If there is one thing I've learned, it's that people won't care about protecting wild spaces and wild animals if they don't see how special these spaces and animals are.
Yes, the most important charge of these refuges is to provide a haven for wildlife in protected, vitally important habitat. But nwrs also see public education and the affording of recreation (birding, hiking, fishing, hunting, photography) as an important part of their mission. I spent some time talking to refuge managers on a recent trip to North Dakota and learned firsthand about the importance of this. >From the NWRA web site, at http://refugeassociation.org/what-we-do/friends-groups-engagement/recreation/ "At least one national wildlife refuge is located in every U.S. state and territory. These areas are set aside primarily to protect wildlife and habitats, but they are also created for the use and enjoyment of the public. These landscapes belong to all of us, and we each have the right to explore refuges responsibly, with an eye to safeguarding them for future generations to enjoy." I think thoughtful, responsible use of a refuge is in the best interests of both wildlife and people, and I hope that moving forward, Montezuma NWR can find that sensitive balance. Melissa On Tue, Aug 5, 2014 at 8:48 AM, Marie P. Read <m...@cornell.edu> wrote: > Yes, wildlife refuges are not "nature parks", they are set aside to > provide a refuge…for the wildlife, a refuge from HUMANS and their > encroachment! > > Marie (yes I'm a human, yes I encroach with the best of 'em!) > > Marie Read Wildlife Photography > 452 Ringwood Road > Freeville NY 13068 USA > > Phone 607-539-6608 > e-mail m...@cornell.edu > > http://www.marieread.com > > Author of Sierra Wings: Birds of the Mono Lake Basin Available here: > > > http://marieread.photoshelter.com/gallery/Sierra-Wings-Birds-of-the-Mono-Lake-Basin/G0000NlCxX37uTzE/C0000BPFGij6nLfE > ________________________________________ > From: bounce-117689184-5851...@list.cornell.edu [ > bounce-117689184-5851...@list.cornell.edu] on behalf of John and Sue > Gregoire [k...@empacc.net] > Sent: Tuesday, August 5, 2014 7:47 AM > To: CAYUGABIRDS-L > Subject: [cayugabirds-l] MNWR discsussion > > Many interesting points have been mentioned and certainly are worthwhile > exploring > if they fall within the purview of MNWR. Certainly out of car areas could > be > established once the major construction is complete. The north area would > be ideal > and still allow the first portion of the drive through Benning to be > pedestrian > free. But, before we go saying things like MNWR is a bug and butterfly > refuge or > primarily a place to bird and study nature we should know what a NWR is and > specifically what Montezuma is supposed to do. > -- > > Cayugabirds-L List Info: > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES > http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm > > ARCHIVES: > 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html > 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds > 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html > > Please submit your observations to eBird: > http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ > > -- > > -- Melissa Groo photographer . wildlife biographer . educator www.melissagroo.com Follow my work on Facebook: www.facebook.com/melissa.groo -- Cayugabirds-L List Info: http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsWELCOME http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsRULES http://www.NortheastBirding.com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave.htm ARCHIVES: 1) http://www.mail-archive.com/cayugabirds-l@cornell.edu/maillist.html 2) http://www.surfbirds.com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CAYU.html Please submit your observations to eBird: http://ebird.org/content/ebird/ --
