4 JANUARY 2013

More than 60 Refuge "Friends" groups, including the Friends of the Migratory Bird/Duck Stamp, sent a letter today to President Barack Obama, supporting Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar and his steadfast contributions to conservation and the outdoors.

These groups were joined by five national organizations: National Wildlife Refuge Association, The Wilderness Society, Marine Conservation Institute, Wildlife Forever, and The Trust for Public Land.

The letter highlighted Secretary Salazar's effectiveness during President Obama's first term and support for the Secretary should he decide to stay on during the President's second term. In part, the letter said, "A hallmark of Secretary Salazar's approach is partnerships with states, localities and landowners. These collaborative efforts protect working landscapes, water quality and restore wetlands and have spurred new wildlife corridors, refuges, and monuments."

From the perspective of our own group, the Friends of the Migratory Bird/Duck Stamp, the Secretary has played a vital role in his chairmanship of the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission and his support for the wise investment of Stamp dollars and the increased appreciation of the Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation [Duck] Stamp.

You can read the entire letter and see the list of all the organizational signatories here.