Cape May, NJ (December 9, 2008) - Every summer, millions of tourists descend upon southern New Jersey's Cape May peninsula for a bit of rest and relaxation. But beginning in the fall, when the crowds move out, a new set of visitors flock to the area: hundreds of thousands of migrating birds ? including bald eagles, falcons, hawks and ospreys ? looking for food, warmer weather and a place to rest. Today, those birds have more room to stretch their wings, thanks to an innovative partnership between the New Jersey's bipartisan congressional delegation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the state of New Jersey, Cape May County and The Conservation Fund.
As part of a 437-acre deal facilitated by The Conservation Fund, Cape May National Wildlife Refuge acquired 371 acres of grasslands, salt marshes and forestlands along Bidwell Creek, a tributary of Delaware Bay. Bordered almost entirely by the refuge's existing protected lands and faced with the threat of development, this property ranked as a high conservation priority. Cape May County acquired an additional 66 contiguous acres for passive recreation and wildlife habitat.
In addition to the 360 species of birds that inhabit the 11,000-acre Cape May National Wildlife Refuge, more than 30 different mammals and 45 varieties of reptiles and amphibians call this area home, making it a popular wildlife viewing destination. In fact, the fall bird migration is one of the area's signature tourism events. Many of these species need large areas of unfragmented habitat to thrive, and protecting these 437 acres creates a large contiguous block of land where wildlife can roam.
A variety of sources contributed funding for the purchase of the property, including Cape May County, the state of New Jersey ? through the Department of Environmental Protection's Green Acres Program and the Wetlands Mitigation Council ? and a donation from the landowner, Braddock Enterprises. At the federal level, Sens. Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez and Rep. Frank LoBiondo championed this project in Congress and secured funds from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. Additional federal funding came from a North American Wetlands Conservation Act grant, the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund and the USFWS.
"New Jersey is already home to some of the nation's scenic and historic treasures?and expanding this wildlife refuge in Cape May County will give tourists even more reason to spend time in our state," said Sen. Frank Lautenberg. "Almost half a million state residents and tourists visit our national wildlife refuges every year to enjoy hiking, bird watching and canoeing. It's places like this that help people appreciate our environment and preserve it for future generations.?
"The Cape May area is one of our state's natural treasures, and because of that, Cape May County can attract a $500 million tourism industry," said Sen. Robert Menendez. "Investments like this one to expand the Cape May National Wildlife Refuge protects the land and the wildlife that lives on it, bolsters its reputation as a prime bird watching attraction and helps guarantee the continued safety of the area's drinking water supply. I am pleased to have helped secure funding to assist The Conservation Fund and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in acquiring 440 acres for this project.?
"In no small part by Howard Schlegel and his team, the Cape May National Wildlife Refuge continues to be a major attraction for bird-watchers and ecotourism," said Rep. Frank LoBiondo. "Today's news is certainly welcome by county residents and other visitors to the region who support protecting these critical habitats and irreplaceable species. I will continue to work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, The Conservation Fund, local and state agencies and my colleagues in Congress to ensure these programs receive additional federal resources needed.?
"The County of Cape May is happy to be a partner in preserving this land," Daniel Beyel, Freeholder Director. "The parcel purchased by the county will be used for passive recreation, preserving this land and open space for future generations of residents and visitors to Cape May County. Many natural and historic treasures can already be found in our county which is one reason tourism is our number one industry. We believe this area will be one more reason tourists visit Cape May County again and again.?
"By leveraging the resources of county, state and federal governments, we were able to protect one of the largest intact parcels of land in the area," said Blaine Phillips, director of The Conservation Fund's mid-Atlantic region. "We thank all the partners involved for their leadership and their commitment to protecting New Jersey's natural legacy.?
"This is one of those outstanding examples of what can be done when a coalition of interested partners join together in an effort to protect our environmental resources for the benefit of a diverse group of wildlife species and the public," said Howard Schlegel, refuge manager at Cape May National Wildlife Refuge. "This acquisition is a major asset to the refuge's protection, management and public use programs.?
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About The Conservation Fund
The Conservation Fund is dedicated to advancing America's land and water legacy. With our partners, we conserve land, train leaders and invest in conservation at home. Since 1985, we have helped protect more than 6 million acres, sustaining wild havens, working lands and vibrant communities. We?re a top-ranked conservation organization, effective and efficient.
