Your Help is Needed to Preserve our National Refuge System

By: Mary Beth Volmer President Friends of Plum & Pilot Islands

Everyday I’m reminded, personally and professionally, of the passion our volunteers have in preserving the history of Plum and Pilot Islands and the Green Bay National Wildlife Refuge.  I am honored to lead this phenomenal organization and work alongside of our dedicated board, volunteer leaders, volunteers, generous donors, members and our community partners who believe in our mission.  I am also reminded of the challenges that those who came before us, how they overcame them, and the challenges we are currently facing in this time of uncertainty.

By now all of you have heard about the thousands of federal employees whose employment has been terminated with the objective of reducing government spending.  Sad to say, our colleagues at the National Wildlife Refuge Association (NWRA) tell us that this is just the beginning.

Nationwide, the Refuge System had been operating with just 2,353 employees, a 30% staffing decline over the past 15 years. After recent cuts, staff numbers are down an additional 15%, but those who remain are expected to manage 573 refuges, 95 million land acres, and 750 million marine acres—more than any other federal land agency and with far fewer resources. Staff numbers will be even lower soon.

So what can YOU do? Public lands across the nation are feeling the blow of these staff reductions, so you will be seeing effects everywhere. Please join us and raise your voice!

• Contact your Senators and Congress members and tell them how these changes at the refuge are affecting YOU. Ask them to fund the Refuge System. Find contact information for your Senators and Representatives here. 

• Sign up for National Wildlife Refuge Association updates to follow Congressional actions that will affect refuges and other public lands--click here.

• Join the Friends--support us to support the refuge and stay informed and engaged.

• Donate to continue to support the work we are doing—click here.

In these times of incredible uncertainty, now more than ever we need to collectively create a world that honors and protects public lands.