Protect

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Unveiling the Untamed Wonders of Izembek National Wildlife Refuge

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Unveiling the Untamed Wonders of Izembek National Wildlife Refuge

Step into a realm of untamed beauty and ecological wonder, where the symphony of nature's rhythms unfold in perfect harmony. Welcome to Izembek National Wildlife Refuge, an extraordinary sanctuary located on the Alaska Peninsula’s southern coast. In the safety of this national wildlife refuge that hosts an unparalleled diversity of life among its abundant eelgrass beds, the Pacific black brant finds its seasonal haven. As stewards of the land, we invite you to discover the hidden treasures of this fragile ecosystem and the urgent need to safeguard it.

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Former Public Officials Urge Secretary Haaland To Protect Izembek National Wildlife Refuge & Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act

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Former Public Officials Urge Secretary Haaland To Protect Izembek National Wildlife Refuge & Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act

Twenty-two former public officials, including multiple former Secretaries of the Department of the Interior, sent a letter to Secretary Haaland expressing their concerns regarding the Interior’s intentions for the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge. Throughout their collective tenures in public service, they have defended Alaska’s public lands and the conservation and subsistence values protected under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act.

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Advocacy Alert: Submit Comments on the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge Notice of Intent

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Advocacy Alert: Submit Comments on the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge Notice of Intent

The Izembek National Wildlife Refuge needs your voice! The Department of the Interior is currently in the process of once again potentially allowing a road to be built through the heart of this internationally-renowned wilderness. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is accepting public comments from individuals and organizations on this process no later than June 20, 2023.

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Protecting Izembek National Wildlife Refuge: Department of the Interior's Notice of Intent Signals Environmental Impact Study for Proposed Road Construction

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Protecting Izembek National Wildlife Refuge: Department of the Interior's Notice of Intent Signals Environmental Impact Study for Proposed Road Construction

The Department of the Interior issued a Notice of Intent to prepare a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for a potential land exchange in the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge that would allow the construction of a road. 

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Friends Unite for Wildlife: National Workshop Brings Together Advocates for National Wildlife Refuge System

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Friends Unite for Wildlife: National Workshop Brings Together Advocates for National Wildlife Refuge System

The National Wildlife Refuge Association recently joined forces with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to offer a National Friends Workshop, which took place from April 28th to May 1st, 2023. This workshop brought together Refuge and Hatchery Friends groups, nonprofits that support specific national wildlife refuges and national fish hatcheries. These groups play a crucial role in the success of the National Wildlife Refuge System by providing financial support for facility and habitat projects, contributing numerous volunteer hours, and actively supporting advocacy initiatives.

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Few staff, many problems: Inside the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge’s funding crisis

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Few staff, many problems: Inside the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge’s funding crisis

On spring mornings, a chorus erupts from the mouth of the Missisquoi River. 

Scores of birds, from Canadian geese to bobolinks, are migrating north, feeding, breeding, and raising their young in the Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge. Deer feed on the shores, while muskrats patrol the shallow waters alongside a myriad of fish, with the river itself one of the few spawning sites of Lake sturgeon in Lake Champlain.

However, budget constraints across the National Wildlife Refuge System have put a chokehold on what the skeleton crew managing the local 7,000-acre refuge can do. 

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Protecting Florida's savannas and ranchlands before it's too late

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Protecting Florida's savannas and ranchlands before it's too late

“Partnerships are going to make it possible to accomplish our landscape-level conservation goals,” said Julie Morris, the Florida and Gulf Coast program manager for the National Wildlife Refuge Association. “By working hand-in-hand with our local, state, and federal partners, as well as nonprofits, we can maximize conservation on a lot more land.”  

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Department of the Interior Withdraws Izembek National Wildlife Refuge Land Exchange Agreement

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Department of the Interior Withdraws Izembek National Wildlife Refuge Land Exchange Agreement

The Department of the Interior recently announced that Secretary Deb Haaland rescinded a 2019 proposed land exchange in the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge that authorized a road to be constructed through the heart of this pristine Alaskan landscape. The National Wildlife Refuge Association has worked for decades to protect the Izembek NWR from this threat and celebrates this important step towards safeguarding America's most ecologically significant national wildlife refuge. 

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The Fight For Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Continues

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The Fight For Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge Continues

In the heart of south Georgia lies the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, a sprawling landscape of over 400,000 acres. With its vibrant ecosystem and unique history, the refuge is a treasured national resource. However, the company Twin Pines Minerals has threatened to destroy this vital national wildlife refuge.

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The National Wildlife Refuge Association Embarks on Campaign to Address Refuge Staffing Crisis

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The National Wildlife Refuge Association Embarks on Campaign to Address Refuge Staffing Crisis

The National Wildlife Refuge System, the world's largest network of lands and waters dedicated to wildlife conservation, is facing a staffing crisis that threatens its ability to protect biodiversity and provide recreational opportunities. In response to this dire situation, the National Wildlife Refuge Association is focusing its efforts in the 118th Congress to raise awareness of this issue and secure the necessary funds to sufficiently staff the Refuge System. We recently sent a letter to Shannon Estenoz, Assistant Secretary for Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, and Martha Williams, Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, outlining the work we will be doing with our partners and supporters to advocate for increased funding for the Refuge System to address these challenges.