Sanibel Island Restoration Management Partnership Receives 2002 Coastal America Award

• P. Lynn Scarlett, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Policy, Management, and Budget;
• Sam D. Hamilton, Southeast Regional Director - U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Receiving awards:

From the City of Sanibel were the Mayor, Nola Theiss; Judy Zimomra, City Manager; Rob Loflin, Ph.D, Natural Resources Director; and James Evans, Conservation Officer. From the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation were Marge Meek, President of the Board of Trustees; Erick Lindblad, Executive Director, and Brad Smith, Biologist. From Ferrier Enterprises: Claudio Herrero and Marcello Herrero. From the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service were Louis Hinds III, Florida Refuge Supervisor; Robert Jess, Refuge Manager, and David Lucas, Equipment Operator for J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge in Sanibel, and Layne Hamilton, Refuge Manager of the Service’s Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge in Naples.

Photo opportunities and interviews on site. DOWNLOAD photos & fact sheets at: http://southeast.fws.gov/news/2002/CoastalAmerica

WHERE:

J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, 1 Wildlife Drive, Sanibel, FL

WHEN:

Wednesday, October 16, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.

BACKGROUND:

The Partnership’s ongoing efforts to eliminate the non-native, invasive Brazilian pepper shrub contribute to the restoration and enhancement of the island’s wetlands. Consequently, the populations of native species, such as marsh birds, wading birds, raptors, American alligators, and small rodents, are again increasing on the island. The award presentation is also a kick-off event for the Centennial of the National Wildlife Refuge System (next March). The Coastal America partnership joins the efforts of federal agencies with those of state, local, and private organizations to collaboratively address environmental problems along our Nation's coasts

DIRECTIONS:

From Fort Myers, take Summerlin Road and go across the Sanibel Causeway.

Turn right on to Periwinkle Road. Go about four miles, and the road dead-ends at Tarpon Bay Road. Turn right on to Tarpon Bay Road. At the first stop sign, turn left on Sanibel-Captiva Road. The J. N. “Ding” Darling Visitors Center is two miles on the right.

Brazilian Pepper Fact Sheet
National Invasive Link

For more information about the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
visit our home page at http://southeast.fws.gov/ or http://www.fws.gov/.

NOTE: You can view our releases or subscribe to receive them -- via e-mail -- at the Service's Southeast Regional home page at http://southeast.fws.gov. Our national home page is at: http://news.fws.gov/newsreleases/.

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Phone: 404/679-7289 Fax: 404/679-7286