As a part of the year-long celebration, the Refuge Affiliation is unveiling a commemorative fiftieth anniversary emblem and launching a sequence of campaigns and occasions to honor the unimaginable progress of the final 5 a long time whereas inspiring motion for the longer term.
The Refuge Affiliation was based in 1975 by retired refuge managers who acknowledged the necessity for a powerful, impartial advocate for the Nationwide Wildlife Refuge System.
During the last 50 years, the Refuge Affiliation has:
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Supported the Strategic Development of the Refuge System: In 1975, the Refuge System included 378 refuges spanning 34 million acres. As we speak it encompasses over 850 million acres, together with marine nationwide monuments, making it the biggest conservation system on this planet.
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Advocated For Essential Funding & Insurance policies: Ongoing battles to defend refuge lands from persistent underfunding and from dangerous proposals, together with threats to iconic landscapes corresponding to Alaska’s Arctic Nationwide Wildlife Refuge (NWR) and Georgia’s Okefenokee NWR.
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Strengthened Grassroots Community: We expanded and strengthened Refuge Associates teams— the passionate, on-the-ground volunteers who contribute time, sources, and vitality to help native refuges and join communities to nature.
To commemorate this milestone, the Refuge Affiliation is launching #50WildYears, a year-long marketing campaign highlighting the legacy of the Refuge Affiliation and the crucial want for continued advocacy of the Refuge System.
“We’re proud to replicate on 5 a long time of defending, selling, and enhancing America’s wildlife refuges and the numerous species they maintain,” mentioned Desirée Sorenson-Groves, President and CEO of the Nationwide Wildlife Refuge Affiliation. “However whereas the Refuge System has offered for the American individuals over time, we now have not offered for it. It faces persistent underfunding and threats yearly that problem its integrity and endanger the wildlife it protects. The Refuge Affiliation is aware of nationwide wildlife refuges are the beating coronary heart of biodiversity, the spine of local weather resilience, and the promise of untamed locations for future generations. We should rally collectively to make sure these particular locations stay protected and thrive for the following 50 years and past.”
The Nationwide Wildlife Refuge Affiliation’s fiftieth anniversary is a celebration of resilience— of wildlife, habitats, and the individuals who have championed conservation for half a century. Be a part of us in celebrating #50WildYears by visiting our web site and following us on social media to be taught how one can become involved and assist us advocate for the way forward for nationwide wildlife refuges.
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Because the main impartial voice advocating on behalf of the Nationwide Wildlife Refuge System, the Nationwide Wildlife Refuge Affiliation protects, promotes, and enhances America’s wildlife heritage by strategic applications that serve the System and wildlife past its boundaries. The group addresses Refuge System funding, administration, and strategic development, whereas additionally selling applications that maximize the system’s conservation affect.
For all media inquiries and questions, please contact Eden Taylor, Director of Communications & Advertising at [email protected].
