Weekly Update: Wildlife Refuges
By Rob Wittman
October 14, 2017
It’s marked by a sign bearing a flying goose. Behind this sign is a sanctuary; a sanctuary dedicated to the conservation of America’s fish, wildlife, and plants. If you find yourself there, you are in one of America’s National Wildlife Refuges.
Have you ever visited a wildlife refuge? Odds are you have. America’s 561 National Wildlife Refuges are located in all 50 states and the five territories. They make up 150 million acres of pristine public lands dedicated to the conservation of fish and wildlife. Virginia has 14 of those refuges where people of all ages can visit, explore, fish, hunt, and study wildlife. Growing up and even as an adult, visiting the Rappahannock River Wildlife Refuge in my district, has taught me the value of nature and wildlife in our society and the importance of environmental stewardship.
In light of Wildlife Refuge Week, the Fish and Wildlife Service sponsored a National Wildlife Expo here in Washington. This expo featured interactive exhibits and highlighted the conservation success of the refuges. I had the opportunity to speak about my experiences with refuges in the state and about what we are doing in the House to make sure these refuges are preserved for years to come.
We are able to enjoy these refuges because of the hard work of thousands of volunteers across the nation. Wildlife refuge volunteers are individuals who want to give back to their communities, parents who want to be good stewards of the land and set examples for their children, retirees willing to share their wealth of knowledge, and dedicated organizations whose continued efforts raise awareness of refuges so that they may be enjoyed by all. Just last year, 40,000 volunteers donated 1.4 million hours.
Protecting these volunteers is critical to the survival of these wildlife refuges. This week, I - along with eight of my colleagues – introduced the Keep America’s Refuges Operational Act. This bill will reauthorize the National Wildlife Refuge System volunteer, community partnership and education program. Reauthorizing these programs will ensure that our nation’s refuges will continue to be enjoyed by tourists, sportsmen and women, and conservationists for years to come. These men and women give their time and talents to our land, and they must have the resources they need to do this important work.
So what are you doing this weekend? Maybe check out one of
Virginia’s refuges. Make sure to thank a volunteer while you are there!
