Conservation Corner: February 25, 2002

President To Boost Funding For Wildlife Refuges
by James L. Cummins

President George W. Bush will propose an unprecedented increase in funding for the National Wildlife Refuge System in next year's budget according to White House officials and the Department of the Interior.

Bush's fiscal year 2003 budget requests an increase of 18 percent, or $56.5 million, for the System, which is made up of 538 refuges and encompasses more than 95 million acres across the United States. The total budget for the system will be $377 million.

"President Bush is committed to ensuring that the refuge system remains the world's premier system of lands for wildlife," said Gale Norton, Secretary of the Interior. Secretary Norton said the increase will cover maintenance and renovation of buildings, boardwalks and trails.

If approved by Congress, it would be the largest increase ever, in dollars, for the wildlife system, first established in 1903.

Since the passage of the National Wildlife Refuge System Improvement Act, the budget has steadily increased. The fiscal year 2003 budget is 6.4 percent larger than last year's budget for refuges.

Refuges in Mississippi include DaHomey, Tallahatchie, St. Catherine's Creek, Noxubee, Sand Hill Crane, Tallahatchie, Yazoo, Hillside, Panther Swamp, Morgan Brake and Matthew's Brake.

One Mississippian that has had a tremendous impact on our National Wildlife Refuge System is Sam D. Hamilton, the regional director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Atlanta, Georgia. Sam, an avid angler and hunter, is a native of Starkville and a former resident of Tutwiler. His vast experience and leadership is shedding much positive light on Mississippi and the National Wildlife Refuge System. He is someone who Secretary Norton should be proud to have on her staff.

We would not have the opportunity to enjoy our thriving wildlife populations on public lands if it was not for our congressional delegation, especially Senator Thad Cochran, the Mississippi Legislature and the members of Mississippi's conservation organizations, such as Wildlife Mississippi, the Mississippi Land Trust, Ducks Unlimited, The Nature Conservancy and the Mississippi Wildlife Federation who provided the vigilance and leadership to make sure our national wildlife refuges are maintained under sound conservation practices for the benefit of both wildlife and wildlife enthusiasts. But not to be forgotten are our dedicated refuge managers. They are doing a superb job.

On funding for National Wildlife Refuges, Republicans and Democrats agree. At a recent gathering of Mississippians to hear a speech by my friend Julia Reed, who writes for Vogue Magazine, Newsweek and The London Telegraph, I had the opportunity to visit with Margaret Carter Joseph, the granddaughter of Hodding Carter. It reminded me of a quote. Hodding Carter once said, "For no where else on the North American continent can wildlife, in the forests and beneath the waters of the river and its smaller feeders and even in the violated heavens, be found in such a variety of animals and birds and fish as along the Mississippi's (River) course."

This river has created many refuges for fish and wildlife. I am thankful that we have a President that is committed to not only preserving some of this land for fish and wildlife, but taking better care of the land the American people already own.

James L. Cummins is Executive Director of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Stoneville, Mississippi. Known as "Wildlife Mississippi," the Foundation is a non-profit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi.