AThe incredible beauty and nobility of America=s wildlife are embodied in the stamps we unveil here today,@ said Assistant Secretary Manson, APresident Bush, Secretary Norton and the entire Department of the Interior are committed to carrying on the incredible legacy of conservation started by President Roosevelt 100 years ago. America=s National Wildlife Refuges are national treasures and I invite all Americans to visit them as we commemorate this important anniversary.@
The National Wildlife Refuge System is preparing to celebrate 100 years of conservation success, and the U.S. Postal Service has recognized this achievement by designing a first class stamp commemorating the first National Wildlife Refuge on Pelican Island, Florida, which was created by President Theodore Roosevelt on March 14, 1903. The stamp will have a first date of issue and be available for purchase on March 14, 2003.
Assistant Secretary Manson also announced this year=s winner of the Duck Stamp Contest, Ron Louque from Charlottesville, Virginia. His winning entry has the special honor of being featured as the Centennial Duck Stamp, and is expected to generate more than $25 million dollars to fund the purchase of wetland habitat for the National Wildlife Refuge System. These lands form a connected series of stepping-stones for bird migration and rare wildlife habitats that now spans all 50 states and nearly 100 million acres.
Mr. Louque has entered the Duck Stamp Contest every year for the past 30 years. His entry was a painting of two snow geese in flight, with the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge lighthouse in the background.
The greater snow goose is slightly larger then the more common lessor snow goose. The greater snow goose nests in the extreme eastern Arctic areas of Canada and in Greenland. The goose migrate during the fall and winter months along coastal marshes and crop lands from New Jersey to North Carolina. They winter in large flocks and their raucous calling can be heard for several miles.
AWaterfowl hunters are required to buy Duck Stamps, and stamp collectors, art lovers and conservationists have purchased Duck Stamps for years to add to their albums, enjoy as works of art, and contribute to waterfowl conservation,@ said Assistant Secretary Manson. ABut today we=re going big time. Our National Wildlife Refuges are turning 100 and we=re asking all Americans who care about the environment to consider buying a Duck Stamp as a way of ensuring these great lands are protected for the next 100 years.@
The Federal Duck Stamp Contests is the longest running competition of its kind, and is often described as the AOlympics of Wildlife Art.@ 250 paintings of American wigeon, gadwall, ring- necked duck, snow goose and wood duck rendered in acrylic, oil, watercolor and other media made up the colorful display at the Main Interior Building in Washington, DC, as a five-judge panel chose the design that will adorn next year=s stamp.
ACongratulations to our winner, Ron Louque, and to all the talented artists who make this such a special competition,@ added Manson. AOur judges had a tough job, and their commitment to this contest is much appreciated.@
The winner of the Federal Duck Stamp Contest receives no cash award from the federal government; however, winning can boost the reputation of previously unknown artists to the top of the wildlife art world. Winning artists stand to make up to a million dollars from the sale of limited edition prints of their Duck Stamp design.
Duck Stamps cost $15, with 98 percent of it going toward the purchase of wetland habitat, and can be purchased at any Post Office or Wallmart, as well as many other outdoor stores, by calling 1-800-STAMP24 or online at www.usps.com. More information about the Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Program can be found at http://duckstamps.fws.gov.
More than 400 national wildlife refuges are open to the public, offering a variety of outdoor activitiesBincluding fishing, hunting, environmental education, wildlife observation and photographyB making them special places for Americans to discover the wonders of nature. 40,000 volunteers provide much of the support necessary to maintain these lands for their fellow citizens. There are wildlife refuges within an hour=s drive of most major cities.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which encompasses nearly 540 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 70 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.
-FWS-
