13 SEPTEMBER 2012

Yesterday, the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission (MBCC) , chaired by Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, met in Washington DC. The Commission approved the addition of more than 10,000 acres in fee-title and easements (or leases) to seven units of the National Wildlife Refuge System. These properties were the following:
   Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge (MT  – 810 acres fee and 5,834 acres lease)
   San Bernard National Wildlife Refuge (TX – 1,441 acres fee)
   Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge (TX – 200 acres fee)
   Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge (N – 625 acres fee)
   Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge (OR – 24 acres fee)
   Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge (SC – 1,543 acres fee)
   Tulare Basin Wildlife Management Area (CA – 164 acres easement).
                                      
An advance approval for up to 18,581 acres in easements at the Tulare Basin was favorably received and discussed by the Commission, but a decision was deferred until the March 2013 MBCC meeting.
 
All these properties, of course, involve willing sellers, and the money for these acquisitions comes from the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund (MBCF), commonly understood as the account where Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation [Duck] Stamp funds are deposited.
 
The Commission also approved 19 U.S. Standard Grants from 14 states under the North American Wetland Conservation Act (NAWCA). For more than two decades, the NAWCA program has helped to bring together thousands of partners to achieve wetland and migratory bird conservation.

The MBCC meeting also heard a short presentation from Bill Hartwig, Board Member of the Friends of the Migratory Bird/Duck Stamp, stressing the promotion, preservation, sales, and better understanding of the stamp. Hartwig said that "Stamps need to be more broadly appreciated, and more need to be sold."  He particularly emphasized the importance of selling stamps to those Americans outside the immediate waterfowl community.

You can read a Department of Interior press release on the MBCC meeting here:    http://tinyurl.com/9t4f85j.