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National Wildlife Refuges May Receive
Help from Congress in Battle Against Invasive Species
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MEDIA ADVISORY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 11, 2002
Contact:
Serena Rinker, 561/732-3684, ext.109
Bert Byers, cell: 772/321-5960
Congressmen, U.S. Department of Interior officials, and refuge partners
will announce proposed legislation to provide funds to combat invasive
species on national wildlife refuges. This event is one of several across
the U.S. to celebrate National
Wildlife Refuge Week and kick-off the centennial of the refuge
system.
WHO:
Fran Mainella, Director, National Park Service/Dept. of Interior,
Washington, D.C.
Congressman Mark Foley, 16th District (Tentative)
Congressman Clay Shaw, 22nd District
Evan Hirsche, President, National Wildlife Refuge Association, Washington,
D.C.
Phil McCullem, President, Loxahatchee Natural History Association
Mark Musaus, Manager, A.R.M. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge
Lou Hinds, Florida Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
WHERE:
A.R.M. Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge,
10216 Lee Road, Boynton Beach (See http://loxahatchee.fws.gov
“Visitor Information” for detailed directions to the North/
Headquarters entrance; refuge is .3 miles west of U.S. 441). Meet at
boat ramp, at the end of Lee Road, ¼ mile past Administration
Building.
WHEN:
Saturday, October 19, 2002; Noon – 1:00
p.m.
Press availability, featuring photo and interview opportunities. Boy Scout
Troop Number 325 will join officials and volunteers to remove invasive
species by pulling and chopping at plants.
BACKGROUND:
- Legislation being considered in Congress will provide an additional
$2 million to national wildlife refuges to train and mobilize refuge
volunteer Friends groups in early identification and control of invasive
species.
- Invasive species control is one of the biggest challenges facing our
nation’s wildlife refuges, affecting approximately eight million
acres of refuge lands. At Loxahatchee NWR, melaluca, Old World climbing
fern (lygodium), and Brazilian pepper consume more than 25 acres per
day, making these lands unsuitable for wildlife.
- The public can help prevent the spread of invasive species by planting
only native species in their backyards.
- October 13-19 is National Wildlife Refuge Week. The U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service manages the nearly 95-million-acre
refuge system, the only system of public lands where wildlife comes
first. There are 540 national wildlife refuges across the country, with
at least one in each state.
- In March 2003, the National Wildlife Refuge System will celebrate
its 100th anniversary. The refuge system was established by President
Theodore Roosevelt in 1903 when he set aside Pelican Island, Florida
as a federal bird reserve.
- As the refuge system’s 100th anniversary approaches, Secretary
of Interior Gale Norton and President Bush recognize that national wildlife
refuges are an American treasure. The President’s 2003 budget
requests an increase of $56 million -- the largest budget increase ever
for refuges
Brazilian
Pepper Fact Sheet
National
Invasive Link
For more information of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and National
Wildlife Refuges, go to http://southeast.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/.
Atlanta, GA 30345
Phone: 404/679-7289 Fax: 404/679-7286
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