The nonprofit group Friends of Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge was honored as the National Wildlife Refuge Association’s 2008 Refuge Friends Group of the Year at a ceremony held recently in West Virginia.
The group won this national award because of their outstanding leadership as a voice of the community and as an advocate for the protection, conservation, and enhancement of local refuges and the National Wildlife Refuge System.
Specifically the Friends of Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge increased community awareness and support for the refuge through their co-sponsorship of six popular annual events, membership in four local Chambers of Commerce, participation in local fire safety and environmental education programs, the production and distribution of refuge-related guides and brochures, purchased and donated 88 acres to Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, the development of an informative and interactive website, and most recently, through a commitment to build a new Visitor Center on the refuge.
Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge Manager Anne Sittauer, who nominated the group for the award, has come to rely heavily on them for assistance. “Without this group, the refuge simply could not provide the high-quality visitor services and community support the citizens of this area deserve,” said Sittauer. “In addition to all their help ensuring the public enjoys this refuge, they are also critical to many of our wildlife habitat projects. Bottom line, without our Friends group, we’d be in tough shape. I can’t thank them enough for everything they do.”
The Friends of Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge’s stated mission is that they believe the Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge is a unique natural resource that can help the community develop a deeper appreciation and understanding of the Refuge and its mission.
Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge consists of 30,700 acres of public land that represents a diverse biological community characteristic of the transition zone between tallgrass prairie and forest. The refuge was established to protect and restore the habitats associated with the St. Francis River Valley for migratory birds and other wildlife purposes. The focus of the Refuge is on the restoration of oak savanna , wetland, and big woods habitats.
To learn more about the Friends of Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, visit their website at http://www.exploresherburne.org.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit http://www.fws.gov.
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