Iowa Birders—if you VALUE birds, don’t discard this alert! Last month the US House Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Subcommittee eliminated all funding of the following critical conservation grant programs for the FY2014 budget: a.. Neotropical Migratory Bird Fund b.. North American Wetland Conservation Fund c.. State & Tribal Wildlife Grants Program (funds much of Iowa DNR’s Wildlife Diversity Program) d.. Forest Legacy Program e.. Land & Water Conservation Fund (royalty money from oil companies that would now go back to the oil companies!) These programs all have helped conserve some of the nation’s rarest and most cherished fish and wildlife, restore vital wetlands, and protect priority forests, grasslands, coasts and other important habitats. Complete funding elimination is unprecedented in history.
Conservation organizations are urged to add their names to a national sign-on letter urging Congress to restore this funding. A copy of the draft letter may be viewed at: http://library.constantcontact.com/download/get/file/1102667938478-72/Letter+to+Congress+Supporting+Grant+Programs+2013.pdf If you are a member of any kind of conservation organization, bird club, nature club, etc. that is willing to sign on to this letter, just send an email to [email protected], and include your group’s name and state. Deadline is August 31, so that the letter may be presented to the congressional subcommittee upon its return from August recess. DOUG HARR President, Iowa Audubon --- Please contribute your sightings to our list; it is only as good as members make it! --- Birding channel recommendation for FRS/GMRS radio use: Primary selection; channel 5/0 , alternate selection; channel 6/0 --- This mailing list is sponsored by the Iowa Ornithologists' Union. Membership available on-line at http://www.iowabirds.org/iou/PayDues.aspx. ----- You are currently subscribed to ia-bird as: [email protected]
