Transcript National Wildlife Refuges: Alabama Funding Crisis Choctaw National Wildlife Refuge, Alabama

National Wildlife Refuges:
Alabama Funding Crisis
Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge needs
funding to control invasives plants that
prevent effective management of migratory
birds and other refuge resources.
Alabama Refuges need funding to control
alligatorweed, water hyacinth and other
invasives that threaten our ability to
manage wildlife habitat but also wildlifedependant recreation for 1.1 million
visitors.
Choctaw National Wildlife Refuge, Alabama
National Wildlife Refuges in Alabama face a $48.6 million budget
shortfall
Alabama is home to spectacular natural resources including 11 national
wildlife refuges. These wildlife refuges are national treasures, providing safe
harbor to millions of migrant songbirds exhausted by their trip across the
Gulf of Mexico. Alabama refuges also protect forested wetlands, longleaf
pine forests, rivers and streams and other habitats vital to hundreds of
species. Over one million visitors enjoy hunting, fishing, bird watching,
wildlife photography, hiking, and environmental education on Alabama’s
refuges.
The Refuge System in Alabama has identified the following high priority
needs:
•$48.6 million in operational and maintenance shortfalls
•A deficiency of 22 staff positions
Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge Complex
needs funding for 22 unfunded essential
staff positions to meet biological and
maintenance needs while providing quality
wildlife-dependant recreation for 700,000
annual visitors.
These shortfall prevents the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service from adequately
managing and restoring wildlife habitat, conserving imperiled species, safely
maintaining facilities and providing quality recreational programs.
Unfortunately, the Refuge System budget has remained relatively flat for the
last two years. Due to rising costs, a flat budget erodes each refuge’s base
funding, preventing vital positions from being filled and projects from being
completed. The Refuge System in Alabama needs a $116,000 increase
each year just to retain current services.
National Wildlife Refuge Funding Crisis
About C.A.R.E
CARE is a unique coalition of 21
conservation, scientific,
sporting, and recreation
organizations with more than 5
million members across the
United States. CARE has been
working since 1995 to help the
National Wildlife Refuge System
fight a serious funding crisis.
American Birding Association
American Fisheries Society
American Sportfishing Association
Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation
Defenders of Wildlife
Ducks Unlimited
International Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies
Izaak Walton League of America
National Association of Service and
Conservation Corps
National Audubon Society
National Rifle Association of America
National Wildlife Federation
National Wildlife Refuge Association
Safari Club International
The Wilderness Society
The Wildlife Society
Trout Unlimited
U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance
Assateague Coastal Trust
Wildlife Forever
Wildlife Management Institute
CARE recommends a $700 million annual operations and maintenance
budget for the Refuge System
The National Wildlife Refuge System faces a crippling $3 billion operations
and maintenance budget shortfall, which continues to grow. An annual
increase of $300 million will prevent the Refuge System from spiraling into
more debt and allow the Fish and Wildlife Service to begin restoring habitat,
maintaining facilities and expanding public use opportunities that have
languished due to lack of funds.
Faced with a flattened budget and increased costs, in just three years 74% of
the refuges in the northeast will be bankrupt, according to a Fish and Wildlife
Service analysis. Other regions are facing similar problems. Able to absorb
some budget pressure over the years, refuges have reached a threshold
forcing the Fish and Wildlife Service to de-staff entire refuges, and cut visitor
services and habitat management at scores of refuges.
Investing in refuges is good for communities and for wildlife
1010 Wisconsin Avenue, NW,
Suite 200
Washington, DC 20007
Phone: 202-333-9075
Fax: 202-333-9077
Web:
www.FundRefuges.org/CARE/
CareHome.html
National Wildlife Refuges are economic engines in many rural areas.
According to a recently released economic analysis, Banking on Nature, by
the Fish and Wildlife Service:
•Recreational visits to national wildlife refuges generate substantial
economic activity. In 2004, more than 36.7 million people visited refuges for
recreation. Their spending generated $1.37 billion of sales in regional
economies. This generated nearly 24,000 jobs and $453.9 million in
employment income.
•At Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge in Alabama, for every $1 spent on
the refuge’s budget, almost $20 are generated in recreational expenditures
to the local economy. Over $2 million of local tax revenues are generated
through recreational expenditures.