> > * * > > > *IMMEDIATE RELEASE* > > > *May 17, 2006* > > > *Contact: Stephanie Lundberg* > > > *Phone: (202) 225-5506 * > > > * * > > > *House Passes Kind Bird Conservation Act* > > > */Strengthens Efforts to Sustain Bird Populations & Habitats > Essential to Environment & Economy/* > >*/ /* > >*Washington**, DC* - Yesterday, the House passed legislation >authored by U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) to improve protections for >America's migratory bird population. Kind's bill (HR 518) >reauthorizes and makes improvements to the Neotropical Migratory >Bird Conservation Act (NMBCA), which serves as framework for >conservation partners to work cooperatively to preserve and protect >neotropical migratory birds and the habitats along their migration >routes. > > > >"The Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act has a proven track >record of reversing habitat loss and advancing conservation >strategies for the broad range of neotropical birds that populate >America and the western hemisphere," stated Rep. Kind, who was >recently recognized as the Conservation Legislator the Year by the >U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. "The public-private partnerships >along with the international collaboration this bill provides are >integral to preserving vulnerable bird populations and achieving >conservation goals critical to our environment and economy." > > > >Kind's legislation improves the NMBCA by broadening the scope of >continental migratory bird conservation efforts to include Canada as >an international partner. The bill also strengthens the federal >matching grant program to support bird conservation and habitat >restoration throughout the western hemisphere, where more than five >billion birds of 500 different species spend the winter months. >Grants provided by this act have gone to conservation partners for >projects that protect, research, monitor, and manage neotropical >migratory bird populations and their habitats. > > > >In 2005, the Audubon Society named Congressman Kind a Congressional >Hero for his unwavering support for the protection of America's >migratory birds. "Most Americans share Congressman Ron Kind's >conservation values, and through his inspiring leadership of >legislation that protects America's vulnerable bird life, he has >earned their trust and admiration," said John Flicker, President of >the National Audubon Society. "This wouldn't have happened without >Ron Kind; he is truly an Audubon Conservation Hero." > > > >Apart from the inherent ecological value, a thriving migratory bird >population has widespread economic benefits. Birds not only protect >crops and forests by feeding on insect pests; they are a significant >component of nature-based recreation, which has increased in the >U.S. at a rate of 30% annually since 1987. Nationally, nearly 70 >million Americans spend more than $20 billion each year >participating in bird-related recreation, making birding one of the >fastest growing outdoor recreational activity in many parts of the >country. Hunting continues to be a major form of recreation >generating $3.9 billion per year of economic activity. > > > >"A thriving migratory bird population is essential to our >environmental and economic well-being," stated Kind. "From farming >to hunting and birding, migratory birds are a large part of the >economy in western Wisconsin and nationwide. Given the widespread >benefits of this bill, I can say without reservation that this >legislation is not just for the birds." > > > >Added American Bird Conservancy President George Fenwick, "Thanks to >Congressman Kind's leadership, this bill will provide real >on-the-ground conservation potential for some of our nation's most >valued migratory birds." American Bird Conservancy (ABC) is a >nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving native wild birds and >their habitats throughout the Americas. > > > >/- 30 -/ > > > > >-- > > > >Rod Negus >AHPCRC >612-337-3434 >[email protected] > > >This message (including any attachments) may contain confidential or >privileged information, the use and disclosure of which is legally >restricted. If you have received this message in error, please >notify the sender by reply message, do not otherwise distribute it, >and delete this message with all of its contents, from your files.
-- ________________________________ Karen Schik Restoration Ecologist Friends of the Mississippi River 360 North Robert Street Saint Paul MN 55101 Phone 651/222-2193 ext 15 Fax 651/222-6005 http://www.fmr.org Sign up for the Mississippi River Challenge: 1 or 2-day paddle, August 5-6, 2006 http://www.mississippiriverchallenge.org/
