without leadership support to turn back threats to their very mission,”
Hocutt added. “Refuges are slices of natural habitat vital to wildlife
that are especially vulnerable to the major human interferences
highlighted in this report.”

See the Ten Most Imperiled Refuges

View results of the Refuge Manager survey

Read what Refuge Managers have to say

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ceal Smith, MSc
San Luis Valley
Water Protection Coalition
P.O. Box 351
Alamosa, CO  81101
(719) 256-5780
ceal@slvwater.org
slvwater.org
Christine Canaly
San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council
P.O. Box 223
Alamosa, CO 81101
(719) 256-4758
(719) 589-1518

“Life is too short for grief. Or regret. Or bullshit.” – Edward Abbey

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