The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is expanding its urban conservation initiative through a collaborative partnership in Philadelphia. A partnership between John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum and the National Audubon Society will expand a program that engages Philadelphia residents in conservation through hands-on programming at the refuge.
“While Philadelphia citizens have a unique opportunity to easily visit a national wildlife refuge national wildlife refuge
A national wildlife refuge is typically a contiguous area of land and water managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for the conservation and, where appropriate, restoration of fish, wildlife and plant resources and their habitats for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.
Learn more about national wildlife refuge within the city limits, this partnership will help break down the many barriers that still exist in connecting young people to the great outdoors. Partnering with Audubon Pennsylvania will create opportunities for youth to play, learn, serve, and work outdoors while helping to spark a passion to be lifelong stewards of nature,” said Mariana Bergerson, deputy refuge manager at the John Heinz Refuge.
The partnership, called Neighborhood Environmental Stewardship, or NESt, builds on existing conservation efforts in Philadelphia and aims to implement an expansive community-based conservation program that engages new and diverse audiences, increases quality habitat in Philadelphia for migrating birds and other wildlife, and supports the mission of the Service. The program includes an initiative to train local youth working with The Student Conservation Association, expand the native plant propagation program at Fairmount Park, implement a network of habitat restoration projects at schoolyards in Fairmount Park and at the refuge, and citizen science activities.
“We are very excited to expand our partnership with the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge and engage more Philadelphians in local conservation education and hands-on projects in the city. Tinicum was the very first designated Important Bird Area in the U.S. and continues to provide critical habitat for birds,” said Phil Wallis, executive director of Audubon Pennsylvania.
The project is now one of 14 urban wildlife refuge partnerships in the country that have been designated by the Service since September 2013. The partnership competed nationally and will receive nearly $30,000 of initial funding, which is provided through the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Program. The program focuses on the stewardship and restoration of coastal, wetland and riparian riparian
Definition of riparian habitat or riparian areas.
Learn more about riparian ecosystems across the country.
The Service’s urban wildlife refuge partnerships raise awareness and capacity to engage a new and more diverse constituency in meaningful, collaborative ways to nurture an appreciation of wildlife conservation.
Audubon Pennsylvania is the state office of the National Audubon Society. Their mission to conserve and restore natural ecosystems in Pennsylvania, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's biological diversity. With nearly 30,000 members and 21 local chapters, and a diverse group of partner organizations, they accomplish their goals through the program areas of science, education and policy. For more information: http://pa.audubon.org/ and follow Audubon on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AudubonPA.
