As a part of the year-long celebration, the Refuge Affiliation is unveiling a commemorative fiftieth anniversary brand and launching a sequence of campaigns and occasions to honor the unbelievable progress of the final 5 a long time whereas inspiring motion for the long run.
The Refuge Affiliation was based in 1975 by retired refuge managers who acknowledged the necessity for a powerful, unbiased advocate for the Nationwide Wildlife Refuge System.
During the last 50 years, the Refuge Affiliation has:
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Supported the Strategic Progress of the Refuge System: In 1975, the Refuge System included 378 refuges spanning 34 million acres. At the moment it encompasses over 850 million acres, together with marine nationwide monuments, making it the most important conservation system on the earth.
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Advocated For Crucial Funding & Insurance policies: Ongoing battles to defend refuge lands from continual underfunding and from dangerous proposals, together with threats to iconic landscapes akin 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 Buddies teams— the passionate, on-the-ground volunteers who contribute time, sources, and power 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 essential 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 have now not offered for it. It faces continual 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 get entangled and assist us advocate for the way forward for nationwide wildlife refuges.
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Because the main unbiased 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 packages that serve the System and wildlife past its boundaries. The group addresses Refuge System funding, administration, and strategic development, whereas additionally selling packages that maximize the system’s conservation influence.
For all media inquiries and questions, please contact Eden Taylor, Director of Communications & Advertising and marketing at etaylor@refugeassociation.org.
