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January 19, 2016 Refuge Friends Fly In

This article highlights the importance of full funding for wildlife refuges and the impact of budget cuts on conservation efforts. It provides information on the challenges faced by refuges and the need for increased funding to support operations, maintenance, and habitat protection. It also emphasizes the role of advocacy and collaboration with decision-makers to secure adequate funding for refuge systems.

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January 19, 2016 Refuge Friends Fly In

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  1. January 19, 2016 Refuge Friends Fly In

  2. What we do… • Advocate with Decision-makers • Mobilize/Educate Public • Conserve Refuge Landscapes

  3. Advocate with Decision-Makers • Operations & Maintenance • Land Acquisition • Construction • Fire • Law Enforcement • Visitors Services • Invasives • FWS programs: Partners, SWG, NAWCA, NeoTrops

  4. Advocate with Decision-Makers Challenge Harmful Threats • Take over of federal lands • Law Enforcement • Arctic • Izembek

  5. Biggest Threat of all… Lack of Funding impacts EVERYTHING that happens on a refuge and threatens ability to do core functions Hard Choices but forces prioritization and collaboration with partners, other agencies and Friends

  6. GOAL: Full Funding The Refuge Association seeks $508 million for the Refuge System’s FY17 O & M budget and incremental increases to reach $900 million

  7. We also seek to reduce the operations and maintenance backlog

  8. Refuge Funding: Successes • Disaster Relief • $400m in supplemental funding (FY05-FY16) • $459 m added to deferred maintenance backlog • Annual Approps: • FY08 - FY10: $105 million increase • (FY 10 was the high point of refuge funding at $503 m) • Stimulus (FWS) $290 million

  9. Refuge funding Refuge Funding hit an all time high of $503 in FY10 From FY11-FY13: refuges lost $50 m – huge impacts FY 14-FY16: modest increases ($481 m now) When factoring inflation, the Refuge System is still about 20% down from six years ago

  10. Funding: Big Picture • October 2013: Government Shutdown • December 2013 – Budget Control Act, a 2 year Budget deal reached (FY14 & FY15) • End of 2015 –second 2 year budget deal reached (FY16 & FY17).

  11. Refuge Funding - Outlook Minimal Increases • We are told not to expect big increases – but it’s about PRIORITIES! • Deficit, Veterans, Health Care, Middle East, Education, Wildfire, etc… • Must have MOC request increases for Refuge System or it won’t happen – direct from the mouth of the appropriations staff

  12. Funding: Actual vs. Management Capabilities

  13. Status of the Refuge System • Refuge System is operating at a massive deficit (-20%) • Management responsibilities have grown by hundreds of millions of acres • Public wants more and more of what the Refuge System has to offer. FY10 – FY14: • Visitation has increased by 2.6%; • Photography participants have increased by 45%; • Interpretation participants involved in programs has increased by 55%; • Auto tour visits has increased by 11%.

  14. Status of the Refuge System • Service cannot meet the public’s growing needs. • Service has lost 500 positions - Reduction in public programs and hours of operation.  

  15. Status of the Refuge System • Between FY10-FY14: • Hunting and fishing visits are down by 5% and 7%; • Prescribed burns are down by 44%;  • Volunteer numbers have dropped by 15%; • Volunteer hours have dropped by 6%; • Acres of improved forest and shrub land declined by 56%;  • Wetland acres restored declined by 69%;  • Control of invasive animal populations decreased by 59%;  • Acres treated for invasive plants decreased by 41% resulting in a 63% drop in acreage where invasive plant control was achieved.  

  16. Your Refuge is impacted

  17. Your visits make a difference! • FY 08: Norm Dicks, Chair, Interior Appropriations Subcommittee: “Do it.” • FY 10: Highest funding for Refuge System ever – appropriators knew the need, had the opportunity • FY16: $500K increase (T= $2.092 million) to ensure that volunteers maintain a robust presence at wildlife refuges – staff said to tell you that it was because of your information to them

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