A Natural Investment for Wildlife in Massachusetts!
Today we confront greater conservation challenges than ever before as growing demands on lands & resources threaten to edge out Massachusetts' wildlife & wild places.
THE ISSUE: Just as we are cheering our success in securing a place for many game animals and bringing a number of endangered species back from the brink, we are also encountering losses of common songbirds, amphibians, fish and other creatures that until recently, attracted little notice. While the state's fish and wildlife agency, MassWildlife, has demonstrated its ability to bring back critically low wildlife populations such as black bear and wild turkey, the agency lacks the funding to repeat success stories for most of the common "non-game" species which live in the Bay State. Meanwhile, demand for wildlife recreation opportunities and conservation education is at an all time high. With 6 million people occupying S million acres of land in Massachusetts, the need for open space and conservation for both wildlife and people is painfully obvious. Now is the time to reverse the alarming downward trends and protect our state's rich wildlife heritage for future generations.
THE GOALS: Teaming With Wildlife (TWW) is a national campaign to keep our common species common" and to nurture a new generation of wildlife stewards by securing funding for:
! State-level non-game wildlife conservation
! Conservation education &,
! Wildlife-related recreation opportunities.
A national coalition of over 3,000 organizations and business supports the need for such funding by officially endorsing Teaming With Wildlife. Here in Massachusetts. the Teaming With Wildlife Coalition is comprised of over 34 organizations and businesses and is still growing!
Teaming With Wildlife originally proposed to fund these goals by extending the existing user fee on hunting and fishing gear to additional outdoor gear used by birders, hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts. After years of building support for this funding, Congress responded to the TWW coalition's call for action by introducing legislation to meet the goals of TWW through a different source.
THE PROPOSAL: Known in both the House and Senate as the Conservation & Reinvestment Acts (CARA),H.R. 701 in the House, these acts utilize a portion of the offshore oil drilling and gas revenues and provides permanent funding to states for:
! Wildlife conservation & research
! Conservation education & related wildlife recreation
! Land & Water Conservation Fund
! Urban Parks Program
! Coastal protection and impact mitigation
! Historic Preservation
THE BENEFITS: In Massachusetts, the estimate for the wildlife portion alone could be about $6 million annually, providing both biological and economic benefits to the state. As much as $4linillion is projected to come to the state through the other titles!
Visitors, residents and businesses are drawn to the environmental character of Massachusetts. This legislation will support natural investments in Massachusetts' wildlife heritage; expanding wildlife conservation efforts, protecting valuable wildlife habitat, enhancing wildlife recreation opportunities for people, and providing conservation education in schools and other learning forums for people of all ages.
Wildlife enthusiasts, businesses and outdoor recreation groups are working together in Massachusetts and across the nation to make this landmark legislation a reality. Join us in this effort which will provide a higher quality of life for people and wildlife in Massachusetts. Join the Coalition's efforts to insure a future teaming with wildlife in Massachusetts. It's a natural investment in our future!
Massachusetts TWW Coalition Contacts:
Marion Larson, MassWildlife 508/792-7270 * Robin Childs. EOEA 617/626-1151
Click link to visit the National Teaming With Wildlife Website at: www.teaming.com
MASSACHUSETTS TEAMING WITH WILDLIFE COALITION
For More Information Contact: Marion Larson Masswildlife
PHONE: (508) 792-7270 EXT 111 Fax: (508) 792-7275 E-MAIL:Marion.Larson@state.ma.us
Bob Durand, Environmental Affairs Secretary - Honorary Chair
Assn. for the Preservation of Cape Cod-Margaret Geist, P.O. Box 636, Orleans MA 02653 (508)255-4142
Bristol County Nature Center-James H. Santos, 135 Center St, Dighton MA 02715 (508) 669-1744
Cape Cod Bird Club - Ronald F. Ayotte, 84 Wing Blvd. W, E Sandwich MA 02537 (508) 888-2164
Clare Walker Leslie, Wildlife Illustrator, 76 Garfield St, Cambridge MA 02138 (617)547-9128
Call of the Wild, Inc-C. Diane Boretos, P0 Box 572, West Falmouth, MA 02574 (508) 548~521
Creative Variety Products & Gifts- Americo Candela Jr. 71 Northbridge Rd, Mendon MA 01756 (508)473-8259
Creativity Plus-Sarah Hollister, 47 Shearer Rd, Colrain, MA 01340 (413)625-2732
Don & Lillian Stokes, Nature Authors- 52 Nowell Farm Rd, Carlisle, MA 01741(508) 369-8488
Facts About Wildlife & Nature Society -Peter Mirick, P0 Box 18, Lunenburg MA 01462 (508)835-3607
Friends of Endicott Park--Joan Townley, 57 Forest St. Danvers MA 01923 (978)774-6518
Forbush Bird Club-Richard Hildreth, Holliston MA 01746 (781)429-5085
Eight Point Sportsmen's Club-David Pineo, 394 Sterling St, Lancaster MA 01564 (978)365-3504
Gun Owners' Action League, Inc-Michael Yacino, Box 567 Northboro MA 01532(508)393-5333
Hyannis Whale Watcher Cruises-Captain Bob Avila, P0 Box 254, Banrstable MA 02630 (508) 362-6088
Manomet Observatory--Linda Leddy, P.O. Box 1770, Manomet, MA 02345 (508) 224~521
Mass. Sportsmen's Council--Mike Moss, 214 N. Main St, Millbury, MA 01527 (508) 865-4828
Massachusetts Wildlife Federation-Jeff Worth, P0 Box 188, Concord, MA 01742
Massachusetts Audubon Society-Laura Johnson, 208 South Great Rd, Lincoln, MA 01773 (781)259-9500
Nashoba Valley Hunt-Elizabeth D. Taylor, 71 View St, Fitchburg MA 01420 (978) 345-5391
National Wild Turkey Federation (Mass. Chapter)-Steve Peperis, 37 Old Wales Rd, Monson MA 01057 (413)267-5454
National Wild Turkey Federation (Central Mass Chapter)-Stephen Reese, 154 Boylston St, Shrewsbury MA 01545 (508)845-2020
New England Wild Flower Society-David L. DeKing, 180 Hemenway Rd, Framingham MA 01701 (508) 877-7630
New England Power Co. (NEES)-Thomas Sullivan, 25 Research Dr, Westboro MA 01582 (508) 389-9086
Non-Game Advisory Committee-Marilyn Flor, 5 Ridgewood Terr. Rockport MA 01966 (978) 546-7065
Nuttall Ornithological Club-H. Christian Floyd, 16 Oxford St, Lexington MA 02173
South Shore Bird Club--David Ludlow, 82 Indian Hill Rd, Kingston MA 02364 (781) 585-3794
South Shore Natural Science Center-- Martha B. Twigg, P0 Box 429 Norwell MA 02061 (781) 659-2559
Swift Instruments, Inc.- Huphrey Swift, 952 Dorchester Av. Boston, MA02125 (617)436-2960
School for Field Studies -James Elder, 16 Broadway, Beverly, MA 01915 (978)927-7777 ext. 501
Toads R Us--Martha F. Hoar, 48 Rocky Hill Rd, Essex MA 01929 (978) 768-6465
Thornton Burgess Society -- Jeanne Johnson, 6 Discovery Hill Rd, E. Sandwich MA 02537 (508) 888-6870
Walden Woods Project/Thoreau Institute --Kathy Anderson, 44 Baker Farm, Lincoln MA 01773 (781)2594740
The Wildlife Society Student Chapter/UMass Box 34210, 160 Holdsworth Way Amherst, MA 01003 (413) 545-2757
Wild Again, Inc. - Amber Santangelo, 25 Tami Court, Bridgewater, MA 02324(508)279-1444
Wildlife Rehab Assoc. of MA, Inc.-Amber Santangelo 25 Tami Court, Bridgewater, MA 02324 (508) 279-3936
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