The movement to create the Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge is gaining ground both in local communities and at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS). Openlands, the Trust for Public Land, and area residents have requested that the USFWS conduct a feasibility study for recognizing the bi-state area of northern McHenry County, in Illinois, and southern Walworth County, in Wisconsin, as a potential urban refuge.
Also, Openlands and Trust for Public Land commissioned a viability study from Fermata Inc. to determine the value of the proposed refuge to local communities and the expectations for increased recreational and economic gains and lend credence to a refuge designation in this region. Click on this link to download the report.
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Here is a note from the Bird Conservation Alliance about two conservation programs facing cuts.
Joint Ventures
Joint Ventures (JVs) exemplify a highly successful, cost-effective approach to conservation. By applying science and bringing diverse constituents together, JVs across the United States have created a model for solving wildlife management problems and restoring habitats critical to conserving declining species. Nationally, JVs have protected, restored, or enhanced more than 13 million acres of important habitat for migratory bird species. There are currently 21 JVs in the United States that provide coordination for conservation planning and implementation of projects that benefit all migratory bird populations and other species.
The Illinois Coalition for Responsible Outdoor Lighting and Lewis University are sponsoring a day-long conference on outdoor lighting March 11. Information about the conference is available online. I will be in Japan, but I would love to be able to attend this event. Light and noise are among the most pervasive forms of pollution that degrade our quality of life, in my opinion. Try living next door to a yapping dog, for example. Good luck to those who will be in attendance.
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