Exactly which administration is in power?

BUDGET WOES PLAGUE NWRS

The Obama Administration has proposed a $3.3 million funding decrease for the National Wildlife Refuge System for next year (FY11). This may not seem like a big hit, but because the Refuge System needs at least a $15-million increase each year to address the accumulating costs associated with managing 150 million acres of refuge lands, the budget request actually represents a cut of $18.3 million.

In addition, a recent report, “Restoring America's Wildlife Refuges 2010,” by the Cooperative Alliance for Refuge Enhancement (CARE) warns that unless Congress acts to restore funding for the Refuge System, proper management of the lands, waters, birds, and other wildlife, and recreation/appreciation opportunities provided across the country’s 150-million-acre Refuge System could be in jeopardy.

The report emphasized that refuges face a $3.7 billion backlog in deferred maintenance and operations funding. Washed-out trails, leaking building roofs, closed roads, and broken equipment are just a few of the more than 11,000 problems currently waiting to be addressed on refuges nationwide. Refuges are also fighting a constant battle against invasive plants and animals, requiring at least $25 million per year to treat just one-third of its infested plant acreage and begin low-level control of invasive animals. Furthermore, with the recent addition of more than 50 million acres of marine monuments in the Pacific Ocean, the Refuge System faces increased management, coordination, restoration, and law enforcement challenges, collectively carrying a price tag of between $18 and $35 million annually.

Refuges don’t simply draw funds from the U.S. Treasury; they produce economic growth. According to the 2006 “Banking on Nature” economic analysis report by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 87 percent of the $1.7 billion in annual refuge-related revenues is spent by visitors from outside the communities where refuges are located. This spending created almost 27,000 jobs and generated approximately $543 million in employment income. "National Wildlife Refuges bring in over 41 million visitors a year and pour nearly two billion dollars a year into local economies," says Evan Hirsche, President of the National Wildlife Refuge Association and Chair of the CARE coalition. "Every dollar invested in the Refuge System returns, on average, $4 to local communities.”

CARE, a coalition of 22 groups, has urged in “Restoring America’s Wildlife Refuges 2010,” that Congress should actually increase refuge operations and maintenance funding to $578 million for FY 2011. To access this report see:
www.fundrefuges.org/new-pdf-files/2010CAREreport.pdf

Meet the new boss...same as the old boss. The environment hasn't just taken a backseat...it's being dragged along like a can on a car after a wedding.

http://www.refugenet.org/birding/aprSBC10.html#TOC05

cover so the Democrats can continue many Republican policies, on many issues. Which is why they would not mind losing, as long as the democrats stay right of center.

Although to be fair, its about more then one office. And some issues have changed a bit.



On other notes, hows that bank regulation and the breaking up of monopolies going?

Then there is the 5 corporations that own all the media, and how many of the companies lobbing for policies in the USA, are partially not even owned by US citizens.

LOL, it is funny though, and I can only see it getting funnier.


I am glad when legislation or enforcement occurs that helps many people.

I say third Bush term, and I say that as someone who voted for Obama, and feels suckered for doing so.

that makes it worse, imho